Hello there! I'm currently figuring out which college to apply for and financial aid is a big factor. I heard that some states offer less aid for college compared to others, is this true? If so, which states are we talking about?
Yes, this is true. While states all over the U.S. offer some form of financial aid, the amount and types of aid can vary greatly.
One of the states known to provide less state-based financial aid is South Dakota. According to a study by the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, South Dakota was near the bottom in terms of grant assistance per full-time undergraduate student.
Arizona is another state that doesn't allocate a considerable amount of its budget to financial aid programs. While it does offer a selection of scholarships, the total does not amount to much compared to other states.
New Hampshire also provides minimal state-based financial aid. In fact, as per a report from the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, New Hampshire has in the past been ranked last for the least amount of state grant aid awarded per undergraduate student.
However, please keep in mind that within each state, there are numerous private scholarships available and most federal aid does not depend on your state of residency. Also, it's possible to offset costs through institutional aid from the colleges themselves. Therefore, it's important to explore all of these avenues when considering how to finance your college education.
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