Financial Aid

With rising costs of college, many families have good reason to be concerned, but there is a wealth of information and resources available to you.

All colleges hire full-time financial advisors who keep current with the latest changes concerning financial aid and the financial aid process. Financial aid is offered through a package which may include any of the following: scholarships, grants, student loans, and or work programs. If you have any financial aid related questions, please contact the financial aid office at the colleges to which you are applying. We also encourage everyone to attend our annual Financial Aid Night that runs every September to receive the most up to date information regarding the financial aid process.

Students applying for federal and state aid must complete the FAFSA form after October 1st of their senior year.
You will need last year's tax return, as well as your parents tax return. Financial aid funds are dispersed on a first come, first serve basis, so do not delay applying. Filing online is recommended, as the forms are processed immediately.
You must file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at http://fafsa.ed.gov/
Many college/university and private scholarship programs require students to complete the FAFSA and/or the CSS Profile as part of the scholarship process. Please read the scholarship information carefully to determine if either or both of these forms are required.

Forgot your FSA ID and/or password? Click here for some troubleshooting tips!

Financial Aid Checklist:

Learn about financial aid and create a plan early on.
Make sure you are aware of the cost of attendance at the institutions you are applying to. Do they award much financial aid in the form of scholarships? Be aware of how much your family can afford after financial aid is awarded.
Investigate every source of help.
Request college admission and financial aid information.
Make sure you know which applications to file and when.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) early during your senior year (after October 1st).
All students must complete the Free Application For Federal Student Aid to apply for federal student aid programs. For some colleges and states, this is the only form you will be asked to complete.
Complete the CSS Profile - **only for colleges that require it** - Check with the financial aid office of each college to which you are applying to see which forms are required. Complete this form only if your college asks for it.

For your Information:

Some colleges will ask you to fill out both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Profile Registration to ensure maximum consideration for both federal and non-federal aid sources.

Some colleges and programs will also want you to complete their own application. Check with each institution and program to make sure you know exactly what forms to file.
Complete all applications accurately and legibly.
Mail admissions and aid applications before the deadlines.
Send FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1st..
Respond promptly to requests for additional information.
Keep copies of all documents.
Research alternatives to financial aid.
APPLY FOR LOCAL AND NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS!

Additional Scholarship Resources

FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid

In order to be eligible for federal student aid, students and their legal guardians must complete the FAFSA application. Students can begin their FAFSA starting October 1st of their senior year. Please note that this is a fee application.

https://fafsa.ed.gov/

HESAA, Higher Education Student Assistance Authority

Students intending on attending a New Jersey institution must complete a state application on the HESAA website. Students will automatically be directed to this application once they have submitted their FAFSA application and receive the link on their confirmation page. If students miss this step they can create an account on the HESAA website and access the application. This is required to be considered for State Aid.

http://www.hesaa.org/Pages/default.aspx