The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA for short, is the free, official government form used to apply for federal student aid to help pay for college, university, or career school. Financial aid can take many forms, such as grants, work-studies, and loans. FAFSA just doesn't cover loans - some colleges and universities use it to determine in-house scholarship opportunities and financial aid.

Apply online at studentaid.gov for the following academic year that the student will be attending an institution of higher learning.

Important Dates:

Opens: October 1, 2025

Deadline: June 30, 2026

Greenville County Schools has established these videos in order to help you better understand and navigate the FAFSA process. Each video covers a topic that most individuals have regarding the FAFSA process in a short time - only averaging about 2 minutes or less per video. Use these resources as a quick help guide during the process, or as a way to prepare for when the time comes.

Navigating and remembering everything needed for the FAFSA can be intimidating. Attached are some worksheets designed to help organize passwords, security questions, and other necessary information.