On some NPCs they are still showing the Perkins loan for aid. I’ve been ignoring it because of it expiring, but is there any hope that it will be renewed? It boggles my mind that a program that helps very low income students attend college is something that would be allowed to just end. It isn’t a huge amount, but I can see it being the difference for lots of families.
Also, why do some schools list the FSEOG but others don’t? Is it something only certain schools offer?
I found the FSEOG information. Should have looked first. 
It doesn’t look like Perkins will be revived. The terms were nice, but you can borrow that money on a parent plus loan if you need to.
Some view cutting Perkins as a way to keep total student debt to under $30k which many feel is as much as any student should have.
In that same vein of money that can’t be counted on, what about outside scholarships? Are they worth trying for? Her grades and scores won’t get her anything, but having high financial need might? She also has Native American ancestry (1/8). Presumably less people apply for those scholarships than say like Coke or Burger King scholars, so we should target those?
Do NOT trust NPCs that indicate FSEOG. Some schools routinely include FSEOG estimate in results of Pell eligible calculations, but the REAL results often will NOT have that FSEOG grant included!!! Ugh!
Last year there was at least one student who anticipated that a couple of his schools would be affordable because the NPC indicated that he was eligible for full Pell (about 5700) and also had $4k of SEOG. He got ZERO SEOG at either schools…and he was counting on that money.
FSEOG dollars are very limited at each school. Some schools only end up awarding to 0 EFC students, some only will award to instate low EFC students…you just never know. And, virtually all of the schools will only award FSEOG if the student submits FAFSA early and falls under whatever guidelines they use.
Oh, this process. Sigh. This is good to know @ mom2collegekids. Some list it, some have a generic “other gift aid”, “other federal/state/institutional aid” which could consist of anything. So… I basically don’t know anything until we get actual awards. And one of the two affordable options (Capital) keeps shrinking away the more I find out about things to consider about work study, FSEOG, Perkins Loan (which I did know beforehand, but still that $1500 would have been a big help).
I’m assuming I should aim to submit the FAFSA the moment it opens on Jan. 1, correct?
You should submit FAFSA as soon as you can after Jan 1st.
If your daughter is registered in a tribe, it is definitely worth looking into. Unlike other races, being NA often requires you to be registered with the tribe to get any scholarships or benefits. A friend asked me about this for her sons (her husband if the NA) and she’s working on it with his grandmother.
Fwiw, national educational benefits for Native Americans is limited to those with 1/4 NA ancestry or more. Though certainly many other scholarships and individual schools may have looser restrictions.
And the individual tribes may have money. Several tribes in MN offered great benefits to members. My friend’s son was registered with 1/8 blood and I don’t know what he got for college, but received other benefits throughout the year. Her father (1/2) got a lot of money, she’d get money sometimes for 1/4, and her son less at 1/8 but still worth it.
My D got about $2,000 in local scholarships. Only for the first year, but it helps.
She goes to school instate and although we didn’t qualify for Pell we got a state grant, so maybe investigate that possibility.
You said your D is a CNA. She should be able to make good money in the summer and together with the stafford loan the prospects aren’t that bleak.
@romanigypsyeyes What benefit are you talking about here?
@dragonflygarden I was specifically talking about scholarships and whatnot through the BIA/BIE. Many states also have tuition waivers at public unis (or some public unis) that provide tuition waivers. They model their system on the BIE standards and require 1/4 blood.
It’s worth noting that I haven’t looked at the scholarships in a few years so it’s possible my information is outdated. The 1/4 number seems to be pretty common though.
@romanigypsyeyes Ah I was looking at those earlier and while some are only for 1/4 blood or more most of them say 1/4 blood quantum OR registered with a federally recognized tribe. Some tribes do not have a blood quantum requirement for membership.