Financial Aid, Scholarships & Grants

Paying for college can be very expensive and may even cause you to rethink going to college. Financial aid, scholarships and grants are the best way to reduce the burden of the cost of higher education and the good news is, there are a ton of award opportunities.

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What is FAFSA?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form used by students in the United States to apply for financial aid for higher education. Completing the FAFSA is crucial for students seeking financial assistance for higher education. It helps unlock various sources of aid, making college more affordable and accessible.

FAFSA collects information about a student's financial situation and calculates their Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which determines their eligibility for various types of financial aid. This includes grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and federal student loans. The information provided on the FAFSA helps determine the amount of aid a student may receive.

Step-by-Step FAFSA

Follow this easy step-by-step guide to apply for financial aid. By following these steps, you can successfully complete the FAFSA application.

If you want additional resources and information, visit Federal Student Aid on YouTube or read FAFSA FAQ’s.

  • You will need:

    • Your Social Security Number

    • Your parents’ SSNs if you’re a dependent student

    • Tax returns. Use your return from two years ago. (EX if applying for 2024-2025, you will use your 2022 taxes.

    • Records of child support received

    • Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts

    • Net worth of investments, businesses, and farm

  • Both the student and at least one parent (if dependent) need to create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. This site allows you to create your Student Aid account and serves as an electronic signature and provides access to Federal Student Aid's online systems.

  • Visit the official FAFSA website at studentaid.gov. Click on "FAFSA Form" and select the year you want to apply for. Then begin the application process. The online application is very user-friendly and will walk you through the questions.

  • Input financial information. Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (if eligible) to transfer tax information directly from the IRS into the FAFSA form, simplifying the process and reducing the chance of errors.

  • Enter the Federal School Code for each college or university you're applying to. You can list up to 20 schools on the FAFSA form. Make sure to include all schools you're considering, even if you still need to apply or be accepted.

  • Review the information provided and make any necessary corrections. The student and one parent (if dependent) must sign the FAFSA electronically using their FSA IDs. Once completed, submit the application.

  • After submission, you'll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) summarizing the information you provided. Review it carefully for accuracy. Corrections can be made online if needed. Colleges you listed will also receive your FAFSA information to determine your financial aid eligibility.

  • Some colleges may require additional forms or documentation for financial aid consideration. Check with each school's financial aid office to ensure you've completed all necessary steps.

Statewide FAFSA Assistance & Helpline

Arizona FAFSA Coalition provides personalized support to Arizona high school students via the resources below:

Have a quick question about FAFSA? Text “Hi Benji” to 602-786-8171 any time to immediately get an answer from an AI chatbot developed by our partner Education Forward Arizona to help you work through FAFSA.

  • Ask Benji is a service created by a Graduation Solutions partner that specializes in answering your FAFSA questions for free!

    Available 47/7, Benji uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology with its open bot platform to help students get answers to their FAFSA questions instantly—all they need to do is text “Hi Benji.”

    Click here to send a text to 602-786-8171 to get started. Text "Hi Benji" to begin!

    Click here to visit their website and access Ask Benji on the web.

  • Schedule a virtual meeting with a FAFSA expert!

    Appointments will generally be one hour. As you register, you’ll be asked to provide some basic information such as name, email address, and high school. Prior to your appointment, you will receive an email detailing important information and documents to have on hand for your online meeting.

    Please note: These appointments are ONLY for Arizona high school students.

    Virtual 1-on-1 FAFSA Assistance | Asistencia virtual para la FAFSA

  • Need help now?

    Call the Arizona FAFSA Hotline. Open Monday - Friday, 9am - 3pm

    1-833-AZFAFSA (English)

    1-833-MiFAFSA (Espanol)

  • Get FAFSA Help in Spanish

  • You can also check out the Federal Student Aid Help Center for additional help. Contact them directly here.

  • The HEFAR Group is a non-profit organization that gives advice from college funding experts. They can help you understand how to help reduce your overall college expenses with your FAFSA. They can also help with family financial planning. Visit their website and watch this introduction video to learn more!

Finding Scholarships & Grants

Resources we’ve created for you:

There are thousands of scholarships available nationwide, but there is no perfect way to find the ones that apply to you. Each application's format and processes vary as well. The best practice is to take a shotgun approach with the smallest pool of competitors as your target!

It is recommended to use all of the following categories and in this order:

  • Your school of choice is one of the best places to find scholarship opportunities. All trade schools, community colleges and universities will have scholarships available to students. Each scholarship has different criteria and it can vary greatly.

    Common categories include; GPA/merit, need-based, Identity-based, intended major, activity-based, athletics, 1st generation student and tons more. There is something for everyone.

    What you need to know:

    Be aware that your status as a college freshman makes you eligible for several school-based scholarships. See the details below to ensure that you maintain eligibility for your scholarships.

    • Students with post-high school collegiate coursework in any semester, except the summer term immediately before entering their freshman year, may be ineligible for first-year campus-based scholarship awards (President’s Honor Scholarship, New American University Scholarship, LumberJack Awards, Wildcat Awards).

