What is the FAFSA?

• Every college uses FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), www.fafsa.ed.gov, as one way to determine eligibility for student financial aid.   Students and parents also have the option of downloading the "myStudentAid" App to your phones and complete the application process there.

• The first step is to apply for a FAFSA ID: https://fsaid.ed.gov. You and your parent/guardian will each need a separate ID # to complete the FAFSA.

• You can complete and submit the FAFSA after October 1st

Financial Aid Assistance and Resources

Office of Student Financial Assistance at the Mass Dept. of Higher Education, The mission of the OSFA is to promote and enhance access and success in higher education through the delivery of quality financial aid resources and services to residents of the Commonwealth, ensuring that all individuals who desire it, have an opportunity to enrich their lives and contribute to the economic and social progress of the state. On this website you can find information about the following:

~ a quick guide to Massachusetts Financial Aid Programs, including eligibility requirements

~ grants offered for Massachusetts students, including eligibility requirements

~ scholarships offered specifically to Massachusetts students

~ tuition waiver programs, not just for graduating seniors!

~ additional information regarding loans for undergraduate and graduate students!

Massachusetts Educational Finance Authority (MEFA), the expert on financial aid and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), will host a variety of live and recorded sessions for parents and students on how to complete the FAFSA and/or the CSS Profile. You will need to RSVP to any of these events, please click on the appropriate link below so you can register. *If you are unable to attend any of the webinars below, you can still view the presentations but clicking here.

• Important information regarding the NEW FAFSA can be found here!

• Financial Aid 101 is a webinar (they have several offerings, all at night from 6:30 - 7:30 and some during the day from 12:00 - 1:00) that will provide information and clarity on the entire college financial aid application process. You'll learn about financial aid applications and types of financial aid, the factors that determine your aid eligibility, how colleges determine the amount of aid to offer, and the details of financial aid offers. Live transcription will be available. This is also offered in Spanish on Wednesday October 18, 2023 6:30 - 7:30 pm, to register for this event, please click here.

• The FAFSA Festival will be held on Wednesday January 24, 2024. Participating in this event allows students and families to receive individual assistance in a virtual setting as you complete the FAFSA. Experts will be available in breakout rooms to answer any questions and guide families through the process.

• MEFA Events: you can check out additional webinars or community events that MEFA may offer.  

• MEFA’s Guide to Financial Aid - is a helpful resource as well and will be an important resource for families this year with all the changes in the FAFSA! This resource can be printed out or you can access it online, which will allow you to access the links within the document as well. 

uAspire is a nonprofit organization ensuring that all young people have the financial information and resources necessary to find an affordable path to and through college. Their singular focus is on college affordability and removing financial barriers so that every student has an equitable opportunity to attain a postsecondary degree without burdensome debt. Advisors work with high school and college students in Massachusetts to help them access the financial aid needed to attain their degree—whether a 4-year university, 2-year community college, or certificate program. Students and parents can connect with an uAspire Advisor who will answer any and all financial aid questions via email at studentsupport@uaspire.org.  

uAspire also offers financial aid workshops, which are outlined below and can also be found here.

• Preparing for the better FAFSA: Get an overview of the NEW FAFSA in this workshop being held on Tuesday October 17, 2023 at 2:00 PM. The FAFSA is the application required by all colleges nationwide in order to receive federal financial aid. Workshops are offered every month from October 2022 through April 2023. 

• FAFSA Walkthrough: The FAFSA Walkthrough walks students and families through the entire FAFSA by section, outlining what information is necessary, detailing common confusion spots, and discussing how to answer questions. This presentation also gives a bit of insight into what comes after the FAFSA by discussing the financial aid timeline, plus briefly introducing the FAFSA Submission Summary (formerly called SAR) and verification. They also provide opportunities for Q&A and follow-up support. The FAFSA Walkthrough workshops are held twice a month with the first one being held on December 13th! Register for one of the workshops by clicking on the FAFSA Walkthrough link above! 

CSS Profile

• The PROFILE form is administered by the College Scholarship Service (CSS), the financial aid division of the College Board. The CSS PROFILE is required by many private colleges and universities to determine your eligibility for non-government financial aid, such as the institution's own grants, loans and scholarships.: https://profileonline.collegeboard.org. You may start filling this out after October 1st.

• CSS Profile Walkthrough: this financial aid form is required by some private colleges and universities to apply for student grants and college financial aid. Workshops are offered in October, November and December 2023. Register by clicking on the CSS Profile Walkthrough link! 

*Be sure to note school specific deadlines while doing your research*