FSA 101

Professional development at a pace and time that you choose

PNPI’s FSA 101 is an online, completely asynchronous course focused on federal student aid (FSA). Designed to offer maximum flexibility to its participants, the course will provide participants with an opportunity to gain the content they need to understand, assess, create, consider, and impact federal postsecondary policy related to federal student aid.

PNPI’s FSA 101 course consists of seven distinct learning modules alongside readings and presentations. Offered on a virtual course platform, participants who complete all modules and a course evaluation will be awarded a digital badge. These web-enabled credentials can be easily shared with future or current employers and can be added to participants’ LinkedIn profiles and social media platforms.  More information can be found under the “Digital Badge” tab.

The objectives for the course are to:

  • Provide an overview of Federal Student Aid (FSA) and how families pay for college;
  • Deepen understanding of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and
    Student Aid Index (SAI)
  • Provide participants with an overview of the Federal Pell Grant Program, including
    how Pell Grants are calculated;
  • Review the types of federal student loans, the eligibility requirements for each type
    of loan, and the demographics of student loan borrowers;
  • Provide an overview of student debt, including information on how much students
    are borrowing, which students are borrowing, and the types of institutions borrowers are attending;
  • Introduce participants to how a borrower’s debt and default patterns intersect with socioeconomic status, race, type of institution attended, amount borrowed, and post-graduation income; and
  • Increase participants’ understanding of student loan repayment.

Registration for FSA 101 will remain open through November 30, 2024. Participants will have access to the course for four months from the date of their registration.

Student/Government Registrant: $99 (must be either a degree-seeking student at a federally accredited institution and must email a copy of student ID to pnpi@pnpi.org to verify student status and enrollment OR register with a .gov email address)
Nonprofit Registrant: $199 (must register with a .org email address)
Registrant: $399

Organizations registering 4 participants will receive 1 free registration. Please email pnpi@pnpi.org for details.

PNPI provides our participants with a digital credential for participating in FSA 101. All badge earners will receive an email inviting them to claim their badge within 30 days of course completion.

Offered on the Credly platform, digital badges can be displayed in email signatures, on electronic copies of a resumé, and on social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. There is no fee for the badge, and acceptance of the badge lies with the participant once it is issued by PNPI.

What are the benefits of PNPI’s digital badge? Participants are provided with:

  • A web-enabled version of their credential that can easily be shared online.
  • Labor market insights that relate your skills to jobs.
  • A trusted method for real-time credential verification.

The digital badge is ONLY available to participants who complete all modules of the course and submit a completed course evaluation.

You can read more about the badge by clicking on the badge icon below.