Making the decision to go to college can raise some financial questions. What if it costs more than you think you can afford? How do you know if you are eligible for financial aid? What kind of financial aid is available for paralegal students? At Center for Advanced Legal Studies, we are committed to helping each paralegal student get all the funding they are eligible to receive.
Your first step to apply for financial aid is to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The key word here is FREE. It can be intimidating at first glance, but if you go in prepared to research and spend a little time, you will realize how easy it can be. Don’t ever pay anyone to complete the FAFSA for you.
The process has gotten simpler over the past couple of years, because you can now retrieve your and your spouse’s and/or parents’ income information directly from the IRS. In other words, you don’t have to struggle anymore trying to find your adjusted gross income, taxes paid, and income earned from work, etc. Now you can retrieve all this information with just the click of a mouse. Not only does this streamline the process of the application, it also cuts down on human error.
For the FAFSA, you’ll need to determine your dependency status. Why? Because it determines whose information you must put on the FAFSA. If you are considered a dependent student, you will need your information and your parents’ or guardian’s information on the FAFSA. “Oh,” you say, “I have a job and my own apartment, and I pay my own bills.” This alone does not make you an independent student for financial aid eligibility. If you are classified as a dependent student, you must report both your and your parents’ or guardian’s information.
If you are classified as an independent student, you will only report your information (and your spouse’s information if you are married).
You can complete the FAFSA as early as October 1st for the upcoming award year. For example, if you are planning to attend college in 2025, you can complete the 2025/2026 FAFSA as early as October 1, 2024. You will be required to use your 2023 income tax information for the 2025/2026 and 2024 income tax information for 2026/2027 FAFSAs. It can get a little confusing because most colleges and universities have their own deadline for awarding certain funding, so check with your school. Because we are a continuously enrolling college, Center for Advanced Legal Studies does not have a deadline. You just complete the appropriate FAFSA prior to enrolling.
You can complete your FAFSA at StudentAid.gov
Haven’t decided where to go to school yet? No problem, you can list several options you are considering, and each school will receive a copy of your FAFSA. You can always add another institution if needed. (If you wish to add Center for Advanced Legal Studies to you list of college options, our school code is 026047.)
Finally, once you complete entrance counseling, stay signed in and complete the Loan Agreement for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan (MPN).
Bottom line, do your research and apply as early as you can. The 2024/2025 FAFSA and the 2025/2026 FAFSA are available now.
By completing the FAFSA, you may be eligible to receive several types of federal financial aid, with eligibility dependent on your FAFSA results. This could include a Pell Grant, which is money you typically don’t repay, awarded based on financial need. You may also qualify for Subsidized Loans, where the government pays the interest while you’re in school at least half-time if you have financial need. Additionally, Unsubsidized Loans are available regardless of financial need, though interest accrues while you are in school. Your specific eligibility for each of these aid types will be determined by the information provided on your FAFSA.
Some students may qualify for financial assistance in addition to that available in the form of federal loans and grants. Military veterans may qualify for additional funding. Please see https://paralegal.edu/military for more information.
At Center for Advanced Legal Studies, we understand that not all students may qualify for or choose to use federal financial aid (Title IV funding). Still others prefer to reduce their overall debt by borrowing as little as possible. We want to ensure that financial concerns don’t stand in the way of your education. To support your educational goals, we offer flexible payment solutions and third-party funding options to help make your goals more attainable. The following is a list of non-Title IV funding options to consider:
Needing Help Exploring Your Options?
Our Financial Aid Department is here to help you review payment options and determine the best solution for your situation.
Lourdes (Lou) Nieves has several years of experience managing the financial aid process and provides excellent customer service.
If you are interested in paralegal education and the personalized financing options available, please submit an application to begin the process.
If you are interested in a paralegal education and the personalized financing options available to you, contact us at 1.713.529.2778 or [email protected].
800 W Sam Houston Pkwy S, Suite 100
Houston, TX 77042-1912
Call or Text: (713) 529-2778
Toll Free: 1-800-446-6931
800 W Sam Houston Pkwy S, Suite 100
Houston, TX 77042-1912
Call or Text: (713) 529-2778
Toll Free: 1-800-446-6931
