Learn about updates to FAFSA and read this guide to completing it.
Applying for Financial Aid
Help paying for colleges is available in the form of financial aid and scholarships. The total cost of college to you and your family may not be as high as it seems at first glance. You must be diligent in researching your potential colleges’ offerings. While all colleges offer financial aid packages based on need, some colleges and organizations offer money based on academic performance or merit. Financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so it is best to apply as early as possible.
Need-Based Aid Applications
FAFSA. In order to be eligible for need-based financial aid at any college, you will be required to complete FAFSA (fafsa.ed.gov). This application becomes available on October 1st. FAFSA will calculate your Student Aid Index (SAI) which will be used by colleges to determine your eligibility for aid. Colleges will try to bridge the gap between your EFC and their tuition (and room and board), but many are not able to.
CSS PROFILE. In order to be eligible for need-based financial aid at some colleges, the CSS Profile (available through the College Board) is required by certain colleges and becomes available on October 1st. The CSS Profile asks detailed questions about your family’s financial profile. Unlike FAFSA, there is a fee to register and additional fees to submit the CSS Profile to each school. Fee waivers are automatically applied if they determine that you qualify.
Learn More About Financial Aid
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In order to be eligible for need-based financial aid at any college, you will be required to complete FAFSA (fafsa.ed.gov). This application becomes available on October 1st. FAFSA will calculate your Student Aid Index (SAI) which will be used by colleges to determine your eligibility for aid. Colleges will try to bridge the gap between your EFC and their tuition (and room and board), but many are not able to.
In order to be eligible for need-based financial aid at some colleges, the CSS Profile (available through the College Board) is required by certain colleges and becomes available on October 1st. The CSS Profile asks detailed questions about your family’s financial profile. Unlike FAFSA, there is a fee to register and additional fees to submit the CSS Profile to each school. Fee waivers are automatically applied if they determine that you qualify.
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Merit-based aid, in the form of scholarships or grants, are what can make a higher-cost college ultimately affordable. The largest providers of scholarships are colleges themselves through merit-based aid.
Students who are in the top percentage of a particular college’s applicant pool are often awarded large sums of gifted aid to entice them to attend. Some colleges publish details about the percentage of applicants who are awarded this kind of aid, and what their requirements are (i.e. test scores and GPA). Often, colleges require students to apply by an earlier deadline, or submit separate applications to be considered. In the same way that you research colleges and their academic offerings and admissions requirements, it is important to be aware of their financial aid offerings and requirements as well. The financial resources of each school may vary, so don’t prematurely discount a school based solely on their sticker price. See what you can get from scholarships and financial aid before you decide whether or not you can afford it. Don’t forget that in-state public schools are great options that start at a lower cost.
Students can also seek funding from outside sources through scholarship applications. These applications vary greatly in terms of qualifications (grades, talents, background/ethnicity, leadership, prospective major, etc.) and amount. These scholarships may carry certain obligations (GPA), and may or may not be renewable over the course of your education.
While you can apply for scholarships at any time, we recommend that you first concentrate on your college applications. Scholarship applications can be time-consuming and require multiple essays. Helpful places to start may be through parent employers as well as the College Office Weekly Bulletin. Watch out for scholarships that may be scams or marketing tools.
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2025–26 FAFSA Roadmap—Highlights key dates for the FAFSA form launch, as well as timelines for the release of resources to assist our partners.2025–26 FAFSA Preview Presentation—Provides financial aid administrators, advisors The presentation deck contains screenshots that highlight changes to the online 2025–26 FAFSA form.
2025–26 FAFSA Prototype—Provides the financial aid community an advance opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the FAFSA user experience ahead of its broad release.
Federal Student Aid Estimator—Provides an estimate of the 2025–26 Student Aid Index (SAI) and Federal Pell Grant eligibility calculation.
“Who’s the Parent on the FAFSA Form?” Wizard—A new, stand-alone tool to help students and families determine who will need to provide contributor information on the 2025–26 FAFSA form prior to starting the application.
“Creating Your StudentAid.gov Account” Page—A new resource that explains everything families and partners need to know about creating a StudentAid.gov account.
Pro Tips for Completing the FAFSA Form—Updated tips for preparing to fill out and submitting the FAFSA form. This resource will also be linked from the StudentAid.gov Dashboard to promote easier access for students and their required contributor(s).
Federal Student Aid YouTube Channel: FAFSA Videos—Updated videos to help students and families understand the importance of the FAFSA form, who is a FAFSA contributor, and what happens after submitting the form.
Test Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) Data Files—Additional datasets for use in the development and testing of student aid system software.
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UNCF (HBCU-specific)
Affordable Colleges (HBCU-specific)
Colleges of Distinction (recurring scholarships by deadline date)
Standout College Prep (NY-specific)
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For students born outside the U.S. who do not have citizenship or legal residency, it can be challenging to navigate the financial aid application process. We’ve compiled some general information and resources to provide information and opportunities on financing your college education.
FAFSA Financial Aid and Undocumented Students Q&A
SUNY Resources for Undocumented Students
CUNY Undocumented Student Support
Big Future's 6 Things Undocumented Students Need to Know About College
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Clark University (MA)
College of Wooster (OH)
Colorado College (CO)
Denison University (OH)
Dickinson College (PA)
Gettysburg College (PA)
Kenyon College (OH)
Lafayette College (PA)
Lehigh University (PA)
Saint John’s College (NM)
Sewanee (TN)
Tulane University (LA)
Wabash College (IN)
Wheaton College (MA)
PARENTS: Are you divorced or separated and unsure which parent to list on the FAFSA?
FAFSA Parent Wizard
A student may need to ask their parent(s) to provide information on their FAFSA form based on their dependency status. If the student is a dependent, they may need to report their parents’ information.
The FAFSA Parent Wizard is a tool that simplifies FAFSA form completion by helping families determine which parent(s) should contribute to a student's FAFSA form. This clarity can help families navigate this crucial step with confidence and ensure accurate information is submitted for the student's FAFSA form.