College education is one of the most important investments you can make!

It's an investment that enables you, when you are a college graduate, to increase your earning potential throughout your lifetime.This means you should choose a college based on how far it can take you, not just on how much it will cost.

The Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), New York's student financial aid agency, has the programs, information, and support services to help you plan for and finance your college education.

Check out New York's 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan which provides a flexible, convenient, and low-cost way to save for college — starting now!

HESC has developed Six Steps to Financial Aid to help you learn about the major student aid programs available for students in New York state and tell you where to get more information, forms, and assistance.There are helpful tools, such as scholarship searches, financial aid estimators and salary calculators, here as well.

STEP 1: PLAN FOR COLLEGE COSTS

Features Financial Aid Calculators — Estimate your student financial aid eligibility and your possible salary and loan repayment ability

STEP 2: UNDERSTAND THE TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

Features Scholarship Search — NYMentor's scholarship search tool

STEP 3: FILE A "FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID" (FAFSA) FORM

Features FAFSA Transfer — How to transfer your NYMentor information into your FAFSA

STEP 4: APPLY FOR THE NYS TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

STEP 5: FILE OTHER FINANCIAL AID FORMS

STEP 6: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?