College fairs can help with exploring college options. Located in various venues across the country, college fairs offer students and their families the opportunity to learn about a large number of colleges and universities all in one place. Before heading to a college fair, hear our tips in order to make the most of the opportunity. Tips include learning which colleges will be at the fair, finding out which colleges fit your preferences, preparing questions for the admissions representatives, exchanging contact information for further correspondence with the school, reviewing the event map, attending additional sessions, and allowing yourself time to browse.

You can use the funds from your U.Plan Prepaid Tuition Program account to pay for tuition and mandatory fees at any one of the plan's participating colleges and universities in Massachusetts. Or you can cash out the funds to use elsewhere. This video walks you through the steps of how to access your savings when it comes time to pay the college bill.

This webinar, presented by Suellen Dean, Senior Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Assumption University, Kevin DeRuosi, Associate Director of Special Programs and Compliance at Salem State University, and Karensa DiFonzo, Director of Student Financial Services at Wellesley College, provides guidance for school counselors and college access professionals in working with families with unique circumstances throughout the financial aid process. Topics include independent students, undocumented students, nontraditional parent families, and financial aid appeals.

Were you placed on a college’s waitlist? There’s some actions you can take now, such as formally accepting the spot, providing the school with updated grades or awards, letting the college know they’re your top choice, and depositing at a school you’ve been accepted to.

As students progress through middle and high school, it's important for them to make a postsecondary plan. MEFA Pathway, our free college and career planning website, guides students through every step of that planning process. This website provides tools and activities to help students learn more about themselves, set goals for the future, and explore college and career options. It's easy for students to create an account in MEFA Pathway! This short video walks through every step of the process. Get started today at mefapathway.org.

This webinar provides an overview of the state-based financial aid programs in Massachusetts. Join Constantia T. Papanikolaou, Chief Legal Counsel at MA Department of Higher Education, and Dr. Clantha McCurdy, Senior Deputy Commissioner of Access and Student Financial Assistance at MA Department of Higher Education, as they discuss each of these programs and highlight some initiatives by the Commonwealth of MA and Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA).

Do 529 accounts owned by a grandparent affect financial aid? Do families receive less financial aid if they saved in a 529 account? Get the answers to these questions and others in our short video.

The Attainable^® Savings Plan allows individuals with disabilities and their families to save for disability-related expenses without losing eligibility for federal means-tested benefits. In this webinar, we review the benefits, eligibility requirements, and plan details of Attainable^®, and explain how to easily set up an account. Download a copy of the webinar slides to follow along.

Are you thinking about attending a community college? Community colleges are two-year schools where you can earn an associate degree. They have many benefits, including costing less than 4-year institutions, allowing you to utilize MassTransfer, having open enrollment and rolling admissions, and offering career training and apprenticeship programs.

ABLE accounts were established thanks to the ABLE Act, enacted on December 19, 2014 to help individuals with disabilities save for qualified expenses without impacting their access to federal public benefits. Find out how you can save in Attainable®, the Massachusetts ABLE Plan offered by MEFA and managed by Fidelity Investments.