Financial Aid

SENIORS:  There are changes being made to the FAFSA, so they are delaying the opening date.  The FAFSA opens January 1, 2024 for you to begin filling out for the 2024-2025 school year.  It needs to be completed by Feb. 1, 2024 April 1, 2024 to be have priority for financial aid for the 2024-2025 school year.  This is also a requirement for completion of the Missouri A+ Program.

Update:  There is no longer a mobile app for the FAFSA.

Announcement

FEBRUARY 1st is the FAFSA Deadline!!! NEW Deadline this year is April 1.

(Seniors/Parents: Check your e-mail for more info pertaining to the FAFSA)

 The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is something all students that plan to attend a community college, tech school, or 4-year college for the next school year will want to have submitted.  

It is also required to submit the FAFSA to be an A+ completer and receive A+ money to cover tuition for community college or tech schools in Missouri.  It is possible to submit the FAFSA after February 1, 2024, but funding for federal grant money is not guaranteed if you submit it late.  Please make every effort to have it submitted by Feb. 1 in order to receive the maximum amount of financial aid possible.  Also, if you are an A+ student, you will need to submit proof of FAFSA completion to Coach Sander, the A+ Coordinator.  

Just to clarify some frequently asked questions, filling out the FAFSA does not obligate parents to pay for the student's school/college.  It is just required by the federal government to help schools/colleges determine financial need.  Also, if you plan to attend a tech school that is privately funded and doesn't receive federal money (such as a privately funded welding school), be sure to verify it with them, but you will likely not need to complete the FAFSA.

The FAFSA can be completed at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  

The student and parent need to each have their own FSA ID (This is basically like creating an account with FAFSA and creating a username and password.).  The FAFSA for the 2024-2025 school year uses 2022 tax information (likely the 1040 form).  Entering your tax info has been made very easy by allowing you to import tax information directly from the IRS.  This is done by clicking a button called the Data Retrieval Tool that you will see as you are completing the FAFSA.  One of the new changes is that all will be uploading their tax information from the IRS.  It will no longer be optional.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask me.  Another great resource is the financial aid office of the school you plan to attend.  I always find them to be extremely helpful.  Good luck! 

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HELPFUL LINKS FINANCIAL AID LINKS:

Missouri Department of Higher Education Financial Aid 101

Grants and Loans

Click HERE to create your FSA ID before completing the FAFSA.

Click HERE to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

     Open October 1, 2023 for students applying for financial aid for the 20245-2024 school year.  It uses 2022 tax  information or W-2s.

            -Must be completed to receive federal grants, loans, or scholarships.

            -Anyone in the A+ program is required to complete the FAFSA to be an A+ completer.