Life After High School —Resourcing Yourself through Financial Aid Programs for Arizona Students
If you have felt that the post-secondary education is out of reach because of the high cost, we want to tell you about some resources that can help. For Arizona high school students that want to pursue higher education, the following programs can provide extensive financial help.
In our previous article, we talked about scholarship and grant opportunities for Arizona students. In this article, we’ll focus on financial aid programs for Arizona students.
Other Financial Aid Programs
Although we’ve listed this last, the amount of help that can come from other financial aid programs can be huge! Some of these programs can take care of a majority, if not all, your post-secondary education expenses. These programs are designed to help groups with unique needs such as those for Native American Students and youth who have experienced foster care.
“Some of these programs can take care of a majority, if not all, your post-secondary education expenses. These programs are designed to help groups with unique needs ”
Arizona Promise Program
The Arizona Promise Program provides substantial financial assistance for students attending one of the three public Arizona Universities - ASU, NAU, and UofA. Students who qualify come from low-income households and graduate from an Arizona high school with a minimum 2.5 GPA. See their website for the complete details: Arizona Promise Program.
Arizona Teacher Student Loan Program
Arizona residents who want to pursue a career in education may be eligible for the Arizona Teacher Student Loan program. It is a forgivable-loan program where the student’s loans are forgiven once they meet an agreed-upon teaching commitment. Details of this program can be found on the Arizona Student Financial Aid Programs website here.
Programs for Native American Students
To support native students in Arizona, there are a number of programs available to help them pursue post-secondary education. This June of 2022, University of Arizona announced that it will offer tuition-free education for Native American undergraduates in Arizona through the new Arizona Native Scholars Grant program. Visit their website to learn more!
American Indian Graduate Center offers funding opportunities for undergraduate students including AS, BA, and BS degrees in all majors, with special scholarships for STEM majors. High School Students can find additional scholarship resources on their website.
Arizona Tri-Universities for Indian Education (ATUIE) has partnerships with twelve colleges and universities throughout Arizona and New Mexico. They have provided scholarships and other support to Native American students. Please click the link and reach out to contacts from ATUIE with questions.
The Arizona Office of Indian Education provides Professional Learning & Resources here.
Foster Care Tuition Waiver
The State of Arizona wants to see youth who have been in foster care succeed. That is why they provide tuition coverage for youth in or previously in foster care. Students who have been in foster care may qualify for multiple programs. Please see their website to get the full details: Fostering Advocates Arizona.
Career Readiness for Disadvantaged Youth Program
For youth with disabilities, pregnant or parenting, economically disadvantaged, or homeless, there are programs that help prepare them for high-demand jobs and allow for career exploration. The YMCA has one such program called Y Achievers. While not available in all areas, there is one available in the Phoenix metro area. Learn more on their website: Y Achievers - Valley of the Sun.
Have Questions?
If you’re a current Grad Solutions student and have questions about financial aid, please reach out to Angela Chicci, M.Ed. School Counselor and College & Career Readiness Advisor by email at: angelac@iwantmydiploma.com.
If you're not a Grad Solutions student but are interested in learning more about our program, please visit the page for prospective students or speak with an Enrollment Specialist at (480) 689-5999 during office hours: 9 AM - 5 PM, Monday through Friday.