FAFSA and CSS
Free Application for Federal Student Aid/College Scholarship Service Profile
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For students who are looking to unlock federal, state and school-based financial aid they will need to complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS).
For students who are looking to unlock federal, state and school-based financial aid they will need to complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS).
The FAFSA is the most commonly used financial aid form (and is required for students who want to access their Alaska Performance Scholarship funds) that helps students determine if they qualify for federal Pell grants, loans and work-study.
The FAFSA is the most commonly used financial aid form (and is required for students who want to access their Alaska Performance Scholarship funds) that helps students determine if they qualify for federal Pell grants, loans and work-study.
The CSS is only required by participating (mostly private) colleges/universities and is used to determine their own institutional grants and scholarship money.
The CSS is only required by participating (mostly private) colleges/universities and is used to determine their own institutional grants and scholarship money.
Filling out the FAFSA
Filling out the FAFSA
Create a StudentAid.gov Login
Create your studentaid.gov login credentials prior to completing the FAFSA. All those contributing to a FAFSA (parent/guardian) will create a separate studentaid.gov loginComplete the FAFSA
You will be asked to invite your parent/guardian to complete the financial portion of the FAFSA. You will be asked to list the colleges or trade schools that you applied to or are thinking about applying to. You can always edit your ranking of schools. You will need to "sign" your FAFSA with your studentaid.gov login. Parent/guardian(s) will also need to "sign" with their log-ins.
Who counts as a parent on the FAFSA form?
https://studentaid.gov/fafsa-apply/parents
The above information helps students and parents determine who should fill out the parent contributor portion of the FAFSA.
8 Steps for Parents Completing the FAFSA Form
7 Things To Do After Submitting Your FAFSA Form
The below linked presentations reference the 2025-26 FAFSA application but still provide beneficial guidance. FAFSA Preview Presentation takes you screen by screen through the entire FAFSA. This is included below in Google Slides and PDF versions.
FAFSA Preview Presentation Google Slide Show
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1V-8fvyR5NsfscDO1rdWuY6WTUidZrRXDkSL1Lrnl4po/edit?usp=sharing
FAFSA Preview Presentation PDF
https://fsapartners.ed.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/202526fafsapreviewpresentation.pdf
*the PDF has not been edited where as the Google Slides has additional information such as:
If a student selects “Yes” to the question of Homelessness under Personal Circumstances there may be additional information college/university/trade school will need.
Under the Select Colleges and Career Schools area for Students, a student can add or subtract schools at any time.
Filling out the CSS Profile
Filling out the CSS Profile
Do the colleges you are applying to require an institutional aid application or the CSS Profile?
The following colleges, universities, and scholarship programs use the CSS Profile as part of their financial aid process for some or all of their financial aid applicants in the populations listed below. Please check schools’ websites or contact the institution for more information.
Please click here to start the CSS Profile.
Understanding Financial Aid Award Letters
Questions on how to fill out your FAFSA?
The KPC Financial Aid Office is a terrific resource & always willing to help:
Email: kpc.financial.aid@alaska.edu
Phone: 907.262.0332
The University of Alaska System has an amazing website full of brief general Financial Aid informational videos for high students & parents/guardians.
The University of Alaska System has an amazing website full of brief general Financial Aid informational videos for high students & parents/guardians.
These resources & materials are for supplementary support/education purposes and not intended as a replacement for counseling, education, or other necessary supports. Students, parents and others who utilize these materials are encouraged to seek out additional support, as needed.
Postings do not constitute KPBSD endorsement for or against the materials and viewpoints.
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