Newsroom
Our features and services
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Collecting documents securely from your students during the pandemic
July 09, 2020
Back to school in 2020 will look different from years past.
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Lower Direct Loan interest rates in place for the 2020-21 academic year
July 09, 2020
Interest rates on federal student loans will decrease again for the next academic year.
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Tips for making the most of online conferences
July 09, 2020
My suitcase, which usually by this time of the summer would have had several flights and a few road trips, stands in the corner with dust gathering and cobwebs forming around it.
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Department of Education provides new tools for students to manage student loan debt
July 01, 2020
Some recent improvements to the StudentAid.gov website will help students manage their student loan debt and determine their eligibility for student loan forgiveness.
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An important trait needed by today's high school and college students
July 01, 2020
If we ever needed any proof that the future is uncertain, 2020 has at least given us that evidence.
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Displaying your accomplishments
July 01, 2020
Summer is a good time to get caught up on projects that are harder to find time for during the school year.
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July tasks for high school seniors
July 01, 2020
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The impact of COVID-19 on financial aid professionals webinar scheduled
July 01, 2020
Join us for a conversation among financial aid professionals, in which we will explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on financial aid offices and how they are addressing their concerns.
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Tips to help pay the cost of college
July 01, 2020
According to the U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics, the average in-state cost of attendance at a four-year public institution in the 2018-19 year was $24,900.
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Updates continue on StudentAidPandemic.org site
June 25, 2020
It is challenging to keep up with the updates to the information for current college students and student loan borrowers.
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Your EFC number - what it is and what it isn't
June 25, 2020
It isn't a magic number, but your EFC is an important number when it comes to determining the amount of financial aid you are eligible to receive at the school you plan to attend after high school.
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Federal offices to close on July 3
June 24, 2020
If you are working on Friday, July 3, it should be a good day to get caught up on answering your emails or on organizing your office.
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Three things you must do to continue receiving financial aid for your education
June 23, 2020
Students who establish their initial eligibility for federal financial aid by completing all the necessary forms aren't finished - at least when it comes to making sure they continue receiving financial aid.
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Helping borrowers know their student loan interest rates
June 18, 2020
Interest rates may not be on student loan borrowers' minds too much right now.
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It's June 2020 and all is quiet on the IFAP website
June 11, 2020
If you haven't checked IFAP lately, you might not have missed a lot.
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No time like the present to sign up for MappingXpress
June 11, 2020
Many schools are using this unusual time to strengthen their internal processes, such as the process of collecting needed documents from students.
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Taxpayers will soon be able to file amended tax returns electronically
June 11, 2020
If you've ever had to tell a student or parent that their income tax return must be amended in order to receive financial aid, you will soon be able tell them they can do that electronically.
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NCES report reveals relationship between education and earnings
June 10, 2020
Although it's still unclear how the pandemic will impact college attendance, the enrollment rate had been on an upward trend and the correlation between education level and earnings continues to be strong, according to a recently released federal report.
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Scammers prey on college students during COVID-19 crisis
June 10, 2020
As if students haven't had enough challenges this year due to the COVID-19 crisis, now scammers are targeting them in a new phishing scheme.
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Mapping Your Future needs your input on impact of COVID-19
June 03, 2020
In order to address some of the issues impacting financial aid offices, Mapping Your Future needs your response to a Financial Aid Professionals COVID-19 Survey.
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Five popular Mapping Your Future resources for counselors and their students
June 02, 2020
Mapping Your Future offers several resources to help you and your students with planning, paying, and preparing for college.
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Starting to prepare for the fall semester
June 01, 2020
Now that May is over, it's time to think about the fall semester.
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It's more important than ever to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
June 01, 2020
And here's why. . .
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June tasks for high school seniors
June 01, 2020
During your senior year, you finalized your college choice.
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The action you should take now if you need more financial aid
June 01, 2020
A lot of things have changed in our world during the past year, and your financial situation may be very different than when you applied for financial aid.
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This type of college funding should be your priority
June 01, 2020
The most important funding for college is the money that you won't have to repay.
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Drop in interest rates on student loans
May 28, 2020
Interest rates on federal student loans will decrease again for the next academic year.
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New call center hours for COD School Relations Center
May 28, 2020
For those financial aid professionals who like burning the midnight oil, reaching some of the school relations staff at the Department of Education won't be possible in those late-night hours.
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Now on the stands - new Department of Education guide
May 28, 2020
If you're looking for some new reading material, the new Application and Verification Guide is hot off the press.
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Online Counseling records provide valuable information
May 28, 2020
The purpose of student loan counseling requirements is two-fold: to educate borrowers and to receive updated contact information for the borrower.
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Common FAFSA questions addressed in podcasts
May 14, 2020
Mapping Your Future worked with the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) and financial aid professionals to develop a series of podcasts to help students and parents preparing for higher education.
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Due date in July for Direct Loan Program year closeout
May 14, 2020
Although a lot of deadlines have been adjusted, the due date for the closeout of the 2018-19 Direct Loan program year has not.
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Let MappingXpress boost the security of your verification process
May 14, 2020
Collecting documents from students and parents securely and efficiently is key to the verification process.
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Updates continue on StudentAidPandemic.org site
May 14, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has changed so many aspects of our lives, and it is challenging to keep up with the updates to the information for current college students and student loan borrowers.
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Know your options to prepare for loan repayment
May 04, 2020
When it comes to borrowing money for college, it's wise to understand repayment requirements and options.
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Knowing what to pack for college
May 04, 2020
If your college plans to re-open dorms for the fall semester, you can start preparing now by knowing what you plan to take with you.
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May tasks for high school seniors
May 02, 2020
Your senior year might looks different than you thought it might as it winds down, don't let yourself become distracted.
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The ABCs of being a good student
May 02, 2020
The ABCs aren't just for younger students.
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Changes to default rate and work study regulatory requirements
April 30, 2020
Not that you've probably had any time to think about your school's default rates, but, in any case, you can now put off thinking about it for a little while.
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Emergency grants guidance
April 30, 2020
Emergency grants are critical right now as some college students struggle with the crisis while trying to pursue their education.
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Making the most of a virtual college tour
April 30, 2020
It may not be what you had planned, but a virtual campus tour can help you choose the right college to accomplish your educational goals.
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Mapping Your Future offers timely resources
April 30, 2020
Recent weeks have underscored the need for online processes and resources.
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Department releases updated Master Promissory Note
April 29, 2020
It may look a lot like last year's model, but the Department of Education recently released a revised Master Promissory Note.
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Important information you can get from the College Scorecard
April 29, 2020
. . .and why you should care.
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COVID-19 resource page added to list of available resources
April 16, 2020
Since mid-March, Mapping Your Future has been compiling various resources to help students, student loan borrowers, and schools.
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No comparison
April 16, 2020
As I've thought about how I might describe life during the COVID-19 crisis sometime in the future, it's difficult right now to make an analogy.
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Contact information for Mapping Your Future
April 14, 2020
The Mapping Your Future staff are available to assist schools, students, Sponsors, and Friends with the variety of tools and services Mapping Your Future offers.
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Exit counseling resources available
April 14, 2020
Because of the current COVID-10 crisis, your office is likely tweaking your best practices to reach your students with important information.
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MappingXpress, an answer for securely collecting needed documents from students
April 14, 2020
A pandemic occurring at the height of the 2020-21 FAFSA verification year has caused many schools to seek a secure document collection service.