Have a great school year!
Create your FSA ID
Get a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) from the U.S. Department of Education. This will be used to electronically sign or update the FAFSA form.
Both the student AND the guardian(s) filing out the FAFSA will need their own ID. This now takes 5-7 business days to process. If you have an ID from an older sibling and/or yourself, you do not need to create a new one.
Click here to: Create an FSA Id
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Once you have your FSA ID, file the FAFSA.
There will be a student portion and a parent/guardian portion. We recommend the student fill out their portion first.
Many colleges/universities will require FAFSA completion in order to be eligible for their institution's scholarships.
Click here to access the: FAFSA
Student Aid Report (SAR)
U.S. Department of Education will create a Student Aid Report (SAR) to summarize the information provided on the FAFSA.
You should receive your SAR 2-4 weeks following your submission.
The SAR provides your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which helps each college calculate your eligibility for financial aid.
GHS FAFSA Night
GHS is hosting a FAFSA Completion event to assist anyone needing help filing the FAFSA.
Thursday, January 30th, 2025 @ 4-7pm (during P/T Conferences)
Spots are limited- sign up fast! GHS FAFSA Night Sign-Up
You may also choose to receive loans privately. Many banks offer loans specifically for college and have fixed interest rates.
Check out your local institutions for more information!
Helpful Site: Iowa Student Loans
Scholarships and grants are "free money" and does not need to be repaid. Thousands of scholarship dollars go unclaimed every year due to lack of applicants!
Take the time to check out local, state, and national opportunities you may be eligible for!
Helpful Site: Iowa College Aid
*Some grants will have stipulations that need to be met such as maintaining a certain GPA, major-specific, being enrolled full time, etc. If at any time your circumstances change, you may be expected to repay any grant money already gifted upon completion of your educational program or experience.*
College is an investment. Acquiring the funds to get there and stay there can be very stressful and requires purposeful planning. Sit down with your family to look over your potential expenses, set a starting budget, and keep in the mind what your starting salary/wages may be to ensure it's a logical decision.
Every school website will have an estimated "Cost of Attendance". Things to consider:
Tuition (cost per credit hour)
Books and Learning Expenses (computer, gear, tech needs/fees, etc)
Housing (room & board, includes food plans)
Rent/Utilities/Grocery (if you are not living on campus, you will need to do this research)
Other expenses (fuel, clothing, cell phone bill, any additional expenses or spending money)
How much will your loans cover?
How much will your scholarships/grants cover?
Will you need to have a job? (full-time or part-time)
Thinking ahead: What is the average starting income you would expect to receive? Is this more or less than your yearly expenses while in college?
You can also use this form to help compare the cost of different schools! Financial Aid Comparison Worksheet