Congratulations on taking steps to continue your education after high school. Now make sure you don’t leave money on the table to pay for it.
The first step is completing your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Most Alabama high school seniors qualify for Pell Grants of up to $7,395. Pell Grants do not need to be paid back and can be used at both academic and technical education at two- and four-year colleges and universities.
Cash for College’s goal is for every senior to complete their FAFSA before they graduate from high school so that can access federal, state, and institutional aid to pay for their education after high school. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 92% of seniors who complete a FAFSA enroll in college the following fall.
How can I pay for college?
- Learn about the different types of financial aid, ranging from grants to loans.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov.
- Explore scholarships at College Greenlight or Get Schooled. Many scholarships require you to complete the FAFSA to qualify.
What is the FAFSA?
- The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, determines the amount of financial assistance the government and colleges can offer you to help pay for educational programs after high school.
- The 2024-25 FAFSA will be available no later than December 31, 2023.
- Complete your FAFSA as soon as possible to maximize aid.
- By completing the FAFSA, it also assists in determining your eligibility for grants, scholarships, work-study jobs, and low-interest loans.
Who needs to create an FSA ID?
- The student needs to create an FSA ID now.
- The parent (contributor) of a dependent student needs to create an FSA ID. The contributor will be identified once the student begins the FAFSA.
- The student and contributor(s) must have a personal email address that they can use to receive correspondence pertaining to their FAFSA. It is suggested that email addresses affiliated with schools and/or places of employment not be used.
What if I don’t have a Social Security Number?
- Students must have a Social Security Number (SSN) to be eligible for federal aid. However, parents do not need an SSN to contribute to the FAFSA. Parents who do not have an SSN should complete the following steps to create their account with Federal Student Aid:
1. Indicate that you do not have a SSN when creating an FSA ID.
2. Answer knowledge-based identity verification questions.
3. If you are unable to answer the questions, complete an attestation form and submit documentation to verify identity (see acceptable documentation below).
Provide one (1) of the following documents to establish identity:
- U.S. Driver’s License
- U.S. State/City Identification Card
- Foreign Passport
OR
One (1) set of documents to establish identity:
- Municipal Identification Cards + utility bill
- Community ID + utility bill
- Consular Identification Cards/Matricula Consular + utility bill
I need help completing the FAFSA!
- Ask your school’s counselor or career coach.
- Reach out to your college’s financial aid office.
- You can either call or text Alabama Possible 334-316-6155, or visit our website.
- Visit FSA’s YouTube Channel
- Contact Federal Student Aid at 1-800-433-3243, or by email at studentaid@ed.gov.
I submitted my FAFSA! Now what?
- Click here to learn more about what happens after submitting a 2024-25 FAFSA.