      For example, if you graduate in December 2024, you can’t take college courses in the spring of 2024 and receive a school-based scholarship to start college in the fall of 2024. You need to wait until the summer session to take classes.

      ***This does not apply to and Dual Enrollment or Concurrent College courses you took during high school. You can have an unlimited number of Dual or Concurrent courses.

    • Students who don’t graduate in June or students considering taking a gap year before starting college should be aware that first-year merit awards (President’s Honor Scholarship, New American University Scholarship, LumberJack Awards, Wildcat Awards) are only available to students who begin in a fall term at the university.

  • Specific to Arizona, The Arizona Community Foundation is a great resource for scholarships hosting approximately 125 annual scholarships with various criteria. Through their online application, students complete one application and are matched with ALL available scholarships, based on their eligibility requirements. The application typically opens in January, but the various scholarships close at different times between April - August. The earlier the application is submitted, the more opportunities a student will have.

  • These can be challenging to find, but many local businesses, community clubs and professional organizations offer scholarships. A student will have to more actively seek out these scholarships.

    Ways to find local scholarships:

    • Ask the student or parent's employer if they have scholarships or tuition reimbursement programs. The student can check with their local bank, car dealership, lawyers, Dentist office or other businesses they frequent.

    • Reach out to local clubs and organizations like Rotary, Kiwanis, and Elks Clubs. Many post opportunities on their websites or send an email. Google search “college scholarships, XYZtown, the year”.

  • There are scholarship search tools online or websites that help students find relevant scholarships to fund their education. There are hundreds of national databases and it’s overwhelming. Most share information and typically spam a student 24/7 with useless emails. Yet, they do have their value.

    The most organized, user-friendly platform that limits spam is GoingMerry.com. On this site, students create a profile and are matched with scholarship opportunities that are likely a good fit. They can apply through the app which auto-populates the information they include in their profile making it fairly easy to do multiple applications quickly.

  • A Google Search is another way to find unique or more personalized scholarship opportunities. Follow the steps below to do a specific search that you can personalized to your interests, situation and specific details.

    • Refine Your Search Query. Start by entering specific keywords in the Google search bar that represent your unique situation. For example, use keywords like "college scholarships for first-generation students," "merit-based scholarships for high school seniors," "ethnicity-specific scholarships," or "scholarships for students with special talents."

    • Use Quotation Marks. To narrow down the search results, enclose specific phrases or terms within quotation marks. This ensures Google searches for exact matches. For instance, search for "first-generation student scholarships" or "merit-based scholarships for high school seniors."

    • Utilize the Minus Sign. Exclude irrelevant results by using the minus sign (-) in your search. For instance, if you are looking for scholarships for first-generation students but want to exclude scholarships specific to a particular state, you can search for "first-generation student scholarships -state name."

    • Include Specific Traits or Demographics. Include any unique traits or demographics that apply to you. For example, "scholarships for female engineering students" or "college scholarships for LGBTQ+ students."

    • Specify Academic Achievements. Include your academic accomplishments in the search query. For instance, search for "merit scholarships for students with a 4.0 GPA."

    • Use Google's Filter Tools. After conducting your search, use Google's filter tools located under "Tools" to further narrow down results by date, country, and other criteria.

    • Review Scholarship Websites. Click on the search results that lead to scholarship websites or directories, as they often contain valuable information about various scholarship opportunities.

    • Check the Official Website. If the search results include scholarship names or organizations, visit their official websites to get more details and confirm the legitimacy of the scholarships.

    • Bookmark Promising Scholarships. As you find scholarships that match your criteria, bookmark the relevant pages or save the links for future reference.

    By following these steps, students can effectively use Google to discover college scholarships that align with their specific situations, demographics, first-generation status, merit, academic accomplishments, ethnicity, or other traits. Remember to use precise and relevant keywords to get the most relevant search results.

Applying for Scholarships & Grants

  • These are general steps to apply for a scholarship:

    1. Research and identify scholarships

    2. Review eligibility criteria (student must meet ALL requirements to apply)

    3. Gather required documents (Most common: Transcript, Essay & Letter of recommendation)

    4. Prepare a personal statement or essay (When required the topic is provided in the application)

    5. Request letters of recommendation (Use the request form to ask for the letter, if needed)

    6. Complete the application form

    7. Proofread and edit before submitting

  • Visit the Transcripts, CEEB Codes & Partner Schools page to get instructions on how to request your high school transcript.

  • The Letter of Recommendation Request Form can help you get a great quality letter. Once you complete this form you share it with the person/people you want to ask for a recommendation. This form provides extra details about you that they may not know and will help them to write a better and more complete letter about you.

  • Not all colleges require a personal statement or essay. Check your school of choice before you get started to see if you need one or not. Also many of the schools that do require an essay provide the prompt or a choice from a few prompts.

    Use the step-by-step guide in Admissions Documents: Write an Essay/Personal Statement section on the College Exploration page to help you write your essay.

Special Group Opportunities/Programs

  • First-generation scholarships are scholarships designed specifically for students who are the first in their families to attend college. These scholarships aim to support and encourage students who come from families without a history of higher education, thereby helping them access and succeed in college. They are available at most colleges/uiversities as well as through private scholarship opportunities.

