Financial Aid (FAFSA/AAIFA)
Starting with the Class of 2021, the FAFSA or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid is an Illinois high school graduation requirement (IL Public Act 101-0180)!
Seniors! Please read THIS EMAIL from 12/20/2023 with detailed info and FAQs about the 2024-25 FAFSA/AAIFA!
Check Sunday emails for updates and tips as they become available!
Financial Aid Overview
Financial aid consists of scholarships, grants, work study, and loans. Scholarships and grants are called "gift aid," which means they do not need to be paid back. Depending on the scholarship or grant certain criteria must be met and maintained. Work study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate students with financial need. Loans are money borrowed that must be paid back with interest.
Check out this comprehensive 2024-25 Financial Aid Tips Guide for a great overview of how financial aid works, submitting the FAFSA, and more!
Net Price Calculator & Estimating Costs
What is a Net Price Calculator?
Net price calculators are available on a college’s or university’s website and allow prospective students to enter information about themselves to find out what students like them paid to attend the institution in the previous year, after taking grants and scholarship aid into account.
Click Here to use a tool that will take you directly to a college’s Net Price Calculator
PLEASE NOTE: With changes to the FAFSA, including the Pell Grant formula and elimination of the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculation, there is no guarantee the results of a college's Net Price Calculator will be honored. Make sure to reach out to the college's Financial Aid Office for the most updated policy and infortmation.
Colleges that "Meet Need"
Colleges Meeting 100% of the Student’s Financial Need: A college or university that promises to make sure every penny of an accepted student's demonstrated financial need is covered through grants, work-study, scholarship, and in some cases, federal student loans.
Some colleges meet 100% of student’s financial need for undocumented students.
For more information on paying for college, please see the "Paying for College" menu of the JHHS Postsecondary Planning Guide.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
STEP 1: Create an FSA ID. An FSA ID is a username and password that gives you access to Federal Student Aid’s online systems and can serve as your legal signature. Students and their parent(s) - called Contributor(s) - must create an FSA ID once that will then be used to sign the FAFSA each year. Students and Contributor(s) should create their FSA ID, and have it verified (takes 1-3 days), before the FAFSA is started!
STEP 1.A: Watch this 7.5 minute, step-by-step VIDEO on how to create your FSA ID (Students & Contributors). (Video courtesy of Ms. Heaton at GBS).
STEP 1.B: Click here to create an FSA ID
Other FAQs/Resources:
Who is a "Contributor" on my FAFSA?
What if my Contributor (Parent) does not have a Social Security Number? Latest update 4.30.24.
Follow THESE STEPS to make an FSA ID if you are a Contributor without a SSN.
Cómo obtener un FSA ID para personas SIN un número de seguro social (SSN)
STEP 2: Complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA is the main form that students submit to be considered for federal financial aid (grants, loans, work study). In Illinois it is also used to determine MAP Grant eligibility. Students fill out the FAFSA after October 1 during their senior year.
CLICK HERE for the FAFSA application.
Students must reapply after October 1 every year to be considered for financial aid for the following school year.
Note: the student must be a citizen or permanent resident to submit a FAFSA but can file the Alternate Application for Illinois Financial Aid if ineligible to submit a FAFSA.
FAFSA Completion Resources
Check out the following resources to help you in completing your FAFSA or Alternative Application:
What do I need to fill out the 2024-25 FAFSA/Alt. App? Click HERE (English & Spanish PDF)
Gather Information Required to Complete the FAFSA Form (video)
D214 Senior Financial Aid Night Presentation (12.11.23)
Helpful General FAFSA Tips from Colleges:
Step-by-Step FAFSA Walkthrough and Demo for High School Students (video)
Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid
If (and only if) you are not eligible to submit a FAFSA, you can submit an Alternate Application for Illinois Financial Aid
This application requires similar information as the FAFSA (see FAFSA packets for materials to gather)
You would only have the possibility of qualifying for aid to use at colleges in Illinois
Where can I get FAFSA or Alternative Application help?
Mr. Chiakulas: Please let Mr. Chiakulas know if you have a quick question or can send a screenshot of your application.
ISAC: Book a one-on-one appointment with Hersey’s representative from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), Joseph Doner.
You can contact Joseph at: joseph.doner@illinois.gov or 847-894-7508 or to schedule an appointment: https://calendly.com/joseph-doner/30min
Event: FAFSA/Alternative App Assistance from ISAC
Date/Time: Wednesday, March 20th, 6-8pm
Location: Online! Webex Link will be sent immediately prior to the event.
Description: Hopefully the FAFSA or Alternative App will be up and running more smoothly by this date. Need to make corrections? Have specific questions? Stuck somewhere in the process? Our ISAC rep, Joseph Doner, will be live online to answer questions via the chat or possibly in a private breakout room. This event is meant for help with general application navigation or questions. If you have a very specific circumstance, it would be best to set up an individual appointment with Joe at another time.
Audience: Senior students and/or parents/guardians welcome!
¿Necesitas ayuda en español? Contactar a Raquel Garcia: Raquel.Garcia@illinois.gov, (224) 457-6521, Click Here to Make an Appointment
Harper College is offering workshops and financial application assistance for ANYONE (not just Harper-bound students). Sign up here.
There are a lot of great videos on the Federal Student Aid YouTube page.
What if I cannot, or will not, submit the FAFSA or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid?: Students (if 18 years old +) or parents (if student is not 18) must create an ISAC Student Portal account and submit a Non-Participation Waiver there for graduation purposes. Instructions can be found HERE.
Next Steps
Once the FAFSA or Alternative Application (and CSS Profile if applicable - see below) are submitted, information on a student's financial aid awards will come directly from the Financial Aid offices of colleges the student has been accepted to.
These "Financial Aid Award Letters" can come via regular mail, email, or be posted to a student's college portal. Make sure to be checking for this important information in order to make the best financial fit college decision! PLEASE NOTE: Due to changes in the 2024-25 FAFSA, these award letters will most likely not go out from colleges until late March/early April 2024.
Want to compare award letters? Check out ISAC's Financial Aid Comparison Worksheet. (Mr. Chiakulas can sit and help you with this!)
Thinking about APPEALING your Financial Aid decision? Check out this "tip" sheet first!
CSS Profile
Does the college you are applying to required the CSS Profile? Find out more about what that is here.
Do NOT do the CSS profile is not required. It does cost money (waivers may be available through the Assessment Center).
WATCH this presentation on how to complete the CSS Profile for more info!