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FAFSA

FAFSA Message for Website & Newsletter 

 

As students consider options after high school, we encourage students and families to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, in order to access grants, federal student loans, and work-study funds for college. Filling out the FAFSA is one of the most important steps students and their families can take to pay for college and is the key to unlocking college financial aid from federal, state, and local sources.

 

It takes most people approximately 30 minutes to gather any needed personal documents and financial information and fill out the FAFSA. Students or families who have questions about the form can inquire with their student’s school counselor or find help through the state’s FAFSA assistance page. The federal government’s FAFSA website also includes tips for families, and entities such as the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) provide information and continuing support during the school year for students and their families.  

 

Any student who wants to be considered for federal, state, and school financial aid programs, including free community college here in Massachusetts, should fill out the FAFSA. Some students who are not eligible for federal aid might be eligible for state aid by completing the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA).

  

If your immigration status prevents a student from qualifying for federal aid, they might still be eligible for aid through the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA), which can help them attend public institutions of higher education in Massachusetts.  

  

Applying for financial aid helps keep college an option for the fall, but does not commit students to enrolling. Fill out the FAFSA or MASFA as early as possible to maximize the aid one can receive.  

  

There are resources available to help with this process, including the following:  

  

  1. Go Higher Go Higher is the Commonwealth’s initiative to share information about access and affordability at public institutions of higher education in Massachusetts. Go Higher offers paths that make higher education more affordable–like free community college, free or affordable four-year degrees, career-connected scholarships, and more.  

 

  1. DESE, in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education and the Executive Office of Education, has identified FAFSA resources that may be helpful.  

 

  1. The Department of Higher Education’s Office of Student Financial Assistance is the Commonwealth’s “go to” on resources concerning student financial aid.  

 

  1. The federal government’s FAFSA website includes steps for families, and entities such as the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) provide information and continuing support during the school year for educators, counselors, administrators, students and their families. 

 

  1. Students and their families have access to many federal and state financial aid options. Massachusetts has about $400 million in state financial aid programs, and the Department of Higher Education’s website details a substantial number of state opportunities:
    1. Federal financial aid includes possible access to grants, work-study, and loans funded by the federal government. The most significant grant is the federal Pell Grant for students with exceptional financial need.  
    2. Students who are Pell Grant-eligible receive free tuition and fees at Massachusetts’ public four-year colleges and universities, including nine state universities and the University of Massachusetts. Pell Grant-eligible students on these campuses also receive an allowance of up to $1,200 for books and supplies. Some middle-income students are also eligible for reduced costs.  
    3. In Massachusetts, we’ve made community college tuition and fee free for all students. Students may qualify for an allowance of up to $1,200 for books and supplies based on income level. Some students may also be eligible for an additional allowance (up to $1,200) to help with other costs of attending college.  
    4. From need-based aid to scholarships in different fields, Massachusetts offers financial support that can be used at public or private colleges throughout the state.