FAFSA Information for Seniors

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2026–2027 school year, scheduled to be released on October 1st, is available now.

Completing the FAFSA is an important step for your student’s college and career plans, as it determines eligibility for:

• Federal financial aid (grants, loans, and work-study)
• State of Illinois programs, such as the MAP Grant
• Institutional aid offered by many colleges and universities
• Some local scholarships that require FAFSA completion

The State of Illinois requires all seniors to either submit the FAFSA or complete a waiver before graduation.

The FAFSA application can be accessed at studentaid.gov.
Students and parents must each have a studentaid.gov account to complete the FAFSA.

What You’ll Need to Complete the FAFSA:

• FSA ID for both the student and one parent/guardian (create yours at studentaid.gov/fsa-id)
• Social Security numbers for student and parent(s) (or Alien Registration numbers for eligible noncitizens)
• 2024 federal tax returns, W-2s, and records of untaxed income
• Bank account balances and current investment information
• List of colleges or career schools your student is considering