Financial Aid and Scholarships

If you are the parent of a college, community college, or technical/trade school bound student, it is important you fill out the FAFSA, even if you don't believe you will qualify for any federal aid.

To apply for the FAFSA, you may use last year's tax information to fill out estimates, and then later you can go in and update that information. Follow these steps to fill out the FAFSA any time after January 1:

1. Go to the FAFSA website - please note, the correct website is www.fafsa.GOV.  Don't go to www.fafsa.COM; this is the website where you pay for the FAFSA.
2. Apply for a PIN. The student and a parent each need a separate PIN. Your PIN acts as your electronic signature.
3. Fill out the FAFSA by clicking Start Here on the FAFSA website. Toward the end of the form, you will be able to fill out the schools to which the student is applying and the FAFSA will forward your financial information to them.
4. Once finished, you will be provided for a link to Pennsylvania's grant website. (PHEAA) Click the provided link and fill out that form.
5. (Not always a required step) If your schools require the CSS Profile, you will also need to fill that out. You can find out if your school requires it by going to the college's financial aid page.

Log into Naviance to do a scholarship search.

Fastweb is your connection to scholarships and more.

Visit Scholarships.com where you find money and colleges find you.

CollegeBoard helps you find scholarships that give you money for college that you don't need to repay.

Questbridge can help high-achieving, low-income students

PHEAA - Financial Aid 101 Video
Marla Kane, PHEAA Higher Education Access Partner, provides an overview of the financial aid application process, including information on PA State Grants, scholarships, student loan programs, and completing the FAFSA.

PHEAA Website
Created in 1963 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) has evolved into one of the nation's leading student aid organizations. Today, PHEAA is a national provider of student financial aid services, serving millions of students and thousands of schools through its loan guaranty, loan servicing, financial aid processing, outreach, and other student aid programs.

FinAid SmartStudent™ Guide to Financial Aid
Scholarships, loans, savinigs, military aid, grants, and more.

U.S. Department of Education Website
Information about student loans, grants, and programs.

FAFSA4caster 
Gives you a free estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid.

Education Planner Website
Helps you start thinking about life after high school. Explore careers, schools, aid, grants, scholarships, and more.