Financial wellness webinars
No matter where you are on your educational path, we have the tools to help you achieve success. Catch our live webinars or watch a recording of a prior webinar. We discuss planning for school, financial aid, how to search for scholarships and more.
Upcoming professional development series
Resources, tools, and best practices to help you assist students and families on their higher education journey. Attend a free, live webinar, or watch a recording of a prior webinar. Together we can help students make informed decisions and pursue their education with confidence.
Another great semester in the books. Check back later this summer to see what’s coming up in our fall webinar series.
Watch our past webinars
Options to pay your remaining balance
May 2024
Many students and families will consider financing a portion of their college education. This session will focus on encouraging responsible borrowing and what students and families can do to find the right solution for their borrowing needs.
Your 1-2-3 Approach to Paying for College
Please note: Our experts will present this webinar in Spanish
April 2024
If college is in your future, you will want to join this webinar to help you plan and pay for college. You will learn about:
- Saving for college – it is never too late!
- How to select a college and how much it will cost
- FAFSA® - what, why and how
- Understanding a financial aid offer
- How to find and apply for scholarships and grants – FREE $$$
- Education loan options
- Free tools and resources to make the process easier
Navigating financial aid offers
March 2024
After being accepted to college, students will receive a financial aid offer that outlines your financial aid eligibility at that specific school. Each financial aid offer will contain similar overall information but since there’s no standard format they can be difficult to interpret. In this session you will learn how to decipher each financial aid offer so you can confidently determine which college is the best fit.
Better be Ready for Better FAFSA®: delays update and guidance from the experts
February 2024
The U.S. Department of Education has overhauled the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to an extent we haven't seen in a generation, and unexpected challenges and delays have left many with unanswered questions. Join our panel of college counseling, admissions, and financial aid experts for an overview of the recent FAFSA® changes and updates, answers to frequently asked questions related to the recent delays, and guidance to help students and families navigate these unprecedented delays.
Helping Black Families Navigate the Admissions Process
February 2024
The entire college admissions process seemed challenging before, but emerging issues, such as the Supreme Court decision about race-conscious admission, and the emergence of artificial intelligence on college essay writing, have students, especially Black students, feeling overwhelmed. Join us for a discussion with Timothy L. Fields and Shereem Herndon-Brown, authors of “The Black Family's Guide to College Admissions, Second Edition”, where we’ll discuss several topics helpful to navigating college admissions, including important factors Black students should consider when choosing a college.
Completing the FAFSA® - Finding Free Money for College
January 2024
Please note: Our experts will present this webinar in Spanish.
Scholarships can be a huge help to college-bound students and their families, but many don’t know where to find them, or how to apply. During this session students and families will learn key tips on applying for scholarships, how to create a winning scholarship essay, and more. We’ll also share helpful tips and information to help you complete your FAFSA® and find the money you need to pay for college.
The first step to finding the money you need for college: Completing the FAFSA®
January 2024
The U.S. Department of Education has overhauled the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to an extent we haven't seen in a generation. Join our experts for an overview of the FAFSA® and its changes. We’ll also share helpful tips and information to help you complete your FAFSA® and find the money you need to pay for college.
Completing the FAFSA® - Finding Free Money for College
November 2023
PLEASE NOTE: Our experts will present this webinar in Spanish.
Scholarships can be a huge help to college-bound students and their families, but many don’t know where to find them, or how to apply. During this session students and families will learn key tips on applying for scholarships, how to create a winning scholarship essay, and more. We’ll also share helpful tips and information to help you complete your FAFSA® and find the money you need to pay for college.
Presented by:
Sergio Gonzalez, Director, Assistant Region Head West
Ed Gonzalez, Director, Assistant Region Head East
Scholarships: Finding Free Money for College
November 2023
Scholarships can be a huge help to college-bound students and their families, but many don’t know where to find them, or how to apply. During session students and families will learn key tips on applying for scholarships, how to create a winning scholarship essay, and more.
