Paying for College

Wooden cubes with the abbreviation Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA

Students and parents can complete FAFSA during federal shutdown

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By Catherine Mueller Despite the government shutdown, students and parents can complete the FAFSA and financial aid will be processed on the regular schedule according to the U.S. Department of Education. The Department announced on October 1 that despite the lapse in appropriations to fund the federal government, there will be minimal impact on students, borrowers, […]

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Five tips to complete this important FAFSA first step

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By Marlene Seeklander Students have been able to complete the 2026-27 FAFSA since September 24, in advance of the official October 1 release date. Prior to completing the FAFSA, students and parents can go ahead and set up their account at StudentAid.gov, also known as creating an FSA ID. An FSA ID is the username and

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Getting rid of the “what-ifs” when choosing a career

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By Catherine Mueller Deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life can be rather scary. Choosing a career can raise many “what ifs.” For example: Going to college, deciding on a career, and choosing the right school can be overwhelming. The good news is that if you are thinking about the “what

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Tips for avoiding scholarship scams

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By Catherine Mueller Scholarships are the best kind of financial aid, but students should be careful to avoid scams. Because so many students are looking for scholarships, there are, unfortunately, a lot of bad actors that want to take advantage of these students. Therefore, it’s important to be careful and make sure the scholarship offer is

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Department of Education announces resolution of Federal Pell Grant eligibility issues

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By Marlene Seeklander Two “bugs” in the FAFSA Processing System that resulted in incorrect Pell Grant eligibility data have been resolved. The Department of Education announced that they unintentionally introduced two errors into the FAFSA Processing System that resulted in incorrect Pell Grant eligibility data being shared with institutions and applicants. The issues have since been

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FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) text on graduation cap and money.

Department of Education releases 2026-27 College Financing Plan

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By Marlene Seeklander Those financial aid professionals who opt to use the Department of Education’s College Financial Plan template now have a new version for the 2026-27 award year. The Department of Education announced the release of the 2026-27 College Financing Plan (CFP), a consumer tool that colleges can use to notify students about their financial

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FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Concept with keywords, letters and icons. Flat vector illustration. Isolated on white background.

Launch of the 2026-27 FAFSA is the earliest in the program’s history

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By Marlene Seeklander The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available for all students to complete. The availability of the FAFSA – a week ahead of the official release date of October 1 – is what the Department of Education (ED) said is the earliest launch of the FAFSA in the program’s

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FAFSA spelled out with blocks and stack of books with a piggy bank on top.

Five reasons you should complete the FAFSA

Newsroom, College preparation, FAFSA resources, Mapping Your Future features, Paying for College / By

By Catherine Mueller Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can make the difference when it comes to pursuing your dreams for the future. For many students, who couldn’t otherwise afford the cost of an education, the FAFSA makes it possible. Here are some reasons why you should complete the 2026-27 FAFSA now that it

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September tasks for seniors

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By Catherine Mueller Most high school seniors anxiously await life after high school. And while that life offers new-found freedoms, those same seniors may experience stress over the responsibilities that come with those freedoms. Your senior year is a time to dream of the future and think about all your life’s possibilities. But college preparation also

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