State Holds Webinars on Financial Aid Process | News, sports, jobs

HARRISBURG — Families with college students, or families seeking to continue their education, will have the opportunity to learn more about the financial aid process.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) is holding two free webinars statewide this month.

These webinars are designed to help college-bound students and their families navigate the financial aid process and discuss PHEAA’s private student loan program – PA Forward, Pennsylvania’s state-based private student loan option.

The webinars are hosted by PHEAA representatives Linda Pacewicz and Dan Wray, who specialize in financial aid. They will discuss how students and families can reap the benefits of using PA Forward Student Loans to cover learning gaps that other aid did not cover.

“The PHEAA Board of Directors is delighted to provide the opportunity for students and their families

resources they need to secure financial support,” said Senator Wayne Fontana, Chair of the PHEAA Board. “By attending the webinars, they not only receive important guidance in funding their education, but they can also ask questions about their personal circumstances. At the end of the webinar, they should be ready to begin this crucial chapter in their lives.”

The following webinars will take place:

Dive deep

Cover the gap

This 1-hour webinar explores available loan programs to help bridge the cost gaps in financing. Classes will take place on Tuesday, July 11 at 6:30 PM and Tuesday, July 25 at 12:00 PM.

Borrowing for education – Which loan is right for me?

This 1-hour webinar explores the loan options available to students and families and discusses the pros and cons of each. Classes will take place on Thursday, July 13 at 12:00 PM and Tuesday, July 27 at 6:30 PM

Register to attend one of the upcoming events via the registration link: pheaa.org/virtual.

The PA Forward Student Loan Program is a series of borrower-friendly Pennsylvania-based private student loans that allow students and families to borrow up to the total cost of attendance with competitive interest rates and a variety of prepayment and repayment benefits.

Additional benefits include no application or setup fees, flexible repayment options, and bi-weekly payment options that can help pay off a loan faster, saving borrowers even more money in interest.

PHEAA is the program’s lender and administrator, with a line of credit provided by the PA Treasury and a tax-exempt allocation from the PA Department of Economic Development (DCED), making PA Forward Pennsylvania’s student loan program.

In May, PHEAA announced that interest rates for 2023-24 will remain unchanged from previous

academic year for PA Forward students, graduates and parent borrowers, despite a 5 percentage point increase in interest rates from the Federal Reserve last year.

“Our PA Forward Student Loan Program is a lifeline for Pennsylvania students and families, especially during these challenging economic times,” said James H. Steeley, president and CEO of PHEAA. “We are pleased to be able to keep our interest rates at the same level as last year for the upcoming academic year, enabling students and families to fulfill their dream of higher education despite record high inflation and interest rates.”

Combined with the program’s many borrower benefits, PA Forward undergraduate and graduate borrowers can experience fixed interest rates as low as 3.82% APR and no higher than 7.69% APR.

To learn more about PA Forward Student Loans and to apply, visit pheaa.org/PAForward or call 1-800-PA-FORWD.

Students and families are also encouraged to visit PHEAA on Facebook, Twitter (@PHEAAaid), and LinkedIn where they can learn more about the university’s financial aid process, register for reminders of financial aid deadlines, and get information regarding the planning for the university. In addition, there are video tutorials explaining the student aid process and types of aid available at YouTube.com/PHEAAStudentAid.