Financial aid professionals from across Indiana will be volunteering at 37 sites to assist
College-bound students and their families in securing financial aid during College Goal Sunday at 2 p.m. Feb. 26.
The free program assists Indiana students in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In Hamilton County, the event will be held at Westfield High School, 18250 N. Union St.
The FAFSA form is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, scholarships and federal student loans at most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools nationwide. The FAFSA must be filed by the state of Indiana’s priority deadline of April 15 to guarantee state aid for those who qualify.
One of many reasons College Goal Sunday is so important, according to the initiative, is because many families perceive the form to be too complicated and time consuming to complete. In less than one afternoon during College Goal Sunday, students and their families can get free help and file the form.
“Indiana is first in the Midwest and fifth in the nation in providing need-based financial aid to Hoosier students. But students must file the FAFSA to claim those funds, which go a long way in making the costs of college manageable for students and families,” Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Chris Lowery said. “If you are considering education beyond high school, filing the FAFSA should be your first step, so you don’t leave money on the table. You don’t have to go it alone, either, as College Goal Sunday offers one-on-one help from financial aid experts.”
Students should attend College Goal Sunday with their parent(s) or guardian(s) and bring:
- Completed 2021 IRS 1040 tax returns, W-2 Forms and other 2021 income and benefits information. Students who worked should also bring their income information.
- Students 24 years of age or older may attend alone and bring their completed 2021 IRS 1040 tax return, W-2 Form or other 2021 income and benefits information.
- Students and parent(s) are encouraged to apply for their U.S. Department of Education FSA IDs at studentaid.gov before logging in to the event.
Volunteers will walk through the online form line-by-line and answer families’ individual questions as needed. All sites offer FAFSA online capabilities, and many have Spanish interpreters.
Students who attend College Goal Sunday and submit a completed evaluation form will automatically be entered in a drawing for a $1,000 scholarship. The winners will be notified in spring and scholarships will be sent directly to the higher education institution selected by the winning students.
A complete list of sites is available and more information is available at CollegeGoalSunday.org.
