FAFSA and Financial Aid
FAFSA (“Free Application for Federal Student Aid”)
Class of 2025: FAFSA is now OPEN
Before each year of college, students and their families will fill out the FAFSA to apply for federal grants, work-study, and loans. After you submit your FAFSA form, you will receive your “FAFSA Submission Summary,” which summarizes the information that you provided on your FAFSA form. The colleges that you list on your FAFSA will also receive this summary and will use it to determine your federal aid eligibility. Many states and colleges also use FAFSA data to award their own aid.
- The FAFSA that the Class of 2025 should complete is the FAFSA for 2025-26, which refers to the first year in college.
- The FAFSA must be submitted for each year of college.
Steps to Start Your FAFSA
After You Have Completed Your FAFSA
After you have completed your FAFSA, your status in your account will be "Submitted." Check your FAFSA account regularly after that to make sure no errors are being reported that you need to correct. Once it says "Processed," you will know that your FAFSA has been processed successfully. After that, the colleges that you listed on your FAFSA will begin receiving it and will create their own financial aid packages for you.
The FAFSA Submission Summary is one of the documents students will need to provide if they are applying for DCTAG.
Links to Specific FAFSA Guidance
Eligibility for Non-U.S. Citizens
https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements/non-us-citizens
Undocumented Students and Financial Aid: https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/undocumented-students
Maximizing Your Money for College
Rachel Venator, DCPS Persists Analyst, gave a presentation in September 2024 about the importance of choosing a college that is a sustainable financial fit for your family and how to maximize your money for college. The slide presentation is below.
Maximizing Your Money for College_9.11.24
DCPSGoesToCollege Website
The DCPSGoesToCollege website, https://dcpsgoestocollege.org, offers many financial aid resources:
- information on DC-specific and other financial aid programs
- a College Cost Calculator
- a Financial Aid Award Letter Calculator that helps you compare up to four financial aid award letters from your colleges.
U.S. Colleges that Meet 100% of Demonstrated Need for Undocumented and DACA Students (from Appily website)
US Colleges for Undocumented and DACA Students | Appily
A Look at How Colleges Grant FInancial Aid
Jeff Selingo, author of "Who Gets in and Why," offers advice and hard data on how colleges grant financial aid.
Other Resources
Federal Student Aid Estimator
Before families complete the FAFSA form, the Federal Student Aid Estimator can help them understand their options to pay for college or career school by providing an early estimate of their Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and eligibility for federal student aid.
https://studentaid.gov/aid-estimator/
CSS Profile (apply through College Board)
About 400 colleges require that students fill out the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA. The CSS Profile application opens on October 1 each year. This application is for nonfederal student financial aid and provide access to funding that is not available through the FAFSA. Families apply through the student's College Board account. There is a fee; students who are eligible for Free and Reduced Meals can apply for a fee waiver.
See this link for an overview of the CSS Profile:
uAspire
uAspire’s College Cost Calculator is a free online tool that helps you decipher and compare your financial aid offers.
MyinTuition.org
This website offers personalized net-cost estimates for financial aid for more than 70 college partners.
College Aid Pro
This website has information about FAFSA/CSS, lists of scholarships, and a "report card" on how transparent colleges and universities are with the merit they provide.
Virtual Workshop: Understanding Financial Aid Award Letters
Monday, April 4, 2022, 5:30 pm-6:30 pm
As you are receiving your college decisions, it can be difficult to compare the financial aid packages that different schools are offering you. This virtual workshop offered tips on how to compare letters and things to pay close attention to. Our presenters:
- Jessica Mardo, from the “DCPS Persists” program. Ms. Mardo is also knowledgeable about the DC-specific programs DCTAG, Mayor’s Scholars, and DC Futures.
- Joshua Lowe, currently a George Washington University admissions officer. He has experience at both private and public institutions.
You can view the slide presentation here.