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
Search here for free tax assistance in your community.
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