The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships offers advice for students and parents
preparing for financial aid considerations before enrolling at Ferris State University.
Ferris State University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid staff say the start of the new calendar year is a good time for students to check in with parents and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
Assistant Director of Financial Aid Melanie Mulder said the FAFSA filing deadline for the 2022-23 academic year is months away. However, she notes the advantages of starting a scholarship search early.
“Spending a little of your time together in this fashion can be a real benefit, so your FAFSA is on file, and pursuing financial support can begin,” Mulder said. “Ferris has the MyScholarships portal, which opened Thursday, Dec. 15, and is available through Tuesday, Feb. 28. There are over 700 individual endowed scholarships offered specifically to students in a variety of programs, and having the FAFSA completed and on file is one component to qualify for that assistance.”
Mulder noted that solidifying financial aid packages may help limit a student’s debt in the long run.
“Federal loan options are preferential to the offers from private lenders if a student or their family require that assistance to meet the costs of education,” Mulder said. “The university’s reports for the 2021-22 academic year show that more than $103 million came to Ferris students in the form of scholarships and other forms of assistance, with 84 percent of our students receiving some financial aid.”
Mulder said the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid stands ready to assist with rejected FAFSA forms because of missing content, no electronic signatures or other issues.