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Five Resources for New Mainers
New Mainers are critical to the success of Maine’s economy. Many new Mainers are looking to begin or continue their higher education journey but may not know what options exist to cover the cost. Others already have a degree but cannot utilize it due to the cost of credential evaluation. Good news! Resources and programs do exist to support these individuals. Below are a few to consider.
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1. Free community college
One option for recent high school graduates is to attend community college in Maine. Graduates from the classes of 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 are eligible to attend any one of Maine’s community colleges tuition-free! Students who are eligible for federal student aid must file a FAFSA. Students who are not eligible for federal student aid are still eligible to receive the Free College Scholarship and do not need to file a FAFSA. Instead, these students need to contact an advisor at the community college they plan to attend. The advisor will document their circumstances and notify the appropriate campus offices.
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2. Interactive tool for determining federal student aid eligibility
Often students and those working with them are unsure if they are eligible to receive federal student aid. To help answer this question, we created an easy-to-use tool. In the "New Mainers" section of our website, there is a series of questions for students to answer that will help determine eligibility. If students are eligible for federal student aid, information to help them complete the FAFSA will be provided. If you would like to dive into the interactive eligibility questionnaire, click here to explore.
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3. Resources for students ineligible for federal student aid
Students who are not eligible for federal student aid, such as asylum seekers, are not out of luck! There are other sources of funding available, and you'll find some places to start on our website. Scholarships, including the Adult Learner Scholarship, are a great way to help meet educational costs, and we have a curated list of scholarships specifically for new Mainers. Students can also consider the “pay as you go” approach, and most colleges have a tuition payment plan that can make that option easier to manage. Attending part-time can also reduce costs. Another option to consider is employer tuition assistance as many local and major retailers offer tuition assistance. Students should check with their (or their parents’) employer.
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4. Credential evaluation funding programs
If a new Mainer has a degree from their country of origin, it may be necessary to have their credential evaluated. There are a few different types of credential evaluations to pursue depending on the individual’s goals: course-by-course credential evaluation, educational credential evaluation, and professional work experience evaluation. These types of evaluations generally have a cost associated with them. FAME administers a Foreign Credentialing Grant program and a Foreign Credentialing Loan program to assist with the cost.
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5. One-on-one help and resources
New Mainers do not have to navigate the paying-for-college process alone! FAME offers FREE, virtual one-on-one financial aid coaching appointments on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Additionally, we’ve created informational videos about paying for college specifically designed for new Mainers, including some narrated in Arabic. FAME is pleased to have Floreka Malual, College Planning Advisor as part of the team. Floreka is an expert in assisting new Mainers with college planning and offers free assistance to help new Mainers navigate the process. Feel free to connect with Floreka for new Mainer-specific questions.
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For more information, check out our recent webinar: | |
New Mainers are critical to the success of the Maine economy. Unfortunately, many New Mainers face unique challenges when pursuing education and training or attempting to move into the workforce. Some students aren’t eligible for federal student aid, making it challenging to pay for higher education. Other individuals have a foreign credential but cannot put it to use due to the cost of a credential evaluation. These are just two of the many scenarios new Mainers encounter. In this webinar, we share a tool to help determine whether a student is eligible for federal student aid along with resources to support new Mainers regardless of their citizenship status. | |
For additional helpful information and resources, find previous tips on our website. | |
FAME's College Access and Financial Education Team: | |
The Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) does not discriminate in the administration of any of its programs or in its employment practices on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, gender, religion, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, marital status or sexual orientation. FAME is an equal opportunity employer, provider and lender.
FAME provides links to other websites as a convenience and does not endorse or guarantee the content, accuracy or usability of such sites.
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