Dixon High School

FAFSA Information

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (the FAFSA) can be found at: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

And remember, the first F in “FAFSA” stands for “free”--you should not pay to fill out the FAFSA!

The application for the 2021-2022 school year is open from October 1st, 2020 until June 30th, 2022. 

TIP: Filing is ALWAYS free and can be done as early as October of your senior year. You must fill out a new FAFSA each year you attend your program (including technical school). 

TIP: It is ALWAYS a good idea to fill this out (even if you think your income may be too high to qualify for aid). Universities use this information to put together several income sources. Student Services has copies of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) if you would like to fill the paper form out rather than applying for the FAFSA online.

TIP: If you are unsure how to respond to a question you can call ANY college financial aid office and ask your question(s) confidentially.

For additional information visit:

www.fafsa.gov  or email your school counselor: yulissa.balsamo@onslow.k12.nc.us

For help completing the fafsa visit: https://www.ngpf.org/curriculum/paying-for-college/ Or Call 1-800-4-FED-AID to speak to someone about the process

What is Financial Aid?

The U.S. Department of Education awards about $150 billion a year in grants, work-study funds, and low-interest loans to more than 14 million students. Federal student aid covers such expenses as tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. Aid also can help pay for other related expenses, such as a computer and dependent care. Thousands of schools across the country participate in the federal student aid programs; ask the colleges you’re interested in whether they do!

Types of Federal Aid:

*Scholarships - Money you can receive from private and public sources.  Most scholarships have specific requirements for students to apply.  Check the scholarship page for additional resources on scholarships. 

*Work-Study—A work program through which you earn money to help you pay for school by being offered/guaranteed a part time job on campus. You receive regular paychecks through the school year. This is a renewable option each year.

*Grants—Grant are similar to scholarships in that they are free financial aid that you are not required to repay. Federal and state governments commonly fund student grants, which are typically based on things like economic need, ability to pay, student status and academic requirements. 

*Loans— Borrowed money for college or career school; you must repay your loans, with interest. In general students have six months once they stop attending college to find a job. After the six-month grace period payments begin and are due monthly. There are several repayment options available depending on your student loan source. You can also obtain student loans from private institutions (such as a bank) for an alternative option if state and federal loans are not for you.

Important Information and Resources:

Residency: It is a VERY important step in the college application process to establish your residency. This is what will determine if you will be required to pay in state or out of state tuition prices for the university of your choice. Establish your residency PRIOR to applying to college by setting up an account at CFNC.org. You may be asked for your residency number on your college applications.

EFC: Expected Family Contribution. Use an expected family contribution calculator to get an estimate of possible kind aid packages you may be receiving from universities based on your current family income.  Keep in mind all packages vary based on the cost and other financial combinations for each university. This is a free service.

https://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml

FAFSA 4 Caster: Use FAFSA4caster to get an estimate of how much aid you might receive from the U.S. Department of Education.