HOW DO I APPLY?
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The FAFSA typically opens October 1 of your senior year (except for the Class of 2024 and 2025- the FAFSA will become available sometime between October and December) and has a priority submission date of April 1. The FAFSA is FREE for seniors to apply, the earlier you apply the greater chance for aid, do not wait to apply. To apply, or to find out more information, please visit Federal Student Aid Programs.
How can I find out whether my college has an earlier financial aid and scholarship filing deadline?
Visit the college financial aid website. The federal and state program deadline will be the same at most schools but institutional scholarships frequently have deadlines in January.
What tax forms will I use for the FAFSA?
Tax records for the prior-prior year. W-2 and 1099 forms and other records of money earned. These forms may be required for the FAFSA and for verification (HINT: If you or your parents file a tax return with the IRS, you may be eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. This is an easy way to provide accurate tax information, view and securely transfer information into FAFSA)
What questions will I have to answer on the FAFSA?
The FAFSA questions are all on the FAFSA on the Web worksheet (a helpful tool that explains each section! Very user friendly!) The worksheet can be completed before sitting down to file the FAFSA. By completing the FAFSA on the Web worksheet, students and parents can have all of the answers ready.
Undocumented students Can NOT apply for financial aid using the FAFSA. You must complete the DREAM Act application. See the instructions listed below for the California Dream Act Application.
CSS /Financial Aid Profile: Seniors applying to private universities that require the CSS profile need to complete the online CSS Profile no later than November 1 for Early Decision and Early Action applications and no later than December 1 for Regular Decision applications. Check specific colleges for extended deadlines. The profile allows students to report their financial and family circumstance information in one streamlined application and submit it to all the colleges that require it for scholarship and grant consideration. Apply online. Fee is $25 for the profile and first college report and $16 for each subsequent college report. Fee waivers are available for eligible applicants.
Can I better predict how much aid a college will give me before I receive a financial aid package from the university?
Yes! Each college has a Net Price Calculator on their website. Go directly to a college's website's financial aid page and find the Net Price Calculator. There you will be able to input information and get a better sense of what type of aid the college will offer and college affordability overall.
Federal Student Aid - www.studentaid.ed.gov
Free Application for Federal Student Aid - www.fafsa.ed.gov
CSS PROFILE - https://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile
Ed Fund - www.edfund.org
FastWeb for scholarships - www.fastweb.com
Discus Awards scholarship list - http://www.discusawards.com/
College Scorecard - https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/