The 2026-2027 free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) form is now available.
Filling out a FAFSA form allows students to apply for grants and scholarships, which is free money from the government to help pay for their future education. Students can also apply for work-study programs and get loans for college or career school. Individuals can fill out a form from the early opening date which was Sept. 24, 2025 until the deadline which is June 30, 2027.
“Anyone that’s thinking about getting a higher education from trade schools, community college, California State Universities, Universities of California, or even those going into military service should apply to FAFSA,” stated the College and Career Readiness Counselor Mrs. Natalia Vazquez.
Many think that FAFSA is only for individuals who have financial needs but it’s not. In fact many high educational institutions require that students fill out a form. Students can receive grants or even scholarships through the schools they’ve applied to by filling out the form. The FAFSA form allows students to be considered for many financial aid opportunities like federal, state, and school financial aid programs, so it’s recommended that everyone regardless of their financial state apply to see what aid they can qualify for.
The FAFSA form should be completed by the student who wants to be considered for any financial aid. In order to fill out a form the applicants must create an account to be given a FSA ID. A parent or legal guardian’s information will also be required, income and asset information may be needed if required, and most importantly a social security number is needed. The process to fill out the form takes most people 30 minutes.
“My experience filling out the FAFSA application was surprisingly simpler than my peers let on. The guidance I received from my counselors made the entire process less stressful than I expected it to be. I did have prior experience on the FAFSA application due to my older sister being a college student, but all-in-all, I didn’t struggle one bit with it,” Alana Arnold (12).
All seniors are being requested to fill out the form by their counselors. It’s highly recommended by our College and Career Readiness Counselor Mrs. Vazquez, that all senior students fill out the form as soon as possible to get as much financial aid as they can.
If any applicant needs help filling out the form or has any questions, reach out to Mrs. Vazquez or visit her at the Career Center in room 703.
