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Program tries to make college more affordable for Milwaukee students

Posted at 1:27 PM, Oct 09, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-09 14:33:36-04

MILWAUKEE — Many high school seniors are starting the college application process and figuring out how to pay for the ever-rising cost of tuition.

That is where the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) comes in. The 2020 -2021 FAFSA application is officially open. That means students have access to federal financial aid forms.

Financial aid experts suggest students should start applying sooner than later.

“The earlier you apply, the earlier your application becomes reviewed for the scholarships and grants that we have,” said Al Pinckney, director of Student Financial Aid Services at MATC.

Reports suggest 75,000 students in grades K-12 in the Milwaukee area are considered economically challenged. That is why MATC and Milwaukee Public Schools partnered to raise awareness of the importance of two opportunities to make college affordable: promoting the FAFSA and the MATC Promise Program application.

“In my role, I am fortunate enough to hear directly from students who have had so many doors in their lives closed, and often they say the promise helped open the door to higher education,” said Laura Bray, vice president of College Advancement and External Communications at MATC.

“The earlier you apply, the earlier your application becomes reviewed for the scholarships and grants that we have.” — Al Pinckney, director of Student Financial Aid Services at MATC

The goal is to tear down financial barriers that often get in the way of pursuing a college education, and by offering free tuition for eligible students, the MATC Promise Program makes college a reality for students who never thought it was possible.

To qualify for the MATC Promise Program, students must complete the FAFSA, a promise interest application and an MATC application by February 2020.