By Shelley Swift | Daily Reporter
HANCOCK COUNTY — April 15 is a critical deadline for more than just filing taxes.
It’s also the deadline for college-bound students and their families to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as FAFSA.
It’s required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, scholarships and student loans at most colleges, universities and vocational and technical schools nationwide.
Indiana students can get free FAFSA filing help on Feb. 23 as part of College Goal Sunday, when financial aid professionals will offer support at 37 sites throughout the state starting at 2 p.m
Hancock County students seeking counsel will need to drive to Anderson, Indianapolis, Richmond or any other site listed at collegegoalsunday.com.
College Goal Sunday is a charitable program offered by the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association. This is the 31st year for the event, which has helped more than 94,000 Indiana students and families complete the FAFSA properly and on time, according to event co-chair Bill Wozniak.
The program originated in Indiana and has since carried over to more than 34 states.
The sessions are meant to walk families through a filing process that some perceive to be complicated and time consuming, said Wozniak. “In less than one afternoon, students and their families can get free help and file the form online,” he said.
Filing the FAFSA unlocks the door to over $350 million in state financial aid as well as billions of dollars in federal aid, according to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, which urges all students to file regardless of family income.
The importance of filing the FAFSA is especially important considering the amount of debt college students are taking on to finish school. A recent study concluded that Indiana college students who take on debt leave with an average monthly payment of about $200, an expense that stays with students for an average of more than 12 years.
Many colleges require a completed FAFSA to award merit and need-based scholarships, and the FAFSA is critical for Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars, who must file on time in order to earn the state scholarship that pays for up to four years of college tuition.
Many families are expected to take advantage of a new app called myStudentAid, which allows students to file the FAFSA through their mobile phone. The app also benefits students who don’t have a computer or high-speed internet access at home.
Feb. 23 will mark the second College Goal Sunday offered this season.
Students and parents are encouraged to apply for their U.S. Department of Education federal student aid identification at fsaid.ed.gov before coming to the event.
“We hope all Hoosiers who have not filed already will take advantage of College Goal Sunday events across Indiana, file the FAFSA, and get one step closer to fulfilling their educational goals,” said Wozniak.
While April 15 is the absolute deadline for filing the FAFSA, it’s preferable to file as soon as possible for a number of reasons, said Greenfield-Central High School counselor Sherri Foster.
“Filing early means that students are considered for the maximum aid possible. Colleges can also view students’ financial aid information and make decisions about school aid offers earlier in the school year, which allows families to compare colleges more easily,” she said. “The sticker price of colleges can be very different than the actual cost after financial aid offers are considered.”
Families who don’t file by the deadline run the risk of missing out on possible financial aid, making affording college more difficult, Foster said. “No one wants to start their first year of college by missing the financial aid deadline, thus starting their college debt earlier than necessary or delaying their progress.”
Wozniak has seen the disappointment first-hand. “Students who don’t complete their financial aid paperwork properly and on time are often very disappointed when they find out how much financial aid they lost,” he said. “If our (College Goal Sunday) assistance gives students a better chance at higher education and less debt, we’re fulfilling our mission.”
Filing the FAFSA can help make families aware of how affordable college may be, said Foster. “Sometimes families think they can’t afford college until they file the FAFSA and realize they qualify for financial aid that they were not aware of,” she said.
Each of Hancock County’s four high schools have already held a FAFSA Day at their schools, in partnership with the Hancock County Community Foundation and Hancock County LINK. The Hancock County Public Library also held a FAFSA information session this year.
To give families an early start, Greenfield-Central High School played host to a College and Career Planning night in August in partnership with INvestEd Indiana, a college planning and lending resource.
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What: College Goal Sunday
When: Feb. 23
Where: Various sites, visit www.CollegeGoalSunday.org to find the closest ones.
Details
–Students should attend with a parent or guardian.
–Parents should bring completed 2018 IRS 1040 tax returns, W-2 forms and other 2018 income and benefits information.
–Students who worked last year should bring their income information. Students 24 or older may attend alone and bring their own completed 2018 IRS 1040 tax return, W-2 form or other 2018 income and benefits information.
–Students and parents are encouraged to apply for their U.S. Department of Education FSA IDs at fsaid.ed.gov before coming to the event.
–All sites offer FAFSA online capabilities, and many have Spanish interpreters.
More information
Federal Student Aid Information Center
800-4-FED-AID (800-433-3243)
INvestEd Indiana
(317) 715-9000
Indiana Commission for Higher Education
(888) 528-4719
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