READING, April 9, 2012 – State Sen. Judy Schwank reminds families that the deadline for most college-bound students to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the upcoming school year is May 1.
All first-time applicants for state scholarship aid, including students who plan to enroll in degree programs or college transfer programs at junior colleges or other colleges or universities, and students seeking to renew their state grant aid, must file their FAFSA by this deadline, according to Schwank.
The application deadline for non-renewal students enrolling in community colleges, business or trade schools, nursing schools, or two-year programs that are not transferrable to another institution is Aug. 1.
The FAFSA is used to determine if students qualify for almost all forms of need-based financial aid, including the Pennsylvania State Grant, federal Pell Grant, many scholarships and institutional awards and low-cost student loans.
“Financial aid makes higher education affordable for many students and their families,” Schwank said. “As students seek ways to pay for college despite the economy and ever-rising tuition costs, it’s important to apply for financial aid because families could receive much-needed financial support.”
During the 2011-12 school year, 190,000 students statewide received $430.9 million in state scholarship grants. In the 11th Senatorial District alone, 4,372 students receive scholarship grant aid valued at $9.7 million. The average grant award in the 11th Senatorial District was $2,855.
Families can access the 2012-13 FAFSA and seek assistance completing the FAFSA online by visiting the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) website, www.pheaa.org or by calling the senator’s district office at 610-929-2151.