为什么每个人都应该填写FAFSA

在圣. 爱德华大学的奖学金和助学金构成了一所大学. 爱德华的 education affordable for the majority of our students and this is money you never have to pay back.

In fact, the average scholarships and/or grant — that’s 免费的钱 — this year for our first-year students was more than $37,000. 但是每年, some students miss out on their chance to make college more affordable because they don’t fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, 或FAFSA.

每个人都应该填写 FAFSA. It’s your ticket to being considered for grants awarded by the government and by the colleges where you’re applying, as well as for low-interest student loans and some campus jobs. And it takes the average family less than an hour to complete.

If you’re graduating from a Texas public high school in 2024, 你会被要求填写FAFSA. 但无论你去哪里上学, it’s worth spending the time applying for what could be life-changing financial aid. 这里有6个原因.

The FAFSA is for people in all kinds of financial situations.

A few types of financial aid are reserved for families with very limited incomes. But many students with more resources also receive assistance, particularly at private schools where tuition is higher. In fact, the higher the “sticker price,” the more likely you are to receive financial aid. Don’t assume you won’t qualify; you might be forfeiting 免费的钱. 事实上，在圣. 爱德华的, every student who completes the FAFSA is awarded a grant.

Filling out the FAFSA helps you make better decisions about college.

Every year, we hear from a few students who decided St. 爱德华的 was “too expensive” — but they never filled out the FAFSA. 完成FAFSA, and having your results sent to every school you’re considering, 帮助你对大学做出明智的决定. 你可以的 比较实际成本 每个学校的学费，而不是标价. Filling out the FAFSA can turn the most expensive school on your list into one of the most affordable.

大多数家庭不到一个小时就能到达.

That’s a small investment of time for a potential payoff of thousands of dollars. 使过程顺利进行 收集资料 你需要提前准备. 一定要 get the school codes for each college you want to receive your results; the St. 爱德华的密码是003621. You can cut down on the time it takes to complete the FAFSA by using the IRS data retrieval tool to auto-populate your financial information. 一定要 设置你的FSA ID (您的帐户用户名和密码).

FAFSA帮助你最大化你的财务选择.

除了州政府和联邦政府的拨款, you’ll be considered for grants awarded by the college itself. 每年，圣。. 爱德华的 offers millions of dollars in grants — that’s money that never has to be paid back — from its own funds. You’ll also get the best, most consumer-friendly loan options through the FAFSA. And the FAFSA can determine whether you qualify for some campus jobs. You can accept or decline any part of your financial aid offer — there’s no obligation.

The FAFSA considers your one-of-a-kind financial situation.

The financial aid you receive is influenced by many highly individual factors, 家庭收入, 资产和家庭规模. You might be offered a completely different financial aid package from a friend applying to the same school because your families’ situations are different. Bottom line: Don’t make any assumptions about financial aid because of someone else’s situation.

FAFSA让伟大的人生梦想成为可能.

It can connect you with financial support that allows you to attend your dream school instead of one farther down your list. 它可以帮助你进入小班学习, 留学冒险, 成功的教练, 进行研究的机会, 支持你的心理健康和成长, 还有关心你个人的教授. Investing an hour completing the FAFSA can help make your ideal college experience attainable.