Financial aid is available to assist eligible college students pay for their education. Applying for financial aid can seem overwhelming at first. Break it down into steps, and you'll find that it's not as difficult or confusing as it may first appear.
What should I do first?
Apply for admission to the colleges and/or universities you are interested in attending. The institution’s financial aid office won't be able to process your aid eligibility until you have been admitted. Next, file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you're in high school the application will be available starting October 1 of your senior year. If you are applying to multiple colleges or universities, you only need to fill out one FAFSA.
When should I start?
Start soon! Once your FAFSA has been processed you may start contacting the institution’s financial aid office to ask about additional requirements and deadlines.
Where can I get a copy of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid?
You'll find the FAFSA and additional financial aid information on the Federal Financial Aid website. If you're in Nebraska, the EducationQuest office is also available to assist you in completing the FAFSA.
My financial circumstances have changed since I completed the FAFSA. Can I update the information my college has on file to request a re-evaluation?
Yes, college and university financial aid offices have processes to re-evaluate eligibility for students whose financial circumstances have changed since they completed the FAFSA due to events like death of a parent, job loss, divorce, unexpected health expenses, additional family members in college, etc. A student’s cost of attendance may also change under certain circumstances, which can affect eligibility for financial aid. The financial aid office will review a student’s appeal and make a determination based on the college’s or university’s policies. The decision made by the financial aid office is final. Please contact the institution’s financial aid office for information on their re-evaluation processes.
I'm a high school counselor. How can I see if my students have completed their FAFSA forms?
The Coordinating Commission participates in the FAFSA Completion Project, which allows counselors and the general public to monitor the FAFSA completion progress of students at Nebraska high schools. The FAFSA Completion Dashboard is updated weekly and provides aggregate information by secondary schools, school districts, and certain designated entities on their students’ progress toward completing the FAFSA.
I want more information. Where should I look?
EducationQuest provides more information about Nebraska state and federal financial aid, including scholarships. You can also obtain information from the Federal Student Aid website.
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