College of the Desert’s Financial Aid Programs Open Doors for Students [Sponsored]

Education is the great equalizer of our society and financial aid is an imperative option for breaking down barriers for many students who may not have the resources to continue beyond high school. College of the Desert (COD) is committed to offering prospective students across the Coachella Valley access to higher education through a variety of assistance programs.

Students are encouraged to visit COD’s Financial Aid Office to connect with an expert about financial aid programs available through federal, state, local, and institutional agencies. While the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and other grants are an important part of a student’s financial aid portfolio, there are always bad actors eager to take advantage of uninformed students through various scams.

Recently, there has been an increase in social media accounts spreading misinformation about how students can obtain financial aid. While social media can often be a valuable source of knowledge, this new trend can potentially do more harm than good if students aren’t doing their due diligence in receiving their information from a reputable source.

In addition to financial aid advice, COD also offers scholarships through the College of the Desert Foundation as well as $5 textbooks available to rent through the Palm Desert campus library. Students can also visit workshops hosted by the College throughout the year to learn about available resources. These programs are designed to provide additional avenues for support while reducing financial stress for students.

COD has two Financial Aid offices at the Palm Desert and Indio campuses to support students across the Valley. The Palm Desert office is located on the second floor of the Cravens Student Service Center and operates Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The Indio office is in the newly expanded building off the main entrance and operates on Monday from 9-11 a.m., and 1-4 p.m. as well as Tuesday and Wednesday from 9-11 a.m., and 1-3 p.m.

For students unable to visit in person, COD also offers year-round financial aid support on its website. There are a variety of on-demand educational videos for current and future students explaining how to apply for financial aid, eligibility, what’s covered, and more. Students can also have their questions answered by a bilingual chatbot available to assist around the clock.

Learn more by visiting CollegeOfTheDesert.edu.

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