Want financial aid? 

The FAFSA® is an absolute must.

www.payingforcollegeresource.com/fafsa/ 

Do the FAFSA

The Do the FAFSA campaign, led by the National College Attainment Network (NCAN), is designed to encourage young people to fill out the FAFSA - despite previous glitches, delays, and setbacks - and receive the money they need and deserve for their college dreams. 

• It is not too late for students to fill out the form and get the money they deserve.

• Most people who complete the form get some money to help pay for college.

• More people than ever qualify for financial aid.

• The form is simpler, is now working, and takes as little as 10 minutes to fill out.

• Past issues with the form, which have unfairly delayed students, have been resolved and students should do the FAFSA and get started on their future. 

$390 Million in Pell Grants missed by Texas students

Texas students missed out on $390 million in Pell Grants by not completing the #FAFSA. 

That's a lot of financial aid!

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Why FAFSA Completion is Important

By completing the FAFSA, students unlock federal financial resources to help pay for postsecondary education. To complete the FAFSA, students (and their families) provide information that determines their eligibility for a variety of assistance programs.

The federal Pell Grant is a considerable need-based award that does not need to be repaid. The US Congress sets the maximum award each year, and how much an individual student receives depends on various factors. Starting with the 2024-25 award year (for class of 2024 high school graduates), the Pell Grant will be based predominantly on the federal poverty line and family size due to FAFSA simplification changes.

Pell Grants are the cornerstone of federal financial aid and are a crucial engine of postsecondary access for students from low-income backgrounds. Each year, nearly 7 million undergraduate students benefit from Pell Grants. Since 1972, the program has made a difference in the lives of 80 million Americans.

Attainment of education after high school is strongly associated with a variety of positive life factors, such as financial and physical well-being. Additionally, postsecondary attainment is more likely for individuals who pursue it directly after high school graduation, rather than individuals who take time before enrolling in a postsecondary program.

FAFSA completion helps put postsecondary education within reach for more students by connecting them with resources, including Pell Grants (if they are eligible). Efforts to increase FAFSA completion rates are especially critical for postsecondary students who have historically faced structural inequities in their path to degree attainment, such as students of color and students who experience poverty.

Further, students without a sufficient set of financial aid resources may rely more heavily on student loan borrowing and working long hours to cover the cost of college. The Pell Grant program is an essential support pillar for postsecondary students that Congress could further strengthen to lessen the burden of student debt and over-working during the academic year. Too often, financial hardships prevent students from low-income backgrounds from postsecondary persistence and completion.

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2025 - 2026 FAFSA

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Graduates of the Class of 2025, this is the form you will use for financial aid. 

Use this application when applying for the Fall(August) 2025.

studentaid.gov

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2025-2026 FAFSA for Fall 2025

The FAFSA application for the 2025-2026 will open in December 1, 2024.  

      The Department of Education has provided various tools for students and parents to use to assist with the financial aid process.  This website:  https://studentaid.gov provides a variety of information and resources to help the student and the parents begin this collegiate journey.  

To apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, work-study, and loans, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Completing and submitting the FAFSA is free and easier than ever, and it gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for college or career school.

      In addition, many states and colleges use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for state and school aid, and some private financial aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether you qualify for their aid.

      To complete the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid visit https://studentaid.gov/ and follow the directions given.  Once completed, contact  the financial aid office for the college to determine the next steps in the financial aid process. 

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Alert!!!!  Alert!!!!  

New Graduation requirement that began the 2022-2023 school year!  

Alert!!!!  Alert!!!!

*Financial Aid Requirement*

Per TEA (Texas Education Agency):

https://tea.texas.gov/academics/graduation-information/state-graduation-requirements

https://tea.texas.gov/academics/college-career-and-military-prep/financial-aid-requirement

In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.0256, beginning with students enrolled in 12th grade during the 2021-2022 school year, each student must do one of the following in order to graduate:  

• Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);

• Complete and submit a Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA); or

• Submit a signed opt-out form (Reasons why you are not attending college).   See your high school counselor for information on the opt-out form.  

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Financial Aid includes:  

Federal grants (includes Pell Grant)

State Grants

Work-study

Scholarships

Loans

Download.  

View.  

Research. 

What The FAFSA (WTF) can do for you.