Financial aid helps supplement your income or savings in order to realize your educational journey. Once you've secured financial aid, you want to make sure you keep receiving aid throughout your educational career. Check out the following tips to help keep your aid package.

• Meet Aid Deadlines. Be sure to understand financial aid deadlines and file all required paperwork and forms when they're due. Make sure to complete a renewal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online each year.
• Stay Educated. When you accept your personalized financial aid package, read the information they give you, and keep it with other important documents in case you need to refer to it again.
• Stay in Touch. Financial aid rules and requirements can change, sometimes with little notice to the student. Your financial aid may be affected even if you already signed an award letter or official contract. Your financial aid office or lender should send you a letter or email whenever they make any changes, but check in with them periodically.
• Talk to the Aid Experts. Your school's financial aid office employs specialists who are ready to help. Call or email them whenever you have questions about your personalized financial aid package.
• Note Change in Income. Changes in your income can influence the aid package you are offered in the future. If you get that big raise, change careers or lose your job, be sure to update your information with the financial aid office.
• Note Change in GPA. Some scholarships and grants require that you maintain good grades in all of your classes. If your grade point average (GPA) drops below a certain level, you may lose some of your financial aid.
• Note Change in Enrollment Status. Your student status can greatly affect your aid. If you drop below half time or even if you decide to attend full time, your aid package can be affected. Contact the financial aid office to discuss how your changed circumstances can affect your aid.

The most important thing to remember about keeping your financial aid is to stay informed on the details of your personalized aid package. Being aware of deadlines as well as changes in your income, GPA, and student status can help you keep your financial aid as you complete your online degree.