FROM STAFF REPORTS 

BIRMINGHAM – Families of college-bound students can now begin filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on Fafsa.gov.

FAFSA completion gives students and families access to billions of dollars in financial aid for college, including scholarships, college work-study jobs, and subsidized student loans. After filing the FAFSA, most Alabama high school seniors qualify for a Pell Grant of up to $6,095. Pell Grants do not need to be repaid.

“Students should fill out the FAFSA during their senior year of high school and each year of college. Adults who are thinking about going back to school can also file the FAFSA and qualify for Pell Grants and other financial aid,” said Alabama Possible Executive Director Kristina Scott.

For the first time this year, families can complete the FAFSA on the new myStudentAid mobile app or the newly mobile-friendly FAFSA website. Students and their parents can complete the form separately and go between their phones and desktop computers.

“FAFSA completion makes continuing your education after high school more affordable. We recommend completing the FAFSA as soon as possible, because some colleges award financial aid on a first-come-first-serve basis,” said Scott.

Many Alabama workers do not have any education after high school and are not qualified for today’s middle- and high-skill jobs. To address Alabama’s skills gap, Governor Kay Ivey in May announced the Success Plus plan to add 500,000 individuals with valuable postsecondary credentials to Alabama’s workforce by 2025. Financial aid is available for a broad range of valuable postsecondary credentials, including professional/technical certificates and academic degrees.

Throughout the remainder of 2018, high schools, colleges and community groups will coordinate and facilitate free FAFSA completion workshops across the state. Students and their families can learn more about Cash for College workshops by visiting cashforcollegealabama.org or calling the Alabama Possible office at 205-939-1408.

Cash for College Alabama is a partnership of Alabama Possible, the Alabama State Department of Education, Bold Goals Coalition of Central Alabama, and the Alabama Media Group. Additional collaborators include the Alabama Commission on Higher Education and the Alabama Community College System.