Ohio 529, CollegeAdvantage, knows that earning a college degree or pursuing career training can be expensive. This is why we encourage and help families nationwide to save early for their children’s education after high school.
Another way to cover these costs is by applying for free financial aid through FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. FAFSA has been open since Dec. 1, 2024. It is encouraged to complete your FAFSA form as soon as possible, as financial aid is offered on first-come, first-served basis. The earlier the submission, the better the chances are that your child will receive federal monetary assistance. The later you submit your FAFSA, the smaller the available pool of financial aid will be. This can affect how much funding your child could receive. The good news is the forms are simpler to complete than ever before.
The student aid received from the FAFSA can be used at colleges and universities, community colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools. Other organizations—like states in which the applicant lives, the universities and colleges to which the student has applied, and other private organizations—also use the information found on FAFSA to determine institutional grants or loans to offer students. The FAFSA also dictates your student’s eligibility for subsidized federal student loans.
Ohio 529 is joining the Ohio Department Of Higher Education to support their “Your FAFSA, Your Future, Game On!!” campaign. Through Jan. 31, you can receive free help to complete your FAFSA form in your home county. You will need to create your FSA ID first and start to fill in FAFSA before you arrive at the event. If you unable to attend these events, contact the FAFSA Regional Support Organizations to schedule a one-on-one meeting for free help.
For school staff who help local families with their FAFSA, you can sign up for Your FAFSA, Your Future | Game On with Data webinar, which is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21. This webinar will show you how to use tools to help families as they finish their FAFSA and to see the available free support that can help increase the state’s overall FAFSA completion rate.
For more information, visit www.itsforyou.org and scroll to the “Looking for FAFSA help?” section for more information. There are tips for students, parents, and counselors, as well as checklists and more help. Over $100 million in student aid was not claimed last year. Let’s ensure that no money is left on the table!
