Scholarships and Financial Aid

The 2025-26 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is now open.

What is Federal Student Aid?

• A part of the U.S. Department of Education
• The largest provider of student financial aid in the nation
• Provides more than $150 billion in federal grants, loans, and work-study funds each year to more than 13 million students paying for college or vocational school. 

The Financial Aid Process

• Students and parents should start by applying for a FAFSA ID number on the FAFSA website. The ID allows students to apply for financial aid and complete the online financial aid application.
• Students can first apply for financial aid starting in December of their senior year if they are planning on attending a post-secondary school the following fall.
• Students apply by completing the FAFSA online. Be sure to follow all instructions online to ensure the college of your choice receives your application.
• You can electronically sign the application with your FAFSA ID. You can always go back and update or correct information on your application as long as you keep your ID number.

Important Financial Information:

• Parents must provide their information even if they are not planning on financially assisting the student with their post-secondary education.
• Check with the college to see if there are additional financial aid forms to be completed.
• The FAFSA application could take 4 to 6 weeks to process.
• Students specify on the FAFSA the post-secondary institutions they wish to receive family financial data.
• Financial Aid offices at the college determine what aid the student qualifies for and will notify the student by sending an award letter.
• FAFSA is the form used to apply for federal and state financial aid.
• Financial aid is available to students attending full-time as well as part-time.
• College financial aid offices are a great resource and can be contacted with specific questions.

Tips for Students Preparing to Fill out the FAFSA Form:

• Create a StudentAid.gov account (if they don't already have one).
• Have their documents ready (e.g., 2023 tax returns; records of child support received; current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts; and net worth of investments, businesses, and farms).
• Use the Who's My FAFSA Parent? wizard to identify which parent(s) will be a required contributor on their FAFSA form.
• Have their contributor information ready (e.g., first and last name, Social Security number [if they have one], date of birth, email address, and mailing address [if they don't have a Social Security number]).