Financial Aid for College
 

Financial Aid Calendar

If your child is applying for financial aid for college, here is a calendar highlighting the important tasks to be done during senior year of high school. The dates are generally relevant for students applying regular decision.

SeptemberOctoberNovember
  • Create a timetable of financial aid deadlines for each college
  • Obtain an FSA ID at fafsa.ed.gov as a prerequisite for submitting the FAFSA online (only need to do this once)
  • Obtain a username and password at collegeboard.org as a prerequisite for submitting the CSS Profile online
  • Gather last two years of tax returns for parent and student
  • Complete and submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1
  • Complete and submit the CSS Profile if student is applying to college early action or early decision
  • Research college and private scholarships and gather supporting materials (students may be considered for college scholarships automatically when they apply)
DecemberJanuaryFebruary
  • Complete and submit the CSS Profile if student is applying regular decision
  • Complete additional college-specific aid forms, if any
  • Complete and submit private scholarship applications
  • Review student aid report from FAFSA showing your student aid index (SAI)
  • Verify that all required federal and college financial aid forms have been submitted, and submit any additional documents as requested
  • Continue to complete and submit private scholarship applications
MarchAprilMay
  • Watch for college acceptances; if acceptance contains offer of merit aid, make sure to understand requirements of any merit scholarships
  • Receive financial aid award letters from colleges detailing financial aid package; read each award letter carefully
  • Watch for notifications from private scholarship sources
  • Compare financial aid awards by comparing out-of-pocket costs at each college as well as total overall costs
  • Decide on a single college!
  • Sign and return financial aid award letter
  • Contact financial aid office to confirm all paperwork is in
  • Notify financial aid administrator of any changes in circumstances that may affect your family's ability to pay SAI
JuneJulyAugust
  • High school graduation!
  • Student signs student loan promissory notes, if applicable
  • Student receives federal student loan counseling, if applicable
  • Congratulations! Off to college!

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. does not provide investment, tax, legal, or retirement advice or recommendations. The information presented here is not specific to any individual's personal circumstances. To the extent that this material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law. Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances. These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly available information from sources believed to be reliable — we cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice.
Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2024.