FAFSA & Financial Aid

FAFSA: FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID

2027-2028 FAFSA Application, expected to open on October 1st.

Class of 2027 Seniors - Be sure to fill out the 2027-28 (school year) FAFSA Application once it opens. Remember, completing the FAFSA is a graduation requirement!*

CLICK HERE FOR THE FAFSA WEBSITE

Financial Aid is money that the government and other organizations give you or lend you so you can pay for college. To qualify for Financial Aid, you must apply. Financial aid comes from the federal government (the largest source), state governments, colleges and universities, private organizations (such as companies, clubs and religious organizations), and banks and lending companies.

Types of federal financial aid:

• Grants—financial aid that doesn't have to be repaid (unless, for example, you withdraw from school and owe a refund)

• Work-study—a work program through which you earn money to help you pay for school

• Loans—borrowed money for college or career school; you must repay your loans, with interest

FAFSA GRADUATION REQUIREMENT

In addition to all other graduation requirements, a student must meet one of the following requirements to receive a public school diploma (Public Act 101-0180):

1. File a FAFSA Application; or

2. File an Application for State Financial Aid; or

3. File a waiver/opt out with the school district.

FAFSA Non-Participation Form (English)

FAFSA Non-Participation Form (Spanish)

The following FAQ Section will provide detailed information, to allow you and your family to make the best decision in completing this graduation requirement.

What is the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)? Why would I want to complete it?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the online application that allows a student to apply simultaneously for federal student aid (including the Pell Grant, work-study opportunities, and federal student loads), and the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant. Many colleges and universities use this to determine their institution-specific aid programs, too. The FAFSA application opens on October 1st of each year, for the following school year. So a student in the Class of 2026 would have to wait until October 1st of their senior year to begin the FAFSA. When completing the FAFSA, a student in the Class of 2026 would complete the 2025-26 Year FAFSA (for the year they are looking to receive federal financial aid).

What is the Application for State Financial Aid? Why would I want to complete it?

The Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid is a similar application that provides a path for some students who do not qualify for federal aid to apply for state and school-funded assistance. Undocumented students (who cannot complete the FAFSA) and transgender students (who are unable to complete the selective service requirement for FAFSA, due to conflicts), are eligible to receive state-based aid through the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid.

What is the Waiver/Opt-Out Form? Why would I want to complete it?

The FAFSA Nonparticipation Form allows parents/guardians and students over the age of 18 to opt-out of completing the FAFSA application. The form must be completed in its entirety, and turned in (via mail or email) to our Counseling Center Department Chair, Hannah Fishbeck. Her contact info is:

Wheaton Warrenville South High School, Attn: Hannah Fishbeck, 1993 Tiger Trail, Wheaton, IL 60189

hannah.fishbeck@cusd200.org

Which option should I choose to complete?

This is entirely a personal & family decision. Regardless of which option you choose, students must complete one of the three options from above to fulfill their state graduation requirement. Not completing one of these options is not the same as completing the FAFSA Nonparticipations Form. A student and their parent/guardian must complete either 1) the FAFSA; 2) the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid form; or 3) the FAFSA Nonparticipations Form.

If I submit the FAFSA Nonparticipation Form, can I complete the FAFSA at a later date?

Yes! Completing the FAFSA Nonparticipation Form will not prevent a student from completing the FAFSA / Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid form at a later date. The student/parent does not need to notify the school – just complete the FAFSA / Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid form as soon as possible.

What if I still have questions regarding the FAFSA / Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid / FAFSA Nonparticipation Form?

There are multiple people you can reach out to with questions, including your school counselor. You can also reach out to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), a state-funded public service staffed by Financial Aid experts, through their FREE texting Q&A service!

To use the ISAC College Q&A texting service, just text your first & last name to (630) 216-4910, and an ISAC Representative will assist you with your questions.

Whether the plan is college, apprenticeships, the military, or a different post-secondary plan, you can know exactly how to find a financially viable option for your student that is also a financial fit for you. The Pathways Planning & Insights’ Financial Fit Plus Program is a free, interactive virtual course that teaches you and your student how to match the path they choose after high school with your price range so that they can thrive as an independent young adult and you can preserve your own financial future. 

Wheaton Warrenville South’s Financial Fit Plus program starts on October 1st with weekly videos and live Q&A Zoom sessions to make sure you can apply everything you learn to your own unique situation. You can sign up for the Planning Pathways & Insights email list here. You can also submit your questions, and they'll use your input to put together some short video tutorials. This program is for all grade levels.

The Financial Fit Plus program includes:

• 30 short video workshops (10-20 minutes each)

• Weekly live Question & Answer zoom sessions to apply what is taught in the workshops

• Work Booklets for video that families can use together to get and stay on the same page

• 6 calculators and online tools to solve for your own individual $$$ circumstances

• Workshops dubbed into multiple languages if you are more comfortable in a language other than English

• Individual email support for individual questions that require privacy

• Free financial planning and test prep services for qualifying families

• And so much more (everybody says that, but this time it’s true!)

Thanks to generous support from Pure Financial (formerly Fairhaven Wealth), the Financial Fit Plus Program is free for all Wheaton Warrenville South High School families throughout the school year. We will send reminders on behalf of the Pathways Planning & Insights program when there are upcoming webinars.