Paying for College & the FAFSA
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Start planning today and look at the resources below to get the most in financial aid and scholarships!
Quick Links
What Is The FAFSA?
FAFSA is an acronym that stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Colleges and universities use this form to determine your eligibility for federal, state, and college-sponsored financial aid, including grants, educational loans, and work-study programs. Therefore, even though the FAFSA is technically the application for federal aid, you have to fill it out to receive state and college-sponsored financial aid as well. If you're hoping for any government or school financial aid for college, you should file a FAFSA by the deadline a college has listed on their website. (PrepScholar: Simple Explanation: What's the FAFSA?).
A common mistake students make with the FAFSA is waiting until after they are admitted apply for financial aid. But, if you do this, your application may be considered late and you might receive less scholarships and grants! Instead, refer to the deadlines listed on your college's website for submitting financial aid applications and make sure to submit the FAFSA at the same time as you complete your admissions application.
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) typically opens on October 1st of each year for the following academic school year. This year the 2024-2025 FAFSA form is being revised and will not be available until sometime in December 2023. College and Career Month is a great time to learn about the FAFSA and begin gathering the documents you will need to apply. See below to learn more! Learn more about the upcoming changes here and get answers to frequently asked questions here.
FSA ID Information
What is an FSA ID?
The FSA ID is a username and password combination you use to log in to U.S. Department of Education (ED) online systems. The FSA ID is your legal signature and shouldn’t be created or used by anyone other than you—not even your parent, your child, a school official, or a loan company representative. You’ll use your FSA ID every year you fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form and for the lifetime of your federal student loans.
FSA IDs will be more important than ever. uAspire recommends that all students and parents create an FSA ID before December so when the FAFSA opens, you will be ready.
More information about the process for undocumented parents to create an FSA ID will come later this fall. Also, depending on parent tax filing students and circumstances, it is possible that both parents will need an FSA ID.
Resources
FAFSA Checklist
uAspire provides students and families with the FAFSA & CSS Profile checklists. Click below to access the checklist to prepare to file your FAFSA.
CSS Profile Checklist
The CSS Profile is a financial aid application created by The College Board and used by over 400 colleges and scholarship programs to determine financial aid eligibility and award institutional aid (ex: merit scholarships or college-specific grants). The majority of colleges that require the CSS Profile are private institutions. Not every college requires the CSS Profile, so it is important to first confirm if a school on your college list will need this application. Check with the financial aid website of the schools you're applying to and confirm whether or not you need to complete the CSS Profile. You can also double-check which schools require it here.
The CSS Profile is free to domestic undergraduate students whose family income is up to $100,000. More info about Fee Waivers. If you do not receive a Fee Waiver, the fee for the initial application is $25, and additional college recipients added are $16 per school.
PLEASE NOTE: the CSS Profile does not replace filling out the FAFSA! Colleges that require the CSS Profile might also require you to fill out the FAFSA. Remember, the FAFSA is the government's application that determines your eligibility for FEDERAL & STATE financial aid. For certain colleges, your financial aid application may be considered incomplete and if you do not complete both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile by the college's deadlines.
MassEdCo
MassEdCo offers FREE college, career, and financial aid advising throughout Boston! See below for more details and sign up for a session today!
Scholarships
Thinking about community college? You can get up to 3 years tuition-free by applying through the Tuition-Free Community College Plan.
Ron Brown Scholarship Application Deadline: 1/9/2024
Coca-Cola Scholarship Application Deadline: 10/2/2023
Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship application is open. Deadline: 11/16/2023
Cappex: Scholarship search site
Hispanic/Latinx Scholarships
Black/African American Scholarships
Asian American/Pacific Islander Scholarships
Native American/American Indian Scholarships
Arab American/Middle Eastern Scholarships
Students experiencing homelessness
The Horatio Alger Association, in partnership with the Give Us Your Poor organization, offers college scholarships to homeless and at-risk students. The Horatio Alger Association provides approximately 1,000 scholarships each year to eligible students who have overcome adversity in their lives. Visit the Horatio Alger Association National and State Scholarship webpage.
Undocumented Student Scholarships & Support
Let's Get Ready's Scholarship Research Guide (linked below)
Articles & Resources
How You Can Use the FAFSA4Caster Tool to predict your Financial Aid
https://finaid.org/ - FinAid is a student guide to financial aid for students, parents, financial aid professionals, and guidance counselors.
https://www.edvisors.com/ - Factual website about all things related to financial aid.
https://ticas.org/resources-for-student-loan-borrowers/ - Resources for Student Loan Borrowers - The Institute for College Access & Success