Financial aid is available in many forms, including grants, work study programs, loans, and scholarships. The main way to access this is through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All students who apply to college will have to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at http://fafsa.gov. Once submitted, you will be eligible for most of their financial aid programs.

Tips for submitting a FAFSA:

• The earlier you submit it, the better. The application will become available after October 1st. Check individual colleges for their specific deadlines for the FAFSA form.
• Before you can access the FAFSA form, you need to create a FSA ID. You can do this directly from the FAFSA homepage.
• Have your parent/guardian’s tax return information ready when filling out the form.
• After you submit your FAFSA form, the Department of Education will look at your financial information and determine the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), the amount that you should be expected to pay. Colleges will look at the EFC and try to provide a combination of grants, loans, and scholarships to meet your needs.

***Once you are admitted into a school, the school’s financial aid office can offer valuable information on loans and other financial opportunities.

Visit CFNC for more resources on financial aid.

College cost comparison worksheet