Navigating College Admissions & Financial Aid for First Generation Students
October 2023
College students often face many firsts that begin well before they step foot on a college campus. The entire college admissions and financial aid process can seem overwhelming for most students, but especially for students who will be the first in their family to consider going to college. We will be hosting a live event with panelists.
What is the real cost of college? How to plan now
September 2023
If college is in your future, you will want to join this webinar to help you plan and pay for college. You will learn about:
- Saving for college – it is never too late!
- How to select a college and how much it will cost
- FAFSA® - what, why and how
- Understanding a financial aid offer
- How to find and apply for scholarships and grants – FREE $$$
- Education loan options
- Free tools and resources to make the process easier
How America Completes College 2024
April 2024
The college journey isn’t a race, it’s a marathon. From the search for the right schools, the stress of applications, the emotions of acceptance, the discovery of future careers, and the challenge of figuring out how to pay – just to get to the start. Navigating the path to graduation is equally, if not more, important. With 62% of undergraduate students walking the stage at a commencement ceremony, it’s clear that there are many challenges on the road to college completion. Join us as we discuss our latest study - Sallie Mae’s How America Completes College 2024 - and examine the college experience through the lens of completion to uncover what separates students who are on track from those who are at-risk and discuss what opportunities exist to help more students complete their programs.
Authentic and Transparent: Assisting Students with Information on Costs and Payment Options
March 2024
When making an enrollment decision, students and families aren’t just concerned with cost and fit. They are also looking for readily available information as well as transparency and simplicity in the college financing process. This session will focus on ways to represent financing options in the aid offer, review best practices on gap finance counseling and discuss the value of a preferred lender list. Our panel of experts will help you review the guidance and industry standards to improve financial aid offers and counseling on payment options.
The real scoop on paying for college. Students' and families' expectations versus reality
February 2024
While most families agree that college is an investment in their student’s future, many are confused and stressed about paying for that education. Join this session where we explore what college-bound high school families know and expect about paying for college, and how that compares to the realities experienced by currently enrolled undergraduates. Our panel will discuss how families’ understanding of available funding sources, attitudes and behaviors change as families begin and follow their higher education journey.
Panelists include:
- Jamie Storey, Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) Director of Higher Education Innovation
- Roslyn White, Murray State University, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management
- Mike Frechette, Pacific Lutheran University, Dean of Enrollment Management
Better be ready for Better FAFSA®
December 2023
The U.S. Department of Education has overhauled the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to an extent we haven't seen in a generation. Join our panel of experts for an overview of the FAFSA® and its changes. Panelists will share their insights on topics that may impact family’s education decisions, communications to help families plan, and sharing FAFSA® updates across campus. This session will be ideal for enrollment management and admissions staff, one-stop offices, and counselors, so please share with your colleagues.
Moderator:
Keri Neidig, Sallie Mae Director of Relationship Management, Assistant Region Head
Panelists Include:
- Chad Olson, Director of Student Financial Aid, Iowa State University
- Jared Menghini, Vice President of Enrollment, Wilkes University
- Frank Gomez, Associate Director of Student Financial Aid, University of Houston
How America Pays for College 2023
November 2023
Join us for a discussion of findings of “How America Pays for College 2023” - Sallie Mae’s annual national research study. We’ll discuss the range of funding sources families rely on to pay for college--from scholarships to 529s, and from federal grants to private student loans, evaluate trends that impact families’ strategies and uncover misconceptions that prevent some families from making college more affordable.
Better be ready for Better FAFSA®
October 2023
The U.S. Department of Education has overhauled the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to an extent we haven't seen in a generation. Join our panel of experts for an overview of the FAFSA® and its changes. Panelists will share their insights on topics that may impact family’s education decisions, communications to help families plan, and sharing FAFSA® updates across campus. This session will be ideal for enrollment management and admissions staff, one-stop offices, and counselors, so please share with your colleagues.
Panelists:
- Michelle Pretopapa, Associate Director of Financial Aid, Lafayette College
- Brent Shock, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success, Miami University
- Kandi Teeters, Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships, Eastern Washington University