FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
Seniors: If you are planning to attend college, we strongly encourage all to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid)
Please attend our Financial Aid Information Night (in-person) featuring: Faith Phillips, Financial Aid Directory from OSU Newark/COTC
SEPTEMBER 16 6:30pm - 8pm at WESTERVILLE NORTH
FAFSA Opens on OCTOBER 1
Create you FSA ID (Student and Guardian) NOW
FAFSA Completion/Filing Workshops
Parents/students can complete the FAFSA on their own. However, workshops will be available to help assist if needed. During these workshops, parents/students will receive assistance completing the FAFSA. You may attend any workshop regardless of where your child attends.
November 19, 2025
Westerville SOUTH High School
6:00-7:30pm
REGISTER (Coming Soon)
December 9, 2025
Westerville CENTRAL High School
6:00-7:30pm
What is the FAFSA?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used by two and four-year colleges and universities throughout the U.S. to determine eligibility for Federal, State and campus-based financial aid, which includes grants, scholarships, work study programs, and all Federal student and parent loan programs.
Students at all income levels are strongly encouraged to file the FAFSA every year by their college or university’s published deadline to maximize their overall financial aid package.
How Do I File the FAFSA?
The FAFSA must be completed online at www.studentaid.gov
When Should I File the FAFSA?
The FAFSA is available beginning in December, and should be submitted as soon as possible after that date, but no later than your college or university’s published deadline.
Dependency Status: Whose Information Must I Enter on the FAFSA?
Per Federal law, the student must fill out their FAFSA annually with both their own, and their parental income and asset information unless they can legitimately answer “Yes” to one or more of the following questions. Simply living on their own, and claiming themselves for tax purposes does NOT mean the student is independent for financial aid purposes.
Will you be 24 or older by Dec. 31 of the school year for which you are applying for financial aid?
Will you be working toward a master’s or doctorate degree (such as M.A., M.B.A., M.D., J.D., Ph.D., etc.)?
Are you married or separated but not divorced?
Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?
Do you have legal dependents (other than children or a spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you?
At any time since you turned age 13, were both of your parents deceased, were you in foster care, legal guardianship or were you a ward or dependent of the court?
Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training?
Are you a veteran of the U.S. armed forces?
If none of the criteria listed above apply to you, you are considered a dependent student and are required to provide your parent/s financial information when completing the FAFSA.
What Information/Documents Will I Need to Complete the FAFSA?
Your Social Security Number
Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
Your 2023 federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
An FSA ID to sign electronically. (This can be completed at https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch?continueTo=fafsa)
If you are a dependent student, then you will also need most of the above information for your parent(s).
FSA ID – Both the student and one parent each need to create their own unique Federal Student Aid (FSA) username and password at studentaid.gov at least three days prior to completing the FAFSA.
The FSA ID is used to sign the FAFSA online, as well as to access and modify the FAFSA after it has been submitted, if needed.