While the FAFSA application doesn’t open until December, there’s no time to waste when it comes to college financial planning. Here are some resources that helped me before and are helping me now!
1. Get Your FSA ID Ready
This year, the FAFSA application opens on December 1st. You will need a FSA ID to fill out the FAFSA and to review the federal student aid your family receives. You don’t have to wait for December to apply for your FSA ID though. I suggest doing this now so you have one less thing to do in December when it’s time to complete your FAFSA form.
2. Unlock More Aid with the CSS Profile
If you are looking for financial aid beyond federal aid, fill out the CSS Profile. It is used to award aid, scholarships and grants from participating colleges and universities. (Each year the CSS Profile unlocks access to more than $10 billion in nonfederal aid to thousands of students.) Your student can fill out their Fall 2025/Spring 2026 profile now.
3. Estimate College Costs with the Net Price Calculator
Knowing how much potential colleges cost is key. To help, every college is required to have a Net Price Calculator on their website. This tool helps families estimate how much financial aid they might qualify for at a specific school. Be sure to use the Net Price Calculator to compare costs so your family can make informed decisions.
With both of our sons, we let them know that we had saved a certain amount for their college costs. If they want to go to a college that exceeds our college savings then we do a thing that I call “matching effort”. Practically, that means that they would need to apply for scholarships or grants (or be willing to take out loans) to meet half of the remaining balance.
My oldest son is school loan-adverse so he got a scholarship and went to a CUNY college with a specialized program in his field. He will graduate from college debt-free. We’ll see what our youngest son decides…
NYC Bonus Tip! Don’t Miss These Application Deadlines:
New York City residents, take advantage of these opportunities that I mentioned in my College Application Month post:
- Apply to SUNY schools for FREE from now until November 3rd!
- Apply to CUNY schools for FREE from now until November 15th!
Plus, Don’t Forget Scholarships!
In my last post, I mentioned six free college scholarship databases. Now, you can download the FREE scholarship tracker template that I created to help keep track of scholarship submissions.
You can help secure the financial aid your child needs and minimize stress by taking these steps now!