COMPLETE YOUR FAFSA form

The 2026-27 FAFSA Form is now open! Click here for instructions and more information.  If you need additional help with your FAFSA form, please sign up for our FAFSA Help Night using the link above. We strongly recommend that students begin by filling out their own FAFSA form and completing their sections first. They will then invite contributor(s) to finish their parts by entering the email address they used to create their FSA ID.

Who Completes the Form

• The Student: The FAFSA is in the student's name, and they are responsible for creating an FSA ID to log in and complete their required sections. 

• Contributors: If you are a dependent student, your parent(s) must provide their information. Anyone providing information on the FAFSA is known as a "contributor" and must create their own FSA ID to provide information and sign the form. 

Providing Consent to Share IRS Information

You and your contributors must provide consent and approval to have your federal tax information transferred directly from the IRS into your FAFSA form. You (and your contributors) must provide consent and approval even if you didn’t file a U.S. federal tax return or any tax return at all. If you or your contributors don’t provide consent and approval to have federal tax information transferred into the FAFSA® form, you won’t be eligible for federal student aid. Although most of your financial information will be imported directly from the IRS when you provide consent and approval, you and your contributors should each have your own tax returns on hand (if applicable) when you fill out the FAFSA form. You may need them to answer additional questions.

Why You Should Fill Out the FAFSA

• Federal Aid: The FAFSA is the gateway to more than $150 billion in federal aid, including the Pell Grant, work-study programs, and federal student loans. 

• State and School Aid: Many states and colleges use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for their own grants, scholarships, and loans. This includes the Arkansas Academic Challenge (Lottery) Scholarship, Arkansas Future Grant, Arkansas Workforce Challenge, and other programs. The Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship can now be used at private trade schools, as recent legislative changes have expanded the definition of "approved institutions" to include them. Under the Arkansas ACCESS Act, private vocational-technical schools and public or private technical institutes are now eligible, provided they meet specific criteria, such as being on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) eligible training provider list or the state's private career education list. 

• Merit-Based Aid : Even if you don't have significant financial need, filling out the FAFSA can qualify you for merit-based scholarships offered by your school. 

Arkansas Valley Electric Scholarship

Amount: $2,500 

Deadline to apply: March 15

Eligibility Requirements: Local high school seniors who are attending any college or vocational/technical school. Parents or guardians must be AVECC members

Arkansas School Plant Management Association (ASPMA) Scholarship

Amount: $1,500 - $5,000

Deadline to apply: March 1, 2026

The Arkansas School Plant Management Association (ASPMA) Scholarship is offered to promote continued education and recognize students for their leadership, scholastic achievement, and civic participation. ASPMA awards up to approximately $40,000 annually, with individual scholarship amounts ranging from $1,500 to $5,000, based on the Scholarship Committee’s evaluation of selection criteria. Scholarships may be eligible for renewal when funds are available.

Eligibility requirements include:

1. Graduating high school senior planning to attend a college/university, vocational-technical school, or trade school

2. Minimum 3.0 GPA

3. Minimum 19 ACT score

4. Submission of all required application materials, including:

• An essay titled “What Receiving the ASPMA Scholarship Will Mean to Me”

• Two letters of recommendation from a high school administrator, counselor, and/or teacher attesting to the applicant’s character

• A completed Academic Information Form

National School Plant Management Association (NSPMA) Scholarship

Amount: $500 - $1,500

Deadline to apply: March 1, 2026

The National School Plant Management Association (NSPMA) Scholarship supports students continuing their education in a technical/trade certification, associate’s degree, or bachelor’s degree program. Eligible applicants include graduating high school seniors and current college freshmen, sophomores, or juniors.

Scholarship amounts range from $500 to $1,500, with the number of awards based on available funding. Recipients are selected by the NSPMA Scholarship Committee using criteria such as academic achievement, co-curricular involvement, community service, and essay responses.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Graduating high school senior

• Enrollment or planned enrollment in an approved postsecondary program

• Submission of all required application materials

Recipients will be notified in early February and may be recognized on NSPMA platforms.

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