Paying for college is a daunting process. It can be long, overwhelming, and downright stressful. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In fact, at Ohio Business College, we firmly believe that paying for college is possible and doesn’t have to involve the headache.

We want you to know that we’re here to help you understand and navigate your financial aid options – and we will support you throughout the entire process.

We recently caught up with OBC’s Lead Financial Services Administrator, Christine Todd, to ask her some important financial aid questions. Read what she had to say and discover how paying for college just got a lot easier at OBC:

• How does OBC help students navigate financial aid and paying for college? 

We take the time to meet with each student individually [and help them] apply for the FAFSA, as well as provide individual loan counseling to all students. We explain the costs associated with attending [Ohio Business College] and options available for paying for it. We also meet with students getting ready to graduate to provide a refresher on Direct Student Loan repayment options, the benefits to paying on your student loans, where to obtain individual loan obligation repayment amounts, and [how to find] loan forgiveness programs.

• Where can prospective and current OBC students go to find and apply for scholarships and grants?

We assist all students with the completion of the FAFSA which is always the best place to start. Based on the outcome of the FAFSA, students may qualify for Federal Title IV in the form of Pell Grants and Direct Student Loans. Since we are approved by the Ohio Department of Education, degree seeking students may be eligible for the Ohio College Opportunity Grant. This is also applied for when the FAFSA is completed.

Other sites often recommended to interested students are: www.FASTWEB.com, www.Finaid.org/scholarships, and www.Scholarships.com. These sites provide a wide range of opportunities to students who are willing to put in a little elbow grease to try and save some money.

• Are there specific scholarships and grants that are only for career school students like OBC?

Yes, high school seniors who have enrolled at OBC can apply for the OhioLEADS! Scholarship, and continuing OBC students can apply for the Ohio Association of Career Colleges and Schools Workforce Tuition Scholarship – which ranges from $1200.00 for a Diploma student and $2500.00 for Degree student. We also offer a GED scholarship and a Life Skills Scholarship.

• What additional information can you share with prospective and current OBC students about how to go about receiving scholarship money? 

Currently, we have information about the Workforce Tuition Scholarship. Most of our students are happy to know that they can afford to attend our school using traditional financial aid (grants and loans). Many students find it difficult to juggle work, family obligations, and school work without the additional papers that may be required to apply for scholarships.

Have more questions about paying for college? Visit Ohio Business College’s financial aid page and find additional information about the cost of attendance and why you can afford a degree from OBC.