Your Course to College
available in English & Spanish

This comprehensive guide provides financial aid information, as well as a directory of Iowa colleges and universities to assist students and families with the college selection process.

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How to Apply for Financial Aid

This brochure has step by step information on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for state and federal financial aid.

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Scholarships and Grants

This brochure reviews both federal and state scholarships and grants available to Iowa students. Additional sources for grants and scholarships are also discussed.

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Student Loans

This brochure reviews Federal Stafford, PLUS, and Perkin loans as well as private education loans. Forgiveness and cancellation benefits are also briefly discussed.

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Nursing Loan Forgiveness & Teacher Loan Forgiveness

These brochures provide information on loan forgiveness opportunities available to eligible nurse educators, registered nurses, and teachers.

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Guide to Financial Aid for Adult Students

This brochure provides information on financial aid, college budget needs, and resources specific to the needs of adult students who are considering starting
college or returning to college to finish a degree.

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Helpful Websites

This brochure provides many reputable websites available for college planning, scholarship searches and more.

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Your Opportunity Starts Now

This brochure provides information on grant assistance available to youth in foster care to help cover their college costs.

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About the Commission

This fact sheet provides information on the Iowa College Student Aid Commission. It discusses the role of the Commission as the designated guarantor in the state of Iowa as well as the products and services available.

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ACG & SMART Grants

This fact sheet provides information and guidelines on how students can qualify for the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and the National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) grant programs.

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ACG for College Students

This fact sheet provides information and guidelines on how students can qualify for the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG).  Study tips are provided to help returning students meet the GPA requirement needed to qualify for an ACG for their second year of study.

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Grad PLUS Loans

This fact sheet discusses the benefits of Grad PLUS loans as a means for graduate and professional students to help cover the costs of higher education.

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Higher Education Tax Benefits

This fact sheet provides information on money-saving tax benefits available to taxpayers that may help reduce the overall cost of a college education.

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Parent PLUS Loans

This fact sheet is designed for families with students attending a college or university that participates in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP).  It discusses the benefits of Parent PLUS Loans as a means for parents to assist their student with the costs of higher education.

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Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans

This fact sheet is designed for families with students attending a college or university that participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program.  It discusses the benefits of Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans as a means for parents to assist their students with costs of higher education.

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Protecting Your Identity

This fact sheet provides information on how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft. Warning signs, resources, and steps to take if information has been compromised are included in this fact sheet.

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Paying for College

This fact sheet helps parents and students to effectively communicate with college and university financial aid administrators. Factors to consider when evaluating financial aid awards, tips for working with the financial aid office, and questions to ask regarding college costs, applying for financial aid, paying for college, and parent and student loans are discussed.

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I Have a Plan. Do You?

This 5.5 x 11 sized card promotes the benefits of the Iowa Choices web-based career and education planning system to students and their parents. It include step-by-step instructions to create a portfolio.

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Iowa Choices Poster

This 18 x 12 poster promotes the use of Iowa Choices to students. The poster includes the URL used to access the program. Posters can be ordered to hang in the counseling office, classrooms, library or any area of your school.

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Iowa Choices Access Card

These convenient, business sized cards can be provided to students when they are creating their online portfolio. The cards includes the URL to access Iowa Choices and can be used to record the student’s Portfolio Name and Password.

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Mapping Your Future Entrance Counseling Flier

This envelope-sized flier provides instructions for students on how to complete their Federal Stafford Loan entrance counseling requirement online by accessing the Mappingyourfuture.org website. 

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Mapping Your Future Exit Counseling Flier

This envelope-sized flier provides instructions for students on how to complete their Federal Stafford Loan exit counseling requirement online by accessing the Mappingyourfuture.org website.

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Entrance Counseling: Your Guide to Borrowing Wisely

This comprehensive neutral guide can be used by all colleges and universities to educate students about student loan debt and promote sensible borrowing. In addition to fulfilling all entrance counseling requirements, this guide also covers selecting a college major, career planning, and smart money management.

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Exit Counseling: Your Guide to Successful Repayment

This comprehensive neutral guide can be used by all colleges and universities to help students manage their student loan debt and to guide them through successful repayment. In addition to fulfilling all exit counseling requirements, this guide provides much more such as interview and resume writing tips to help students successfully find a career.

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To be in compliance with federal exit counseling guidelines, you must provide the student with our Exit Counseling Confirmation Form or an equivalent form. You may order our form below.

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Exit Counseling Checklist

The Exit Counseling Checklist can be used by all colleges and universities to supplement exit counseling. The checklist provides students with an overview of the U.S. Department of Education’s exit counseling requirements along with the page number in the Exit Counseling Guide where more information on the topic can be found. The checklist can be customized to fit the needs of each college and university.

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Student Loan Contact Cards

These convenient, business card sized pieces can be provided to students along with entrance and exit counseling materials. The cards have a place to record loan holder contact information. In addition, contact information for the Commission as well as examples of when borrowers should contact their loan holders are also included.

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Student Loan Repayment Guide

This envelope-sized neutral guide contains information about Stafford Loans, PLUS and Grad PLUS Loans, and touches on Perkins, private, and institutional loans. This easy-to-read guide covers all of the required exit counseling elements and is designed to engage students, help them track their loans and can be easily sent in the mail.

Are you using this brochure as part of your exit counseling session?
Yes No

If yes, you are required to provide our Exit Counseling Confirmation Form or an equivalent form to be in compliance with federal regulations.

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Commission Staff Directory

This card lists contact information for Iowa College Student Aid Commission departments and staff.

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Interest Rate Chart

This chart provides the federal loan interest rates for the two most current years.  The fixed interest rates for federal loans through 2012 are also included.

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Loan Program Chart

This chart provides an overview of Federal Stafford and PLUS loans.

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Website Resources

This desk guide, designed for Iowa’s financial aid professionals, lists many available website resources.

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