Financial Aid / FAFSA

FAFSA INFO

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aide) has undergone significant changes for students attending college in the 2024 - 2025 school year. The application will not be available until mid-December of 2023. Make sure you know how the changes impact you!

Check out this slideshow to view key information on the FAFSA for this year: 

FAFSA 2025-2026 Presentation 

Jason Maurer, Financial Aid Coordinator, Kent State University at Tuscarawas

Completing the FAFSA   -   studentaid.gov

1. Create your FSA ID 

• To create an FSA ID, each person needs to go to studentaid.gov and click “Create Account” in the upper right-hand corner. The application is available in English and Spanish. 

• Determine if or which parent is considered a Contributor for the FAFSA. 

  • Each person will need the following:

    • Full name and social security number as they appear on social security card(if applicable)

    • Date of birth

    • Valid email address and phone number

    • Immediate access to your email account

    • Your residential address

    • Please note: If you have a sibling who attended college before you, your parent or guardian may already have an FSA ID.

2. Gather the information you need

• You will need to gather your social security number, income and tax information and records of you assets (money) you have saved. For more information visit studentaid.gov.

3. Prepare your list of schools

• Still not decided on where to attend?

• NEW! You are now able to list up to 20 schools which will receive a copy of your FAFSA.

4. Complete the FAFSA 

• The FAFSA application is scheduled to be available by December 1st (standby for any updates)!

• Once you have confirmation that your studentaid.gov account is created and you have received your pins, go to studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa or fafsa.gov to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This form is used to determine the amount of money a family is expected to contribute to the price of attending a post-secondary institution. The results of the FAFSA are used in determining student grants, work study, and loan amounts.

Sandy Valley Scholarship Page

Be sure to visit our Scholarship Page for information on local, state, and other scholarships!

Resources

studentaid.gov: It's never too early—or too late—to explore your options for college or career school. This site discusses key steps in preparing for college and provides resources that can help you along the way.

itsforyou.org: Support page from the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Higher Ed on completing the FAFSA

FAFSA Help Ohio: This site is designed for students, parents, counselors, mentors, and anyone else who is looking for resources for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to obtain financial aid assistance for college.

Don and Madalyn Sickafoose Educational Trust Fund: Philanthropists Don and Madalyn Sickafoose from Magnolia established this fund. Income from the trust is used to make INTEREST-FREE(!!) educational loans to deserving students residing in southeastern Stark County, northwestern Carroll County, and northern Tuscarawas County. A selection committee of three members makes award recommendations to Stark Community Foundation’s Distribution Committee. Due April 1st.

Quest Bridge is a National College Match program that matches low income, high achieving students with top colleges and provides full four year scholarships including tuition, room and board, and additional expenses. Deadline to apply is September 27th.

College Score Card is a federal government sponsored site to help families compare costs between colleges, in an apples-to-apples comparison.

Federal Student Aid: Financial Aid Toolkit: A one-stop shop for information on the FAFSA, as well as federal loans, grants, and work-study.

Canton Student Loan Foundation: Apply for a low-interest loan, up to $12,000, through The Canton Student Loan Foundation.