Financial Aid
Know before you apply.
Using the Federal Student Aid Estimator and the Net Price Calculator together can give you an idea of what your bottom line numbers will look like. Once you file the FAFSA and receive your award letters, you can start to make your best financial decisions.
FAFSA & Paying for College Help WEBINARS
6 Things to Know About the New FAFSA
The 2025-2026 FAFSA® will hopefully open October 1 again this year.
The FAFSA form will be shorter and easier for students and families to complete when they consent to provide their federal tax information via a direct data share with the IRS
Applicants and contributors will need an FSA ID to apply for federal student aid, so encourage students to create an FSA ID as early as possible at StudentAid.gov.
The new Student Aid Index (SAI) will replace the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) in the calculation to
determine eligibility for need-based funding. So, the new formula will be cost of attendance (COA) – SAI = financial need.
Students who are unhoused, orphans, former foster youth, or who have other circumstances that prevent them from providing parental information will benefit from simplified questions that more efficiently determine their independent status.
Find outreach tools to better understand 2025-26 FAFSA changes on Federal Student Aid’s Financial Aid Toolkit website at: financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov/bfbf
Granite Edvance (formally NHHEAF) FAFSA virtual or in-person appointments. Call: (800) 525-2577 See below.
Paying for College Presentation - April 5th 2023
Fall Financial Aid Info Night - Missed it? The presentation is HERE
FAFSA - MUST be filed to get
need-based AID!
The College Essay Guy provided a handy organizer for expenses - Just make a copy for yourself.
REMEMBER THERE ARE DEADLINES FOR APPLICATIONS & FOR THE CSS PROFILE (IF NEEDED)
Only ONE FAFSA is filed but BOTH a Parent and Student need a FSA ID at least 3-5 days before filing.
Divorced parents/Guardians and more... Now focuses more on who is providing the most financial support.
If you do not live with your parents/are homeless/or live with a guardian(s), read this about special circumstances and the FAFSA.
WHAT’S AN EFC (now called the SAI), COA, NET PRICE CALCULATOR, AWARD LETTER, ETC??
Financial Aid Glossary: Learn the Lingo
Remember… Financial Need = The difference between the cost of attendance (COA) at a school and your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). FAFSA will now be calling the EFC the Student Aid Index or SAI. While COA varies from school to school, your EFC/SAI does not change based on the school you attend. Once you have been accepted at a school, your AWARD Letter will outline all of your financial aid.
Colleges are required to provide a Net Price Calculator and a Common Data Set.
Using both can help you determine how a college determines who will get aid money.
Find yours by going to the college website and calculate the true cost of attendance (COA).
Introducing Granite Edvance
(formerly The NHHEAF Network)
We’re a New Hampshire-based education nonprofit serving NH students and families. Our support services are free. Click below:
THE FAFSA
Students, parents, and borrowers are required to use an FSA ID, made up of a username and password, to access certain U.S. Department of Education websites. Your FSA ID is used to confirm your identity when accessing your financial aid information and electronically signing your federal student aid documents.
The FSA ID is your electronic passport to federal student aid online.
The 2025/2026 FAFSA opens in October 2024 this year.
The CSS Profile will opens on October 1st
You will use your 2023 tax information.
If your income has changed, you will need to contact the college directly but you will be able to use your anticipated lower 2024 income when you complete the FAFSA. You might be asked to provide that 2024 income later next year.
You can create your user name and password NOW
You must use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to apply for aid once you’ve decided to apply for admission and attend college.
Fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can after it opens to ensure that you do not miss out on available aid.
FAFSA HOW-TO VIDEOS - There's even a FAFSA APP!
NACAC Financial Aid Basics for families
