FAFSA
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the form families complete to determine eligibility for federal grants, loans, and work-study, and many schools use it to award need-based aid. Even athletes on athletic scholarships should file the FAFSA, as it can unlock additional aid.
Athletic scholarships rarely cover the full cost of attendance. Need-based aid from the FAFSA can fill the gap, which is especially important in equivalency sports where most awards are partial.
Filing deadlines and state aid deadlines vary, so families should complete it as early as possible in the senior year. Some aid is first-come, first-served within a school's pool, so filing late can mean leaving money on the table.
The FAFSA determines the Student Aid Index (SAI), which schools use to calculate need-based aid. Even families who believe they earn too much to qualify should file — many schools require it for certain merit and institutional aid, and circumstances change.