• Information from Nov. 13th Financial Aid Night

    Thank you to everyone who attended the Financial Aid Information Night on November 13th. For those unable to join, the webinar was recorded, and you can access it using this link Financial Aid Night Webinar (recorded).

    Also, the questions submitted during the webinar by attendees have been answered, and can access the responses here FAFSA Night Q&A.

     

    Financial aid resources mentioned throughout the webinar can be accessed via the QR code displayed at the end of the session. For your convenience, a direct link to these resources have also been included here Financial Aid Resources.

     

    The online 2025–26 FAFSA form is NOW OPEN as part of the expanded beta testing period. To learn more about the beta testing process, progress updates, and resolved issues, visit fafsa.gov/beta.

     

    The 2025-2026 online TASFA application is currently slated to open on December 2nd.

     

    Please watch the recorded webinar prior to starting your FAFSA.

     

    Before Starting Your FAFSA Form:

    1. Create an FSA ID by going to StudentAid.govand select create an account. (Parent and students must create their own separate FSA ID using their unique personal email address and mobile number.) Students AND contributor(s) mustcreate their FSA IDs, at a minimum, 3-5 days before starting the FAFSA application. *Parents, if you already have an FSA ID, do not create a new one. 

          How to create your FSA ID

    1. Learn about the documents you may need to fill out the FAFSA form.
    2. Determine your dependency statusand whether your parent(s) or spouse will be required to contribute information on your FAFSA form.
    3. If you’re a dependent student, use the Who’s My FAFSA Parent? wizardto identify which parent(s) will be a required contributor on your form.

     

    FAFSA Best Practices

    1. Students should complete their part of the FAFSA beforethe contributor accesses the FAFSA form. 
    2. Students that have parents who are divorced should decide who the contributor will be before starting the FAFSA.
    3. Students, when you invite your contributor to your FAFSA form, pleasemake sure the data you provide matchesthe data submitted in the contributor's FSA ID (same spelling- including spaces, correct address, correct email, correct birth date, etc.). This can cause issues with your form if anything does not match.
    4. All parties must provide consent. If parents choose not to consent, no aid will be provided. 

     

    As always, I am here to support you in this important step toward your future success! If you have any further questions or need clarification about the financial aid process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your campus CCR Advisor (Veronica Harris | veronica.harris@fortbendisd.gov). And remember, time is money! The earlier you submit your financial aid application, the better! 

     

    Finally, there will be TWO FAFSA/TASFA workshops held at Elkins High School. If you would like some assistance with completing your FAFSA/TASFA, please sign up here to attend one of the upcoming workshops on December 19th and January 15th from 5-7PM in the library. 

     

    Resources: 

    Financial Aid Night Webinar (recorded) 

    FAFSA Night Q&A 

    Financial Aid Resources

    24-25 In-Class FAFSA Presentation

     

  • FAFSA v TASFA

    Which application should you complete? 

    You will complete one of the following applications to apply for financial aid: 

    • Available to US citizens, permanent residents, and certain eligible non-citizens 
    • Application for federal, state, and institutional aid 
    • Available to Texas residents who are ineligible for the FAFSA 
    • Application for state and institutional aid 

    Gather your materials 

    Have the following information available when completing the FAFSA or TAFSA to simplify the application process. Not all items will apply to all students and circumstances. Unless otherwise noted, all income information should be from the prior-prior year. For example, if you’re applying for financial aid during the 2025-2026 school year you should use 2023 tax information. 

    How do you apply? 

    Start an application for the year that you are going to be in school. For example, if you’re starting classes in Fall 2025, then you’ll complete the 2025-2026 application.*

           *The 2025-2026 FAFSA/TASFA application will open on December 1st

    To complete the FAFSA, review the FAFSA application from Federal Student Aid and follow the instructions. You can also follow this step-by-step FAFSA guide from Nitro College.

    To complete the TASFA, visit THECB's TASFA landing page to start an online application. 

     

    What happens next?

    After you submit the FAFSA or TASFA, you’ll need to take a few more steps to ensure you have the financial aid you need for college or training.  

    1. Confirm your application was correctly sent and received by the college.  
    2. Respond to requests for verification. Schools may need more information to determine your eligibility for aid. Send requested documents as soon as possible. 
    3. Review your financial aid offers and decide what types of aid you want to accept. 
    4. Learn about how you get financial aid and when to expect it. 
    5. Understand how to stay eligible for aid. You’ll need to send a financial aid application each year you’re in school. It’s important to understand federal and school policies for keeping eligibility.  

    If you receive financial aid packages from multiple colleges, uAspire's financial aid comparison tool can help you see which is the best offer.

  • SCHOLARSHIPS

    Students can begin their scholarship search as early as ninth grade and should apply for as many scholarships as they feel comfortable with.  (Obviously, the more you apply for, the better your chances.)
     
    Students should also check the Scholarship Matching tab in the "Finances" section of SchooLinks for scholarship information. The CCR Newsletter is also a great resource for scholarships. 
     
    Other favorite Scholarship search engines:
     
    Your college's website