Missouri students can now apply for financial aid to go to college or to get a short-term training certificate next year. The form to apply is called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
“In Missouri, two-thirds of jobs will require education and training beyond a high school diploma,” said Ben Boggs, Commissioner of the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development. “The FAFSA is a critical financial tool that helps provide Missourians affordable access to short-term training certificates as well as two- and four-year degrees.”
Alison Notter, with the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, said filling out the application takes about an hour.
“It’s a very foundational step for all things post-secondary aid, whether that’s federal loans or Pell grants or state aid,” she told Missourinet.
Notter encourages students to file their application before February 3rd to be considered for the most state financial aid available. Last year, Missouri provided more than $163 million in financial aid to over 62,000 students.
To file a FAFSA, an FSA ID and 2023 tax information is required.
Notter said the application can be daunting to fill out but there’s help available.
“We encourage students and families to attend a FASFA frenzy event hosted by their school, if possible. Our outreach team also offers virtual office hours available for one-on-one filing support,” she said.
What should students do if they are in foster care or a legal guardianship?
“Dependent requires parental information, independent does not,” she said. “So, if a student is in a legal guardianship or is a part of the foster care or a ward of the state, they are considered independent, which means they don’t need parental information.”
For help, go to journeytocollege.mo.gov and look for public events as well as virtual office hours.
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