Good Afternoon,
There is still time for college-bound students to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and apply to colleges for the fall! This year's new FAFSA has been challenging for many people, but, with a historic amount of financial aid on the table, the form is worth the effort. Recently, the Department of Higher Education extended the priority deadline for MASSGrant applications until July 1 in recognition of this year’s challenges.
By completing the FAFSA, students automatically apply for MASSGrant Plus, which was expanded by the Healey-Driscoll Administration in the fall. This program offers Pell Grant-eligible students free tuition and fees at all of Massachusetts' public colleges and universities, along with a $1,200 allowance for books and supplies. Room and board are not included. There are also benefits for middle-income students.
Students who cannot fill out the FAFSA due to their immigration status can complete the newly launched Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA). Learn more at https://www.mass.edu/tuitionequity/home.asp.
Secretary Tutwiler recorded a brief video about FAFSA here: https://twitter.com/MassEducation/status/1781025605078913262.
Please consider sharing the following information with graduating seniors:
Tips for students and their families about completing the FAFSA:
If you need help completing the FAFSA, there are many resources available. Your school counselor is a great place to start, and there are also many organizations statewide and in your community that are here to help. You can learn more at mass.gov/financialaid and www.mefa.org/fafsa.
We recommend these three steps:
Create an FSA ID. At least a week before attending filling out the FAFSA or attending a FAFSA completion event, create your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID if you haven’t already. This ID allows you to log in and complete a FAFSA, but it takes a few days for your account to be activated. For instructions on creating an FSA ID, visit https://studentaid.gov/help-
center/answers/article/how-to-
create-fsa-id-username-
password. If you have a Social Security number, have it ready.
Gather your documents. Visit this link for a list of documents you should have with you when you complete the FAFSA. You do NOT need to submit these items to the federal government, but you may need the information on the documents.
Fill out the FAFSA or consider signing up for a FAFSA completion event. If you run into questions or have trouble filling out the FAFSA, sign up for a virtual, free FAFSA Day event on Tuesday, April 30 or Monday, May 13 by following this link: https://masfaa.org/fafsaday/. You can look for similar events at https://www.doe.mass.edu/
financialaid/events.html. Another option is to ask your school counselor if there are any upcoming FAFSA completion events in your community.
Resources for students and families after they have completed the FAFSA and applied to college:
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has partnered with uAspire to provide
free
financial aid resources and webinars to high school seniors in Massachusetts. Upcoming offerings include:
Financial Aid Offer: Students who applied to college and completed a FAFSA should be receiving financial aid offers soon. uAspire will hold a webinar from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24 to provide students and families with critical information to interpret their financial aid offers. uAspire advisors will share details about the different types of financial aid, best practices for reviewing and comparing financial aid offers, and next steps after determining how much each college will cost. There will be an opportunity to ask questions. Please register online.
Summer Steps: From 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, uAspire and DESE will hold a webinar about the timeline for high school students in the months before entering college. Topics will include understanding and paying the college bill, applying for outside scholarships or additional loans, and other financial aid steps. There will be an opportunity to ask questions. Please register online.
Anyone with questions about the webinars is asked to please email Leticia Reyes Trotman at Leticiar@uaspire.org and visit uaspire.org/resources.
Sincerely,
Russell D. Johnston
Acting Commissioner