Please note that every senior in the graduating class of 2025 should plan on completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In addition to being a state graduation requirement, a completed FAFSA is used to help determine grants, state aid, work study, and loans to help students pay for college.
The FAFSA is currently available to all families. This year, the US Department of Education has gradually released the FAFSA in small increments to work out any kinks in the application. We are currently in the “Expanded Beta 4” phase, which means we’re still technically in the “testing period,” but the application is now available to all stakeholders. You can read more about the FAFSA Beta rollout here: https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-announces-final-beta-testing-period-2025-26-fafsa-form
Families can choose to start the FAFSA now during the Beta period or wait for the official December 1st release. The FAFSA is available for completion at: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
If you need assistance completing the FAFSA, experts from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) will be at RB on Wednesday, December 4th, from 4:00-6:00 PM, helping families complete the form and navigate any questions. If you would benefit from this assistance, please sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKGZP1TEv7WXZkcn7HslHQuBY-nCPvDQs02QgoMaNpbqPolQ/viewform?usp=sharing
Step one of the process is for both the student and parent to create an FSA ID#, which is needed to log into the FAFSA and complete it: https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch
Please create your FSA ID# before working on the FAFSA or attending the in-person workshop. It typically takes 2 or 3 days to receive the ID# after following the steps above.
Completing a FAFSA can be a nuanced process and getting support helps. We hope to see parents at our in-person workshop next Wednesday, December 4th.
Sincerely,
The Student Services Department