| Have you always wanted to go to massage | | | | · Loans (money that is paid back, usually |
| therapy school but didn't think you could afford it? | | | | at lower interest rates than other types of loans) |
| Is your dream of becoming a massage therapist | | | | · Work-study (a job on campus) |
| clouded by the thoughts, "How will I pay for | | | | Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. |
| school? Will I qualify for financial aid? Is my credit | | | | Department of Education, provides financial |
| good enough?" These are great questions, but | | | | assistance for individuals wanting to pursue |
| don't worry! Almost everyone is eligible for | | | | education beyond high school. Federal Student Aid |
| financial aid regardless of one's credit history, | | | | administers the federal student financial assistance |
| income, marital status, or the filing of a tax return. | | | | programs, authorized under Title IV of the Higher |
| Here are the facts about funding your massage | | | | Education Act (HEA) of 1965. In 2006 alone, |
| therapy education and the three most important | | | | Federal Student Aid provided approximately $80 |
| steps for how to get started with your financial | | | | billion in new aid to nearly 10 million postsecondary |
| aid research. | | | | students and their families. |
| Step #1 - Verify that the massage school you | | | | Accredited massage therapy schools may offer |
| are looking at is accredited. View and search the | | | | the following financial aid: |
| Database of Accredited Postsecondary | | | | · Need-based grants for students who |
| Institutions. | | | | have not earned a degree (associate's, bachelor's, |
| Step #2 - Use the Federal Student Aid forecaster | | | | etc) |
| online tool (called the FAFSA4caster) to learn | | | | · Federal Student Aid |
| about the financial aid process and get an early | | | | · Academic Competitiveness Grant |
| estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid | | | | · Pell Grants |
| and answer these questions, "What is federal | | | | · Stafford Subsidized Loans |
| student aid? Who qualifies? How do you apply?" | | | | · Stafford Unsubsidized Loans |
| With the FAFSA4caster you can: | | | | · PLUS Loans (Loans for parents of |
| · Calculate your eligibility for federal | | | | dependent students) |
| financial aid, including grants | | | | · In-house Financing |
| · Reduce the time it will take to complete | | | | · Access to Scholarships |
| the Free Application for Federal Student Aid | | | | In addition, students may also qualify for: |
| (FAFSA), the qualifying form for all federal | | | | · Veterans Administration benefits: US |
| student financial aid | | | | Department of Veterans Affairs |
| Step #3 - Find out if you qualify for financial aid. | | | | · Vocational Rehabilitation funds: Vocational |
| Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid | | | | Rehabilitation State Offices |
| (FAFSA). To start the FAFSA process, visit | | | | · Workforce Investment Act (formerly |
| fafsa.ed.gov and apply as early as possible | | | | Job Training Partnership Act) programs: US |
| beginning January 1st of each year. Schools and | | | | Department of Labor - Employment & |
| states also have their own deadlines, so be sure | | | | Training Administration |
| to contact the school you are interested in for | | | | Other sources of financial aid include state loans |
| exact deadline dates. NOTE: The first "F" in | | | | and grants depending on the student's state of |
| FAFSA stands for "FREE" and the web address is | | | | residence. Your employer may also be a source |
| a ".gov" web address. If you go to you can | | | | of financial aid. Individual employers frequently |
| access the information, but will be charged a fee. | | | | offer education funds for employees or for |
| Most financial aid packages offered by massage | | | | retraining of employees. Taking the time to |
| therapy schools include a variety of types of aid, | | | | research your financial aid options could open the |
| including: | | | | doors to massage school. Believe in yourself and |
| · Scholarships or Grants (money that | | | | make your dream of going to massage therapy |
| does not need to be paid back) | | | | school happen! |