    What is a first-generation student? A first-generation college student is someone who is the first in their family to go to college. There can be variations in the way first-gen is defined. It usually applies to the first person in an extended family to go to college (a student whose parents, and or other previous generations, did not go to college).

    However, more than one person within a family can be considered a first-generation college student and benefit from the scholarships. It doesnt not mean only the first child in an immediate family. All siblings from the same household would be considered first-generation.

    Many schools want to balance their student body with more first-generation college students and have them succeed. In addition to the financial aid and scholarships they typically provide peer groups and mentor programs. This helps a student transition into college and familiarizes them with the resources to be successful in the college community and earn their degree.

    To find first-generation college scholarships check with your school’s financial aid office and look for local scholarships like community services groups (Lion’s Club, Kiwanis Club, Elk’s Club) or Community Foundations (Arizona Community Foundation)

  • There are many resources available to Native Americans to help with education expenses. Check out this infographic to get started!

  • A student who has been in the Foster Care system, even for one day is eligible for a number of programs.

    This chart from Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation (AFFCF) will give you an idea of the options available.

    Review the full Guide for Youth in Foster Care which outlines multiple programs, including support for school expenses, housing and the option to extend programs until age 21.

  • The Arizona Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program is a federally-funded, state-administered program that provides financial, academic, and student support for young people who are or have been in foster care and are enrolled in qualified colleges, universities, or vocational education programs.

    The Arizona ETV program is open to any current and former young person in foster care who meets at least one of these criteria:

    • You are a young person who is or was in U.S. foster care on or after your 16th birthday for ETV (14th for Tuition Waiver)

    • You were adopted from U.S. foster care with the adoption finalized after your 16th birthday for ETV (14th for Tuition Waiver)

    Additionally, you must:

    • Be an Arizona resident

    • Be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen

    • Have personal assets (bank account, car, home, etc.) worth less than $10,000

    • Be enrolled in a degree, certificate, or other accredited program and show that you are making satisfactory academic progress.

    Arizona ETV recipients must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA each term. Students must submit an academic transcript showing grades and GPA from the most recently completed semester/term.

    For more information on this and to check your eligibility, please call (219) 426-2166 or email azetv@fosteredservices.org.

  • Fostering Futures Scholarship is available to qualified Arizona Foster Students.

    The Grand Canyon University (GCU) Fostering Futures Scholarship is in partnership with the Arizona Department of Child Safety to provide the financial support needed to achieve educational goals.

    The GCU Fostering Futures scholarship will cover all remaining tuition and fees, including room and board year-round, after eligible Pell Grant, Education Tuition Voucher funding, and the AZ Department of Child Safety award is applied. This 100% scholarship can be awarded for the Fall and Spring semesters only, up to eight semesters, as long you meet the following requirements:

    • Must be an AZ resident

    • Must be in state care at age 17, and enrolled in the Volunteer Foster Care Program Agreement at 18 years of age

    • Must have an open case with the AZ Department of Child Safety, or served through the Extended Foster Care or After Care Program (TIL Program) throughout duration of program at GCU (up to specified required age)

    • Must be accepted to GCU and maintain satisfactory academic progress in your program of study for renewability purposes each semester

    • Must demonstrate eligibility by completing the FAFSA and Education Tuition Voucher application documents and completing the necessary steps to secure awards

    • Required to live on-campus at GCU (students who become ineligible to live on-campus involuntarily or who move off-campus voluntarily will no longer be eligible for this scholarship program)

    • Housing is covered year-round for recipients for a set meal plan and housing rate. Students that wish to choose housing and/or meal plan options above the reimbursed rate will do so at their own expense.

    • Adhere to any additional rules and guidelines specified by the AZ Department of Child Safety to maintain renewability

    The significant factor in this award is it is the only school/award that offers year-round housing. Which means during breaks and summer you do not have to move out or find somewhere to stay until school opens again.

    Most other Arizona colleges have foster care awards too, so if you have been in the foster care system at any point- check with your school’s financial aid office.

  • The GI Bill benefits help you pay for college, graduate school, and training programs. Education benefits through the GI Bill are available to those enlisted in the US Armed Forces, including selected reserve. Veterans must have been honorably discharged to qualify. Veterans and their family members may be eligible to get money to cover all or some of the costs for school or training.

    The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)

    The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) helps you pay for school or job training. If you’ve served on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33).

    Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD)

    The Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) can help you pay for education and training programs. If you’ve served at least 2 years on active duty, you may qualify for the MGIB-AD program.

    Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)

    The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) program offers up to 36 months of education and training benefits. If you’re a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard, you may be eligible for this benefit.

    Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance

    If you’re the child or spouse of a Veteran or service member who has died, is captured or missing, or has disabilities, you may be able to get help paying for school or job training through the DEA program—also called Chapter 35.

    Veterans benefits in some cases can be transferred from a parent. If a parent served in the Military and did not use all of their educational benefits, a request can be made to transfer them to a spouse or child.

    Check the US Department of Veterans Affairs website for information about all military benefits and how to activate them.