OHE to Host Free Virtual Financial Aid Events for Students Throughout October

9/28/2023

 

St. Paul, Minn.— Kicking off the new school year, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, Minnesota Department of Education, ECMC's The College Place Minnesota, and Minnesota Goes to College are hosting a series of financial aid webinars for Minnesota students and families as they prepare for the college-going process. All sessions will have simultaneous interpretation in Spanish, Somali, Hmong. Karen. Attendees will be entered to win a $500 scholarship.

The series, which runs Tuesday evenings October 3 through 24, will cover the college application process, how to create a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID), general financial aid information, and learn how to search and apply for scholarships.

• October 3, 2023, 7pm — Apply to College

• October 10, 2023, 7pm — Understand Financial Aid

• October 17, 2023, 7pm — Create your FSA ID

• October 24, 2023, 7pm — Search for Scholarships

The webinars will be held via Zoom. To register, use this link: https://ecmc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jTGzGBOOQlaI9uwvQAe0Xg#/registration

With a new, simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form expected to launch in December, an additional series of webinars will be held in January 2024 to help families navigate the process of applying for financial aid. The dates for those webinars are:

• January 9, 2024, 7 pm – Create your FSA ID

• January 16, 2024, 7 pm – Apply for FAFSA

• January 23, 2024, 7 pm – Apply for Dream Act

• January 30, 2024, 7 pm – Understand your Offer Letter

For more information on the streamlined FAFSA form, visit the U.S. Department of Education website.

"The cost of attending higher education is a significant barrier for many Minnesotans, which makes raising awareness about available financial aid a vital part of our outreach," said Minnesota Commissioner for Higher Education Dennis Olson. "Regardless of family income, numerous grants are available to help make college more affordable, and filing out the FAFSA is an important first step in accessing these funds and being able to pursue a postsecondary degree."

“As a first-generation college student, I am extremely passionate about sharing tools and resources to help students find their path to and through the postsecondary process,” said Tara Pribnow, director of ECMC’s The College Place Minnesota, who is helping to lead the virtual events. “Our goal with this collaboration is to help the most in-need students in Minnesota gain the knowledge and confidence to navigate the often confusing and intricate application and financial aid process.”

To learn more about each of Minnesota's financial aid programs, visit the OHE website. Questions can also be directed to the state's financial aid hotline: (651) 642-0567.

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The Minnesota Office of Higher Education is a cabinet-level state agency providing students with financial aid programs and information to help them gain access to postsecondary education.

The Minnesota Department of Education is a cabinet-level state agency that works to provide an excellent education for Minnesota students by striving for excellence, equity, and opportunity.

ECMC is a nonprofit corporation with a mission to help students succeed by lowering student loan default rates, sponsoring college access initiatives and financial literacy programs, and providing resources to support student loan borrowers to successfully repay their loans. ECMC's The College Place locations are college access centers where students of all ages can get information, assistance and encouragement to achieve their educational goals. Free assistance is provided in-person and virtually.

Minnesota Goes to College is our state's effort to provide graduating high school seniors with the preparation, opportunity, and support needed to apply and enroll in college. It is a collaborative effort composed of K-12, higher education, and nonprofit partners.