Financial Aid
>
FAFSA
File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) at StudentAid.gov/FAFSA. The information in this application is used to determine most of your aid package and should be completed as soon as possible after it becomes available during your senior year of high school.
The 2027-2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be available October 1, 2026 (NOW OPEN, as of September 25, 2026).
What's the FAFSA and how does it work?
Before each year of college or trade school (this year for current high school seniors), students should apply for federal grants, work-study, and loans with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. Post-secondary schools use your FAFSA data to determine your federal aid eligibility.
Before each year of college or trade school (this year for current high school seniors), students should apply for federal grants, work-study, and loans with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. Post-secondary schools use your FAFSA data to determine your federal aid eligibility.
How To Prepare for the 2027-2028 FAFSA Form
Prepare now so you can complete the 2027–28 FAFSA form as soon as it’s available. Here are some ways you can get ready:
- Create a StudentAid.gov account (if you don’t already have one).
- Determine your dependency status. This will let you know if your parent(s) or spouse will be required to add their information to your FAFSA form.
- If you’re a dependent student, identify which parent(s) will be required to add information to your form with the Who’s My FAFSA Parent? wizard. Also, make sure they know the following:
- You can’t qualify for federal student aid without their participation.
- Adding their information to your form doesn’t make them responsible for paying for your school costs. - Learn about the documents you may need to fill out the FAFSA form.
Current high school seniors will be completing the
2027-28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Virtual Financial Aid Webinars offered by Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).
Searching for Scholarships
The cost of a postsecondary education can add up quickly for students and families. Thankfully, there is funding to help cover those expenses. Join us as we share tips to help students successfully search for and apply for scholarships. After attending this webinar, students will understand the different types of scholarships, resources for finding scholarships, and tools to help increase their chances of earning those scholarships.
Monday, September 14, 2026
TIME: 6:00-7:00 PM (ET)
The cost of a postsecondary education can add up quickly for students and families. Thankfully, there is funding to help cover those expenses. Join us as we share tips to help students successfully search for and apply for scholarships. After attending this webinar, students will understand the different types of scholarships, resources for finding scholarships, and tools to help increase their chances of earning those scholarships.
Monday, September 14, 2026
TIME: 6:00-7:00 PM (ET)
Get Ready to File the FAFSA
Join us for our Get Ready to File the FAFSA webinar and learn the key steps you can take now to prepare for filing the 2027–28 FAFSA. We’ll discuss who needs and how to get a StudentAid.gov account, share practical tips to make the application process easier, and review important deadlines and requirements for federal and state financial aid programs. This session will help students and families feel informed and confident as they get ready to file.
Monday, September 28, 2026
TIME: 6:00-7:00 PM (ET)
Join us for our Get Ready to File the FAFSA webinar and learn the key steps you can take now to prepare for filing the 2027–28 FAFSA. We’ll discuss who needs and how to get a StudentAid.gov account, share practical tips to make the application process easier, and review important deadlines and requirements for federal and state financial aid programs. This session will help students and families feel informed and confident as they get ready to file.
Monday, September 28, 2026
TIME: 6:00-7:00 PM (ET)
Ask an Access Partner
Join our Ask an Access Partner webinar, a live, interactive session where experienced higher education access partners will answer your financial aid questions on a wide range of topics such as questions on federal and state aid programs, the FAFSA, and scholarships.
Friday, November 6, 2026
TIME: Noon-1:00 PM (ET)
Join our Ask an Access Partner webinar, a live, interactive session where experienced higher education access partners will answer your financial aid questions on a wide range of topics such as questions on federal and state aid programs, the FAFSA, and scholarships.
Friday, November 6, 2026
TIME: Noon-1:00 PM (ET)
Creating Your StudentAid.gov Account
To fill out and submit the FAFSA, you will need a StudentAid.gov account. Join us to learn more about what the StudentAid.gov account is, and when and who should create an account.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
TIME: 6:00-7:00 PM (ET)
To fill out and submit the FAFSA, you will need a StudentAid.gov account. Join us to learn more about what the StudentAid.gov account is, and when and who should create an account.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
TIME: 6:00-7:00 PM (ET)
A
To assist you in better understanding the financial aid planning and application process, listed below is link from Sallie Mae. Additional publications are available on the their websites.
Paying for College Resource...it's like having your own college coach. Financial literacy online presentations. Everything you need to know about scholarships, college admission tips and how to pay the balance.
Need money for college, but confused by financial aid? The Pennsylvania Student Aid Guide has the answers. This guide provides a complete overview of the financial aid process, with information on most of Pennsylvania's financial aid programs and services. Find everything you need to know about paying for higher education.
Scholarships, unlike student loans, don’t have to be repaid and can reduce the cost of college. The more free money, in the form of scholarships and grants, that you find to help pay for college, the less you’ll have to finance.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is the most important application you must complete in order to qualify for almost all types of financial aid including federal, state, local, and private grants and scholarships.
What is a Federal Student Aid (FSA) Account? An FSA Account is a username and password that you will use to log into certain U.S. Department of Education websites, and electronically sign the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).
Abby Gabner
Higher Education Access Partner
Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland Counties
Phone: 412-926-2423
Email: [email protected]
PHEAA.org