As college applications begin to close and financial aid packages roll in, other forms of financial support become available to graduating seniors.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a financial need-based scholarship form and is open for anyone to apply. The application for the 2025-26 school year opened on Nov. 21. The form must be completed by June 15.
FAFSA is a form filled out by the student and a parent or guardian, that determines the amount of federal student aid received from the U.S. Department of Education. Information required to fill out the application includes, but is not limited to, social security numbers, tax returns, balances of bank accounts and total net worth.
After the application is finished, which normally takes 1-2 days to fill out, it will take between one to three days for the form to be processed. Once the form is received and processed, the student will be able to view their estimated federal student aid.
A student may be able to qualify for a federal pell grant, which is a form of government financial aid which does not require to be paid back.
Students may also receive federal direct loans, which is aid that must be repaid with interest. Most students also may be eligible for a federal work-study. This is a way for students to pay for school through a part-time job while at college.
