FAFSA

Seniors will want to start the process of filling out the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for financial assistance in paying for college. Most colleges and universities will also use this information to determine how much financial aid they can give you as well. The FAFSA web site is https://fafsa.gov which has the application and instructions on how to fill it out. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission, at the following website https://www.isac.org/students/before-college/financial-aid-planning/index.html, also offers resources to help with the FAFSA and financial aid. Also all Illinois public high school students are required to complete either the FAFSA or the Alternative Application or the online Nonparticipation Form as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. Students and/or parents who choose to not complete either the FAFSA or the Alternative Application, will have to complete the 2024-2025 Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form (used to opt-out of the 2025-2026 FAFSA) online at the very bottom of the following website: ISAC's Student Portal. A student and/or parent will need a Student Portal account to complete and sign the Nonparticipation Form. See the Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form Instructions for details on how to complete the electronic form. If the student is an emancipated minor, they will need to complete the paper Nonparticipation Form which can be requested by emailing fafsa@isbe.net. For questions regarding the waiver/opt-out form, you can email ISBE at fafsa@isbe.net.