File your FAFSA First Before Considering a Private Alternative Loan

Are you planning to borrow to help finance your education? If so, file your FAFSA first before considering a private alternative loan. Federal student loans typically offer borrowers better terms than private alternative loans. These terms may include lower interest rates, income-based repayment plans, and loan forgiveness and deferment options.

In addition to being considered for federal student loans, filing the FAFSA will allow you to be considered for grant, tuition waiver, work study, and other financial aid programs. The FAFSA is the gateway application to federal, state, and institutional aid.

The FAFSA is filed annually. Western has a FAFSA priority filing deadline of February 15 for the following aid year. If you miss the deadline it is still worthwhile to submit the FAFSA since considerable financial aid opportunities still exist. Some aid programs, including Federal Direct Stafford and PLUS loans and the Federal Pell Grant, remain accessible to eligible students who have filed beyond the priority deadline. In addition, more funding often becomes available for Financial Aid to award as a result of student attrition and supplemental aid allocations. 

• The federally-published deadline for filing the FAFSA for the 2011-2012 school year is June 30, 2012. Quarters within the 2011-2012 school year include Fall Quarter 2011, Winter Quarter 2012, Spring Quarter 2012, and Summer Quarter 2012.


• The federally-published deadline for filing the FAFSA for the 2012-2013 school year is June 30, 2013. Quarters within the 2012-2013 school year include Fall Quarter 2012, Winter Quarter 2013, Spring Quarter 2013, and Summer Quarter 2013.

If you have not already done so, file your FAFSA(s) now.

For additional information go to:

http://federalstudentaid.ed.gov/federalaidfirst/index.html