The Financial Aid Advisor informs users of the many assistance programs available through the public and private sectors. By answering a series of questions, a user can generate an assistance profile including a brief program description and where to find more information. By providing optional income tax-related information, an estimated Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Federal Pell Grant can be calculated.

The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is the amount a family can be expected to contribute toward a student's college costs. Financial aid administrators determine an applicant's need for federal student aid from the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) and other sources of assistance by subtracting the EFC from the student's cost of attendance (COA).

The U.S. Department of Education has the most extensive Federally-funded student financial assistance programs in the country. Even more aid is available through the U.S. Armed Forces, the Veteran's Administration, the U.S. Department of Labor, and other Federal and state agencies. Applicants must meet the specific eligibility criteria designated by those individual agencies.

The financial aid data come from a variety of sources. The Pell grant maximum award, formulas, and data tables are obtained from the Department of Education. CareerOneStop staff conduct Internet research to obtain the state contact and program data. The scholarship content data is obtained from the Gale Group, Inc., a part of Cengage Learning, Inc. The search criteria into the scholarship data was developed by staff, U.S. Department of Labor - ETA, and the State of Minnesota.

The scholarship database, containing more than 5000 entries, provides information on assistance from professional associations, charitable foundations, schools and colleges, private companies, and non-profit organizations. A database of state higher education agencies is also available from the profile, including the state's assistance programs and where to go for more information.

If you are planning to attend college, or if you are already enrolled, make sure to stay in contact with your school's financial aid office. New programs become available each year, and the eligibility requirements, award amounts, and contact information of existing programs are subject to change.

Investigate every possibility. If you are working, contact your employer about paying for certification and/or work-related training. Explore distance learning options if you have constraints on your time and travel. You are likely to need a combination of funding sources to pay for your education or training.

Information about other nonfederal assistance may be available from foundations, religious organizations, community organizations and civic groups, as well as organizations related to your field of interest, such as the American Medical Association or American Bar Association. Check with your parents' employers or unions to see if they award scholarships or have tuition payment plans.

A financial aid administrator can consider special or unusual circumstances such as unusual medical expenses, tuition expenses, or unemployment and can adjust your cost of attendance or some of the information used to calculate your EFC. The financial aid administrator at your college or career school also can change your status from dependent to independent but only under specific circumstances the aid administrator will explain. You'll have to provide your college or career school with documentation to justify any change. The decision to change or not to change your dependency status is based on the aid administrator's judgment, and it's final. It can't be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.

Use the Financial Aid Advisor as a starting point for funding the career you want.