MASS. – A statewide campaign called “Worth It” to encourage students and their families to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) kicked off last week, and a virtual day to help students fill out college aid applications is planned for Saturday, April 24.
According to the announcement, fewer high school seniors have filled out the FAFSA this year than in the previous two years, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the Department of Higher Education, and the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) are working along with other partners to help more students complete the FAFSA and keep college an option.
The “Worth It” campaign states that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is the key to unlocking college financial aid from federal, state, and local sources. Filling out the FAFSA helps keep college an option for the fall but does not commit you to enrolling.
The federal deadline to submit a FAFSA is June 30, 2021, although each college may have its own deadline. For priority consideration in Mass., students should submit their applications by May 1, 2021.
On Saturday, April 24, a free, drop-in, virtual FAFSA Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Experts from MEFA will be available all day to answer students’ and families’ FAFSA questions and help them complete the online application one-on-one.
To register for the festival, go to www.mefa.org, and fill in your name, high school and what topics you would like covered. According to the website, students may log in anytime on Saturday, April 24 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Other events and opportunities to get assistance with federal student loans are listed on the DESE website at https://www.doe.mass.edu/FinancialAid/events.html.
