Federal aid: Pell Grants, Direct Loans (Subsidized/Unsubsidized), Work-Study, Parent PLUS — filed via FAFSA at studentaid.gov

State aid: state grants, tuition assistance, 529 plans, and state-funded scholarships (search '[your state] student aid commission')

Institutional aid: need-based grants, merit scholarships, tuition remission, and payment plans — from the school itself

Private aid: outside scholarships, employer tuition benefits, community organizations, faith-based awards, and NPO grants

File the FAFSA every year at studentaid.gov (opens Oct 1 for the following school year; the 2024-25 cycle now uses a simplified form)

Create an FSA ID for the student AND each contributor parent before filing

Use the IRS Direct Data Exchange (formerly IRS DRT) to import tax data

Understand your Student Aid Index (SAI) — replaces the old EFC — and what it means for aid eligibility

Pell Grant: up to $7,395/yr (2024-25) for undergraduates with high need — no repayment

Direct Subsidized Loan: government pays interest while in school; need-based

Direct Unsubsidized Loan: not need-based; interest accrues while in school

Parent PLUS Loan: credit-checked; higher rate; parent is the borrower

Federal Work-Study: part-time on-campus jobs; earnings don't count against next year's aid

File SSS (Clarity by SSS) at sssbynais.org OR FACTS Grant & Aid at factsmgmt.com — most independent schools use one

Submit prior-year federal tax return and W-2s to the aid platform

Ask each school about: sibling discount, clergy discount, faculty discount, and tuition remission

Ask about middle-income aid — many schools have grants for families earning $150K-$300K

Look into state voucher, tax-credit scholarship, or ESA (Education Savings Account) programs — expanding in AZ, FL, IA, TX, and more

Ask about tuition insurance (A.W.G. Dewar) — refunds tuition if a student withdraws mid-year

Compare payment plans (10-month vs. annual) and financing partners (Your Tuition Solution, TuitionFlex)

Search '[your state] higher education aid' — most states have grants layered on top of federal aid

Open a 529 plan early (as young as birth) — tax-free growth for qualified education expenses

529 funds can now cover up to $10K/yr of K-12 tuition (federal rule; check your state's conformity)

Some states offer a state income-tax deduction for 529 contributions

Unused 529 balances can now roll to a Roth IRA (up to $35K lifetime, subject to rules)

Search Fastweb, Scholarships.com, BigFuture (College Board), and Bold.org

Check local sources: community foundations, Rotary, Kiwanis, Elks, chamber of commerce, and place of worship

Ask employer HR about tuition assistance (many companies reimburse $5,250-$10,000/yr tax-free)

Apply to schools where the student's stats put them in the top 25% — merit awards are much larger there

Track deadlines in a spreadsheet — most fall between November and March

Report outside scholarships to the financial aid office (may reduce loans first, not grants)

Compare net price, not sticker price: Cost of Attendance minus grants and scholarships

Separate 'gift aid' (grants, scholarships) from 'self-help' (loans, work-study)

Use the College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov) to check median debt and earnings

Appeal your aid offer if family circumstances changed (job loss, medical bills, another child in college)

Never sign for private student loans before exhausting federal loans

FAFSA opens Oct 1 (traditionally); file within the first 60 days for best state-aid access

CSS Profile: many private colleges require it; opens Oct 1 at cssprofile.collegeboard.org

SSS / FACTS for private K-12: most schools want it by mid-January to mid-February

State grant deadlines vary — some as early as March 1

Institutional scholarship deadlines: often November-December for the highest awards

Verification: if selected, respond to your school's document request within 2 weeks

studentaid.gov — federal aid portal (free)

nces.ed.gov — U.S. National Center for Education Statistics (school data)

consumer.gov and cfpb.gov — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau student loan guidance

ed.gov/free-application-federal-student-aid — federal FAFSA help

NAIS (nais.org) — independent-school aid research

Your school counselor's office — free 1:1 FAFSA and scholarship help