Financial Aid: FAFSA & CSS Profile

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. a free, online application for financial aid for college. FAFSA opens each year on October 1 and requires the previous year's taxes; for example, a student entering college in Fall of 2020 would start the FAFSA Oct. 1, 2019 using his/her parent(s)/guardian(s)' 2018 taxes (this is not a typo; the FAFSA requires "prior prior year" taxes).

To start the FAFSA application: apply for an FSA ID here (one for student and separate one for parent/guardian); keep track of this ID & password for future years!

Colleges often have priority deadlines for FAFSA submission. Check with the college of your choice!

Students & parents need to submit the FAFSA every year that the student is in college.