State law requires all Illinois public high school seniors to complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. For students who choose not to file an application, a waiver may be completed by their parent. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) makes available through their website a FAFSA Nonparticipation Form for this purpose (in English and Spanish).

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form that Seniors need to fill out to get any financial assistance from the government to help pay for college. This form will tell you if you are eligible for many state funded grants, scholarships, and tuition assistance programs. The FAFSA asks for information about the student and the family’s finances, including tax returns. It is a great benefit to complete the FAFSA as close to the filing date as possible in order to be the first in line for funding.
Application opens October 1st. Apply here: https://studentaid.gov

A FSA ID (electronic signature) must be obtained before you can fill out the FAFSA online. To get a pin, click here: https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch?continueTo=fafsa

Save Key is a 4 digit number that you create if you need to save the FAFSA and come back to complete it

Here is what will happen after you complete the FAFSA:
1. Students will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR).
2. You review the SAR for errors. Each college you chose will also receive your SAR.
3. Colleges then prepare a financial aid package. Every college will have a different package. This package may contain different types of financial aid.
A. May have to complete verification forms
4. Students will sign the award letter for the college they choose.
5. Students need to make sure they accept the award letter by the college's deadline