Paying for College

For most families at HPHS the cost of college is a consideration in the search and selection process, and sometimes a major one.  It is important to have an understanding of what the aossicated costs are as you go through this process so your family can have a honest conversation about how cost might affect college choice.  Over the years we have found it harder and harder for families to "make it work" so we encourage you to take a hard look at what is or is not feasible, set limites when and where appropriate, and have a frank talk with your student about what limitations there are, if any.  We have found that when parents are up front about costs early in the process it tends to go much more smoothly than trying to deal with the realities of college costs in the middle of the appplication and selection process.

There are three main ways that students and families pay for college: need-based financial aid, college based merit aid/scholarships, scholarships from outside organizations and alternative options that include everything from reciprocity for state schools to international options.  Each of these options has its pros and cons so it is important to understand what each means and how they may fit into your college plans.  Below is a definition and explanation for each of these types of aid along with some useful links to resources that may be of help.

Need-Based Aid

Need-based aid is entirely based on a family's financial situation and ability to pay.  Through a variety of forms filed in fall of Senior Year, including the FAFSA and perhaps the CSS Profile or an institutional form, colleges determine what your ability to pay is based on your income and assets.  This calcuation leads to the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which is the number the colleges will use to calculate your eligiblity for need-based aid. The EFC minus the total Cost of Attendance = the families financial need.  Colleges will then meet that needs in a variety of ways including need-based grants, loans, scholarships, and work study.  Some schools will meet 100% of the family financial need, most will not.  If a school does not meet your need this is called "gapping" as there is a gap between what the family needs and what was given.  It is appropriate to ask a college if they meet 100% of financial need and, if not, what the average gap is.  

You can get an idea of what your EFC will be through a number of tools, including the EFC Estimator through the federal government and the Net-Price Calculators on individual college websites.  Having an idea of what your EFC is can help you prioritize your search.  If your EFC means that you can expect to receive need-based aid you can consider more expensive private schools that may have a higher sticker price but tend to give more need-based aid so may be cheaper in the end.  If your EFC is too high for need-based aid but you are worried about how you will afford college, you may want to look at better "price tag" schools or schools where you know merit-based aid is possible.  As a general rule students interested in need-based aid should focus on schools in Illinois or on private schools as these types of schools will be in the best position to meet a student's financial need.

Guide to Applying for Need-Based Aid - Generously provided by Sue Biemert & Jerry Cebrzynski

Sample Financial Aid Packages

Dist 113 Financial Planning for College Presentation - Overview and Need-Based Aid

College Based Merit Aid

Merit-based aid is totally based on a student's talent: academic, athletic, artistic, etc. Though there are some merit-based awards that will be a combination of merit and need, the vast majority of awards are solely about talent in a particular area.  For the majority of students these awards look like an academic scholarship based on their profile, usually a combination of test scores and GPA or just GPA if a school is test-optional.  These are awarded straight from the admissions office as the application for admission usually doubles as the application for merit awards (though there may be other, more prestigious ones that requre an additional application, essay, or even interview or some schools that have a separate scholarship application). 

There are many schools, usually larger, state schoools, that are very up front about what type of merit awards they offer and what is required to receive one.  Good examples of this are University of Alabama and Arizona State University where there are charts and calcualators so you can know exactly what your scholarship offer might be. Others tend to not be as up front in this way; in these cases you will want to utilize the school's Net Price Calculator as a way to get an idea on what you may be eligible for. 

When might you expect to receive a merit award and how much?  That depends on the student and his/her profile.  If a school is a reach the chances for a merit award aren't great as the school has no incentive to offer one, for example the most selective schools in the country offer no academic merit awards at all.   However, if a school is a safety you would be more likely to receive one as you are higher in their applicant pool and they are trying to attract you.  

Other merit-based awards based on different types of talents such as artistic or athletic can vary in size and by school.  Talk to your counselor and Postsecondary Counselor about opportunities in these areas. 

Scholarships from Outside Organizations

Highland Park High School specific scholarships

Our local scholarship program applications are being hosted on Going Merry this year so you can apply online from your computer or phone.  View our school page here.  Make sure to check each scholarship’s description and eligibility requirements since you’re probably eligible to apply to many of them. For step by step instructions on signing up and applying to the HPHS scholarships, please read this support article that has screenshots! Going Merry’s support center has answers to most Frequently Asked Questions, so please search there first if you have generic questions about how to use Going Merry. All supporting documents (such as transcripts, rec letters, etc.) are required to be attached before you submit so make sure not to wait until the last minute to start on your applications.  The deadline for HPHS scholarship applications is April 1, 2021

Local Scholarships

You can find scholarships through your MaiaLearning account: To access the list in Maia, simply click on the "Scholarships" tab in the left margin, and then click "Local Scholarships."  This list is updated on a regular basis so it's important to check back often. If you need any assistance accessing your Maia account or have any questions about these scholarships, contact Mr. Becker, rbecker@dist113.org. Use these instructions to log into your Maia account:

Other Scholarships

Scholarship search sites such as fastweb.com, scholarships.com, cappex.com, and collegegreenlight.com allow you to build a profile and search national scholarship opportunities suited to you. Institutional scholarships (other than merit scholarships that you may have qualified for with admission) are another option. Searching a university's financial aid webpage or calling the financial aid office at a specific college may be worth your time. In some cases, your employer or parents' employers provide scholarship opportunities to employees/children of employees. It never hurts to ask.

Scholarships for undocumented/DACA students

Many of the scholarships refercenced above are open to undocumented/DACA students, so please review them. In addition, please look at the schoarships and resources on this document, which has been developed specifically for undocumented/DACA students. New scholarships are added when information is received. 

For any questions regarding scholarship opportunities, contact Mr. Becker, rbecker@dist113.org

Alternative Options

There are a variety of other ways that students and families make college affordable, including:

Reciprocity - There are many states in the Midwest that will offer a break to Illinois students in regards to tuition. This break can make going to a school out-of-state less expensive than attending an Illinois state school.  These mostly occur at public schools in the surrounding states that are NOT the state flagship institution. For example, not the Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison but Univ. of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Or not Indina University but Ball State University. Check individual school websites you may be interested in to see if they offer such a tuition break.

Establishing Residency - Though most states do not make it easy for students to declare residency, there are exceptions.  For an example check out the University of Missouri policy which allows you to declare in-sate residency after one year on campus.  

Shortening your time in school - Utilizing AP credits as away to shorten the amount of time you have to spend in college is a great option.  For exampe the State of Illinois requires all colleges to give 3 hours of credit for a 3 or better on any AP exam.  A strong student could potentially start college a semester or even a year ahead.  If a student is up for an adventure there are many International options that also shorten the time in school.  For exampe, colleges in England, Ireland and many other countries may offer a 3-yr degree instead of 4 in many majors.

2-year colleges - Attending a community college first is a great way to save money during the first two years of college when students are mostly taking general eduction courses anyways.  It is also possibly a way to simultaneously establish residency at an out-of-state school, making the whole process more affordable.

Dist 113 Financial Planning for College Presentation - Merit-Based Aid and Ways to Reduce Cost