Financial Aid: FAFSA & CSS Profile
Once you've completed your FAFSA, put your name in this drawing for $500! Eldorado students have won before!
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 2022 would start the FAFSA Oct. 1, 2021 using their parent(s)/guardian(s)' 2020 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.
tax assistance
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FAFSA PRIORITY DEADLINES
Colleges typically set Priority Deadlines for students to complete the FAFSA. These are NOT drop-dead deadlines after which the college will not accept your FAFSA; rather, they are dates by which the college would prefer to have your FAFSA on file, so that they can allocate their limited financial aid award money in a timely manner. You have the best chance of receiving college financial aid if you submit the FAFSA by their Priority Deadline, and the best chance of receiving Grant $ from the federal government if you complete your FAFSA as soon as possible after Oct. 1 each year.
FAFSA Priority Deadlines at popular colleges:
UNM: Jan. 5, 2022
Arizona State University: TBA
Northern Arizona University: TBA
Eastern NM University: TBA
CNM: March 30, 2022
Colorado State University: TBA
NM State: TBA
NM Tech: TBA
Texas Tech University: TBA
