FAFSA Resources

Financial aid is money to help students pay for college. It can be in different forms and come from various sources. Completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application is often considered the first step in making education after high school possible for students. Completing the financial aid application qualifies students for federal, state, and institutional funding that can make college more affordable. Student may be surprised by what they qualify for! 

Check out the FAFSA Completion Challenge for data on high school submission and completion rates.

FAFSA completion is strongly associated with postsecondary enrollment: 92% of seniors who completed the FAFSA enrolled by the November following graduation vs. 51% who did not complete a FAFSA.

FAFSA Filing College Priority Dates

New 2024 FAFSA Resources

KBOR leads a FAFSA Events Working Group that meets regularly to strategize on how to make the greatest impact with completion events across the state in partnership with the Kansas Research and Extension office and KASFAA. Here are some initiatives: 

• Lunch & Learn: FAFSA For Educators (link below)
• Sending FAFSA submissions to high schools
• FAFSA Completion Challenge
• Disseminating a current list of public FAFSA Completion Events from higher education institutions across the state 
• Virtual FAFSA Completion Assistance week (to be offered annually in the fall and spring)
• Designating a FAFSA completion day/week in Kansas (to be determined)
• FAFSA updates are posted on the Apply Kansas facebook and sent out on a KSDE listserv to high schools
• Making FAFSA training available to extension agents in all 105 counties to assist with FAFSA completion
  • List of current Kansas Research and Extension offices offering FAFSA completion assistance
    
    

Lunch & Learn: FAFSA for Educators (Details)
Educators working with high school students are invited to join KBOR and KASFAA on a Thursday over lunch to learn more about financial aid and ensure students receive the most accurate and up-to-date information. Whether you are seasoned at assisting students with financial aid or new, don’t miss this valuable opportunity to better support your students on their path to higher education.

Topics include: Types of Aid Available, Overview of Eligibility, Typical Timeline, Importance of filling out the FAFSA for all students, and some time for Q&A. The same topics will be covered on each date.

Register for one of the following dates:
Thursday, April 18: 12pm-12:45pm
Thursday, April 25: 12pm-12:45pm
Thursday, May 2: 12pm-12:45pm

Virtual FAFSA Completion Assistance Event (Details)
Get your FAFSA questions answered during the FAFSA Completion Assistance drop-in event. Financial Aid experts will be available for one-on-one support for Kansas students and families.

Dates will be scheduled each year around November and March. 

Check out the FAFSA Checklist for a list of required information for FAFSA Completion. 

FAFSA Resources

• Federal Student Aid YouTube Channel (short, instructional videos designed to use with students & families)
• Browse Resources available on the Financial Aid Toolkit
• "How can the FAFSA help me pay for College or Career school?" - Brochure for families describing FAFSA, types of aid, timeline & benefits of completing the FAFSA.
• Federal Student Aid Resource Page (videos, brochures & tools to use with your students)
• FAFSA Completion Event Webinar Recording- January 21, 2021
• Types of Federal Student Aid 2021-2022 (Spanish version - Types of Federal Student Aid 2021-2022)
• KASFAA High School Counselor Training
• Student/Parent/Counselor Resources

Resources specific to the FAFSA changes:

• Step by step example of the 2024-2025 FAFSA
• NCAN Better FAFSA Training Toolkit (many instructional tools and resources for counselors to use with students)
  • FAFSA Simplification: Old vs. New Fact Sheet
  • 2024-2025 FAFSA Checklist
  • FSA ID Handout & FSA ID How-to Guide
• SHEEO FAFSA Social Press Kit

  KBOR FAFSA Changes Webinar Recording- November 8, 2023

• FAFSA Changes & Updates (Click the link for YouTube Webinar Recording)
  • Presentation Slides & Presentation Resources
  • KBOR Counselor Resources & Webinar Series Webpage

Hosting a FAFSA Completion event

Steps to host a successful Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Completion event:

1. Schedule a time (This year: January-April, in a typical year: October-December) when parents & students can meet together for a FAFSA completion event (it might need to be held outside of school hours). Some communities might also choose to do a 2^nd FAFSA event.

2. Contact financial aid representatives from any local community college, technical college, or university to help present information and answer questions for parents during the event.
   • Kansas Financial Aid Offices Resource Guide for a map of local institutions and contact information.

3. Prepare Students for the Event
   • Give students the FAFSA Checklist as a guide
     (This will help families know what information is needed and what questions they will need to be prepared for FAFSA completion day)
   • Provide a lesson about the FAFSA & types of financial aid
     • 2024 What is FAFSA? (video link)
     • Financial Aid/FAFSA resource document
   • Take students through creating their FSA ID prior to the event
     • 2024 FSA ID Instructional video

4. Promote the FAFSA completion day with students and parents.

5. Hold your FAFSA event!
   • Tips for Successful FAFSA Completion (editable)
   • After the FAFSA checklist to send home with students/families (Spanish version of After the FAFSA checklist)