Let's Talk Financial Aid
Colleges and universities use financial aid packages and scholarships as a way to keep costs affordable for families.
Students & families start this process by completing the
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
* Starting Fall 2024, high school seniors will begin the FAFSA process starting December 1st, 2023.
Start a folder or binder of college materials that is easily accessible and create a new non-school related email for all college messaging.
FSA ID. Student and parent/guardian will create an FSA ID to start and officialy sign.
Things to know before getting started:
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Until the age of 24, students must use their parent/guardian's tax information to apply for financial aid. (Special circumstances may apply).
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Students submit FAFSA during their senior year of high school and every year they plan on attending a college.
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FAFSA does not guarantee admission to a college.
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Sending FAFSA to a school does not mean your student has to attend that school. You can send FAFSA to several schools.
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To get started, students and at least 1 parent/guardian must create an FSA ID using separate emails and phone numbers.
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The FSA ID serves as the official signature to submit the FAFSA.
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Make sure you can access your prior year tax files. FAFSA has an IRS data retrieval tool however you may need hard or digital copies.
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The FAFSA is FREE! Never pay for assistance to complete FAFSA, check with your high school counseling office or local community college for upcoming FAFSA related workshops that are typically open to the community.
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Families who are undocumented, click here for resources.
Once FAFSA is complete, students and parent/guardians will be prompted to enter in their FSA ID for official submission. Your FAFSA is then sent electronically to the schools you listed.
Students will receive an EFC number (Expected Family Contribution). This number is used by colleges and is not a direct indicator of eligibility. Print this page for your own records.
December-April, colleges listed on the student FAFSA will send Award Packages outlining any federal or state assistance the student is eligible for.
Every college does this differently, be sure to ask how award information will be communicated. Award packages help families understand the real cost of attending that school after financial aid and/or scholarships and loans have been calculated.
(See example below)
Compare the Total Direct Cost with the Expected Net Cost after grants, loans and scholarships have been applied.
Check out this article for more information on how to read an award letter.
