Financial Aid & FAFSA HELP

Resources

Michigan Student Aid - The state of Michigan resource page for students and families filling out the FAFSA.

State of Michigan, Michigan Student Financial Aid 101

This is a great overview if you're not sure where to start or you are new to the process. This will help introduce you to the process and vocabulary used as you go through the financial application process.

Types of Financial Aid

Click on the drop down to see a quick overview of the types of resources available to help you pay for college:

Grants - These are generally need-based funds that are given by the national, state, or college level. These funds you do not have to pay back. Examples include the Pell Grant and the Michigan Tuition Incentive Program (TIP).
Scholarships - These are funds that you apply for through national, state, college, or local resources. Each scholarship determines its own eligibility requirements and application process. These funds you do not have to pay back. Examples include CMU's Centralis Scholarship, Elk's Lodge Scholarship, Alcona High School Local Scholarships.
Work Study - This is a federal work program is an on-campus job. This campus job is work in exchange for funds to pay for college classes. These funds you do not have to pay back, but you do have to work in order to receive the funding.
Loans - These are funds that are borrowed from the government, bank, or credit union. These funds have to be paid back, usually with interest. There are two types of federal loans: unsubsidized & subsidized. Unsubsidized loans will accrue interest while the student is in college. Subsidized loans do not begin to charge interest until after the student graduates college or no longer attends college. You do not have to agree to take a loan if you are offered a loan. Being eligible is not the same as agreeing to take the loan.

Sources of Financial Aid

Click on the drop down to see a few of the resources available to help you pay for college:

Michigan Student Aid - State grants and scholarships such as Tuition Incentive Program, Michigan Achievement Scholarships, Future Educator Program, Children of Veteran's Tuition Grant, Fostering Futures Scholarship, Police and Fire Fighter's Survivors Tuition grant, and more. You will need to create a student portal account. Some programs require a separate application.

Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver - To be eligible for the MITW, you must meet the following criteria:

Qualify for admission at one of Michigan's public colleges or universities AND
Be ¼ or more Native American blood quantum as certified by your Tribal Enrollment Department AND
Are an enrolled citizen of a U.S. Federally Recognized Tribe as certified by your Tribal Enrollment Department AND
Be a legal resident of the state of Michigan for not less than 12 consecutive months

Alcona Scholarship page - local, regional, and national resources for grants and scholarships. There are vast resources and search engines here. Check it out and see Mrs. Cordes in room 407 if you have any questions.

College-specific scholarships - each college has its own scholarships. Four year colleges usually have them available in the fall. Two year colleges/trade schools are usually available in the spring. Links are available on the College page to take you directly to the college scholarship pages.

SchoolHouse Connection - Scholarship specifically for students who have experienced homelessness.

MI Achievement Scholarship, Community Guarantee, MI Achievement Skills Scholarship, and other state aid resources

Info about Michigan state funds for college and training programs. The Michigan Achievement Scholarship is to used for colleges, universities, and community colleges. The Michigan Skills Scholarship does NOT require the FAFSA but can only be used for state-approved career training programs. The Community College Guarantee pays for the in-district tuition at a community college.

Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):

Why do I fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?

The FAFSA gives you access to Federal, State, and School-specific Student Aid in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans. Click on the link to the left to see a short video about why you need to fill out the FAFSA. Below are step-by-step instructions on filling out the FAFSA as well as a growing list of Financial Aid resources.

Step 1: Create an FSA ID

Watch the brief video on how to create an FSA ID and then click here. Your FSA is your electronic signature for your FAFSA. It is the fastest way to sign and send your FAFSA. This must be done at least 3 days prior to starting the FAFSA.

Step 2: Determine if you are a dependent or independent according to the FAFSA. Check out the below video "Am I a Dependent or an Independent?".

Step 3: If you are a dependent, know who has to contribute information. Check out "Who's my Parent (Contributor) according to the FAFSA":

Which parent’s information should I report on the FAFSA® form? If you’re considered a dependent student for the purposes of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form, you’ll need to report information about your parents on the form. But what if your parents are divorced? Remarried? What if you live with someone other than my parents? What if the person that you consider as your parent is not your biological parent? Whose information should you report? Below are some guidelines that might help. If you are considered a dependent student for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) purposes, you’ll need to provide information about your legal parent(s) on the application. A legal parent is your biological or adoptive parent, or your legal parent as determined by the state (for example, if the parent is listed on your birth certificate). Unless otherwise noted, “parent” means your legal (biological and/or adoptive) parent.

• If your parents are living and legally married to each other, answer the questions about both of them.

• If your parents are living together and are not married, answer the questions about both of them.

• If your parent is widowed or was never married, answer the questions about that parent.

• If your parents are divorced or separated and don’t live together, answer the questions about the parent who provided the most financial support during the past 12 months. This is self-reported. There is no requirement for the school to review or confirm.

(Source: Federal Student Aid: Reporting Parent Information)

Step 4: Gather Information

The FAFSA questions ask for information about you (your name, date of birth, address, etc.) and about your financial situation. Depending on your circumstances (for instance, whether you’re a U.S. citizen or what tax form you used), you might need the following information or documents as you fill out the application:

Your parents’ SSNs if they have SSNs and you're a dependent student
Tax returns
Records of child support received
Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts
Net worth of investments, businesses, and farms

Keep these records! You may need them again. Do not mail these supporting records to us unless otherwise instructed to do so.

Source: Filling out the FAFSA

Step 5: Here we go! You've got this! Fill out the 2025-2026 FAFSA!

It's time to fill out the FAFSA. Click the link to the left, select new user (if you're brand new) or returning user (if you've done it before or already started). Choose student or parent, login with your FSA ID and begin. You can do this!!!

Additional Resources:

FAFSA FAQs

Federal Student Aid Info Center Contacts

Michigan College Access Network Help page

Help Line 810-373-5385

Need Help?

If you need help filling out the FAFSA form, use these free tools:

Select the blue and white question mark icon next to a FAFSA question to view a "tool tip" that provides information about how to answer that question.
In the online FAFSA form, the tool tip may have a “More Help” link for additional information. You also can select the “Help” button at the bottom of the tool tip to reach the “FAFSA Help” page, where you can browse FAQs, search for more information, or click on “Contact Us.”
Once you click on “Contact Us,” you’ll have the option of emailing us with your question or, during business hours, chatting (in English or Spanish) with live technical support staff. (In the myStudentAid mobile app, you can find the contact information via the “hamburger menu”—the three parallel lines at the top right of the screen.)

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