The 5 Steps to Financial Aid
We get it. The financial aid process is confusing. It's hard to know what to do and when. These steps will help you through the process - from getting free money first to making sure you can pay your tuition bill.
Check out the five steps to pay for school and get started today.
- Look for scholarships, grants, & other free money first
- Identify your specific deadlines
- Fill out the FAFSA
- Compare schools' financial aid offers carefully
- Be sure you have the money you need
Step Two: Identify your specific deadlines.
Know your deadlines
- Financial aid deadlines are specific to your situation - your school, where you live, or what you study.
- Make sure you have some way to manage your individual FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), school aid, and scholarship deadlines. You can simply write important dates on a chalkboard, track them using a paper calendar, or get dates sent directly to your inbox via the collegeCalendar.
- Deadlines for aid from your state, school, and private sources tend to be earlier than for federal aid.
- The most important deadline you should know is your FAFSA deadline. Submit your FAFSA as soon as you can after January 1.
Important application deadlines
| School-based Aid | Varies by school Carefully read any school information you receive and check your schools' financial aid websites to learn which applications are required and their deadlines. |
PA State Grant |
May 1 You must complete the FAFSA to be considered for the State Grant program. |
PHEAA-administered Work-Study |
May 31 - Summer term October 1 - Academic year (or Fall term only) January 15 - Spring term only |
Federal Student Aid |
After January 1 Complete the FAFSA as soon as you can after January 1st of the calendar year in which you plan to attend school and need aid. |
Take action
- Get important dates sent directly to your inbox with collegeCalendar.
- Learn more about FAFSA deadlines.
Did you know?
- Deadlines for aid from your school can be as soon as January or February. Be sure to review any school information you receive and check your schools' financial aid websites.
- You DO NOT need to complete your taxes to submit the FAFSA. Just use estimated income and tax data and make any changes after you (or your parents) file your tax return. You may later be asked to supply actual tax returns to verify accuracy of estimates.