Student Support and Advocacy Center

Financial Resources

  • Financial Literacy

    Empower yourself with essential knowledge and skills to make informed financial decisions and manage your personal finances effectively.

    • CASHCOURSE
      • Learn financial skills through interactive financial education online modules.
      • Click here to learn more about this online tool and how to access it using your Mason credentials.
    • AccessLex Institute
      • Access to financial resources available to all college students and alumni
      • Online loan repayment and financial education programming to help students and graduates confidently manage their finances.
      • Professional development opportunities.

 

  • Financial Aid

    Explore various options for scholarships, grants, and loans to support your educational expenses.

    • Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA)
      • Contact the OSFA to assist you with the process of understanding, reviewing and accepting your Financial Aid.
      • Learn how and when to apply for Financial Aid.
    • Federal Student Aid
    • Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA)
      • New financial aid application available for Virginia students who are ineligible to complete the federal FAFSA form, including undocumented students and those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.
    • Private Loans 
    • Student Loan Servicer
      • Learn who your student loan servicer is, and what they do in the loan repayment process through Federal Student Aid. Also, identify your servicer for federal student loans.
    • Scholarships
    • Stay Mason Student Support Fund
      • Emergency funding is available to students who experience unexpected financial challenges, emergencies, or sudden financial hardships AND meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the application.
    • Mason Schools/Colleges/Units
      • Some of Mason's schools and colleges administer separate emergency assistance funds for their respective enrolled students which may have different criteria for funding consideration.
      • We encourage you to contact your college or department regarding emergency assistance as well.
    • Prodigy Finance
      • Prodigy Finance is a private loan lender option for International, DACA, and undocumented students as it does not require a U.S. co-signer. More information can be found here.
    • MPower Financing
      • MPower Financing offers student loans for international students that can cover past, current, and future semesters and do not require a co-signer. More information is available here.

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  • Health & Nutrition Assistance

    Access programs and services that provide affordable healthcare and nutritional support to maintain your well-being.

    • Patriot Pantry
      • Access to on-campus food pantry managed by the Student Support and Advocacy Center.
      • Receive more information about Pantry Order Form here.
    • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
      • To learn and find out if you are eligible for SNAP benefits that help with food purchase, click here.
    • Virginia Assistance
      • To learn more about SNAP, WIC, and TANF benefits, Medical and Childcare Assistance, plus more click here!
    • Virginia Medicaid

  • Community Resources

    Connect with local organizations offering financial assistance, job placement services, and other vital support to help you thrive.

    • Findhelp.org (Formerly known as Aunt Bertha)
      • Use this free tool to help search and connect with financial, food assistance, medical care and other support services within your community by entering your zip-code.
    • USA.gov
      • Find information on government programs that provide financial assistance for food, housing and other expenses or bills.

  • Budgeting

    Learn practical techniques to create and maintain a budget, ensuring your expenses align with your financial goals and resources.

    • At no cost to you build or choose from already made budget templates available through Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel.
    • Personal Capital
      • Offers a smartphone app for investing purposes that keeps track of wealth and spending.
    • GnuCash
      • A free account software desktop program for small business owners.

  • Credit

    Learn what exactly credit is, why it is needed, how to build it, and where to access your credit score.

    • What is Credit?
    • Credit Bureaus
      • There are three credit agencies that collect information related to your credit. Create a free account to view your credit score. You are able to annually receive one FREE credit report through each one of the agencies:1. Experian
      • 2. Equifax   
      • 3.TransUnion