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Financial Aid

Financial Aid

What is FAFSA?

FAFSA stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It’s a form that high school seniors and college students fill out each year to apply for financial aid for college or career school. FAFSA helps determine a student’s eligibility for grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and federal student loans. Completing the FAFSA is an essential step in accessing money for college—and it’s free to submit! Every senior is encouraged to apply, regardless of their family income, as many colleges and scholarship programs use FAFSA information to award financial aid.

For high school students graduating in the Class of 2026, the earliest opportunity to apply for federal financial aid for college is by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2025–26 academic year. The FAFSA form is expected to become available on October 1, 2024, aligning with the traditional release schedule.

It's important to note that while the federal deadline to submit the FAFSA for the 2025–26 school year is June 30, 2026, many states and colleges have earlier priority deadlines. For instance, in Florida, the priority deadline is May 15, 2025. Submitting the FAFSA as soon as possible after it becomes available is highly recommended, as some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

How to Apply for FAFSA

Applying for FAFSA is simple and can be done entirely online. Here’s how students can apply:

  1. Create an FSA ID
    Visit studentaid.gov to create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. Both the student and a parent (if the student is a dependent) will need one.

  2. Gather Required Documents
    Before starting the application, gather important documents like Social Security numbers, tax returns, W-2s, and bank statements.

  3. Complete the FAFSA Form
    Go to fafsa.gov and fill out the application. It usually opens on October 1 each year for the following school year (though dates may vary slightly). Be sure to list all schools you’re considering attending.

  4. Sign and Submit
    After reviewing the application for accuracy, both the student and parent should sign it electronically with their FSA IDs, then submit it online.

  5. Watch for Your Student Aid Report (SAR)
    Once submitted, you’ll receive a SAR summarizing your information. Schools will use this to determine your financial aid package.