In partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has created near real-time school and student-level FAFSA completion reports within Edwin Analytics. These live reports allow schools and districts to monitor whether seniors have completed and submitted their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which they must submit in order to apply for federal and state financial student aid for college. The Department encourages all school counselors to have access to Edwin. Join in this webinar with presenter Nyal Fuentes, College and Career Readiness Coordinator at DESE, to learn about this important tool and how it can help your school and your students.

FAFSA Simplification, including the delayed availability of the FAFSA, has brought unprecedented changes to the financial aid process this year. The college admissions and financial aid cycle has been upended, with significant impact on the work of admissions, financial aid, and enrollment management administrators. Three higher education leaders and FAFSA experts provide guidance on how your institutions can manage these FAFSA changes and revised timeline this winter and spring while continuing to serve your prospective and current students.

This webinar for school counselors and college access professionals provides a detailed overview of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), including step-by-step instructions on completing the application, helpful tips on answering questions correctly, and important next steps.

Did you know that New England residents can enroll at out-of-state public colleges at a discount? In this webinar, presented by Jonathan Gowin, Director of Tuition Break for the New England Board of Higher Education, learn more about Tuition Break, a savings program specifically for New England residents that can save families approximately $9,000 per year. Over 2,500 degree programs are available.

This webinar provides key information about the entrepreneurial mindset, showcases how entrepreneurship is a viable pathway for students after high school, and explores tools and resources that can be utilized in and out of the classroom. Hear from Adanma Ude, Regional Director of Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), a global educational nonprofit focused on bringing the power of entrepreneurship to youth. She is joined by NFTE alumni who share their postsecondary experiences.

There’s a new income-driven repayment option, SAVE, available for federal student loans. The SAVE plan increases the amount of protected discretionary income, forgives any interest that accrues each month that is not covered by the calculated monthly payment amount, and, starting in July 2024, will decrease the percentage of the discretionary income in the calculation.

While undocumented students face many barriers to college, it is still possible for them to get a college education. In this webinar, presented by Andrea Keenan, Director of College and Career Counseling at Excel Academy Charter Schools, attendees learn about admissions standards at both public and private universities, leading into a discussion about how to maximize credits and time for DACA and undocumented students through dual-enrollment and concurrent enrollment opportunities across states, high schools, and community colleges.

This webinar, presented by Suellen Dean, Senior Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Assumption University, Kevin DeRuosi, Associate Director of Special Programs and Compliance at Salem State University, and Karensa DiFonzo, Director of Student Financial Services at Wellesley College, provides guidance for school counselors and college access professionals in working with families with unique circumstances throughout the financial aid process. Topics include independent students, undocumented students, nontraditional parent families, and financial aid appeals.

This webinar provides an overview of the state-based financial aid programs in Massachusetts. Join Constantia T. Papanikolaou, Chief Legal Counsel at MA Department of Higher Education, and Dr. Clantha McCurdy, Senior Deputy Commissioner of Access and Student Financial Assistance at MA Department of Higher Education, as they discuss each of these programs and highlight some initiatives by the Commonwealth of MA and Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA).

The Attainable^® Savings Plan allows individuals with disabilities and their families to save for disability-related expenses without losing eligibility for federal means-tested benefits. In this webinar, we review the benefits, eligibility requirements, and plan details of Attainable^®, and explain how to easily set up an account. Download a copy of the webinar slides to follow along.