PA FAFSA Requirement

Under a new law recently enacted by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, beginning with the 2026-27 school year, high school students enrolled in Pennsylvania public and non-public schools must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) with the U.S. Department of Education or submit the Pennsylvania FAFSA Completion Opt-Out Form before completing high school. (24 P.S. § 16-1617)

The FAFSA is a no-cost form that U.S. students must complete to be eligible for all federal financial aid that students can use to help pay for college and career schools after high school.

The FAFSA is used by:

• The U.S. Department of Education to determine a student’s eligibility for certain federal grants, loans, work study programs and scholarships;

• The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to award the PA State Grant and other types of aid specifically for Pennsylvania students; and

• Colleges and career schools to determine a student’s eligibility for institutional aid and to develop financial aid packages for students interested in attending their schools.

By filing the FAFSA, students and families can access federal, state and institutional financial aid for a variety of postsecondary programs and make informed decisions about life after high school.

Please be aware that no student shall be prevented from graduating high school or penalized for not completing the FAFSA.

Filing a FAFSA does not obligate a student to accept financial aid or enroll in any postsecondary education or training program. Choosing not to file the FAFSA while in high school also does not prevent a student from completing the FAFSA in the future. Applying for financial aid is an annual process.

Please contact Mrs. Arnold at carnold@masd.net or (814)634-8311 ext. 305 should you have additional questions. 

See Parent/Guardian Letter below: