Once your child reaches high school, figuring out how to pay for college starts to loom large in your mind. An important step in getting ready for the costs of college is filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This paperwork helps determine how much need-based financial aid your student qualifies for. And before you assume that you make too much money to get any such assistance, remember that families earning as much as $180,000 per year can qualify for some form of financial aid.
Whether you have been diligently saving money in a 529 account since your (now 6-foot tall) baby was born, or you have only just now started thinking about college costs, you do need to understand exactly how your various assets might affect your student’s financial aid eligibility. (See also: 5 Reasons Why Every Student Should Fill Out the FAFSA)
Here’s what you need to know about the asset and income calculations for need-based financial aid.