The current state of the economy for Arizona is a determining factor if (and it is a big if) if the AIMS (Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards) [A.K.A. Regents High Honors Endorsement Scholarship] scholarship will be available to bright students in the very near future.

Here is the latest news regarding the AIMS scholarship.

The official statement is:

The Arizona Board of Regents has decided to retain the "AIMS Scholarship" or "Regents High Honors Tuition" scholarship with the existing eligibility criteria for the graduating classes of 2009 and 2010. All college students currently receiving this scholarship will continue to do so if they meet the renewal criteria set by the universities. The impact on the class of 2011 and subsequent class has yet to be determined. The Arizona Department of Education will keep our website updated (www.ade.az.gov/asd/tuitionwaiver) on any Arizona Board of Regents decisions regarding this scholarship.

So here are a couple AIMS facts

This scholarship applies only to the three Arizona State Universities (ASU, U of A, and NAU). Community colleges have scholarships/grants available to students who graduate in the top 15% of their graduating class or are severely in need.

This link http://www.maricopa.edu/foundation/apply has several community college scholarships for Maricopa county community colleges.

This is an university academic merit-based scholarship; therefore, students do not need to demonstrate financial need in order to qualify. However, all students are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) regardless of their financial situation. Students who are offered other scholarships from the university may not receive this ABOR scholarship. Students automatically receive the higher scholarship offered from the university, but not both.

This scholarship is only good at the three Arizona state universities and cannot be used at private colleges or colleges outside of Arizona state boundaries.

The PEG grant can be used at Private colleges or universities in Arizona.

However, there are other merit-based scholarships that can be used at colleges in other states and these vary by state and by college.

Remember AZCollegePlanning.com is Arizona's exclusive and premier college financial planning firm.

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Uncategorized by J.D Wyczalek