An important part of the college application process for high school seniors is getting information about how to fund this education. Universities and colleges recommend that all students complete the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) for each year of attendance. The FAFSA is used not only by the government to determine federal student aid such as grants, scholarships, and loans, but also by the institution to determine additional funding sources that may be available to each eligible student.
The FAFSA application is now open for students planning to attend college, career school, or graduate school during the 2025-26 school year. For undergraduates, both the student and parent(s) are involved in the application process which is estimated to take less than an hour to complete.
It is also recommended that families turn their attention to this application task sooner than later for two reasons. First, information on FAFSA is then sent to the institutions the student chooses and is used by the financial aid office to determine aid offers, notification of which will help the student in their selection of college or university. Another reason is that the later the FAFSA is completed, the less money that may be left in the pot of federal, state, and institutional funds to be distributed to students.
Students should check each university’s financial aid deadlines as they may differ. Also, some institutions require students to complete another aid application called the College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile), so students should check those deadlines as well.
Each step of the college selection and application process is an important one. At Confident College Planning we help students and families through the process by outlining important action steps, providing insights and guidance, and reducing stress. Email me at nancy@confidentcollegeplanning.com as I’d be happy to help!
Photo credit: ECPI (East Coast Polytechnic Institute) University is a career school with branches in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Texas, as well as online. Each location has their own focused offerings which are geared for students who want to earn a degree quickly. They offer accelerated courses and prior learning credit through portfolio assessment, credit by exam, military credit, and more! I recently visited the Charlotte, NC, facility (pictured) which houses the College of Health Science, College of Nursing, and College of Technology classrooms, computer labs, and nursing simulation labs.
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