The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form used to apply for federal financial aid. Students graduating in the Class of 2025 complete the 2025-26 FAFSA. Note: Some scholarships will require the FAFSA.

• The 2025-26 FAFSA (for students who will graduate from high school in 2025) is open now.
• Students and families should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible.
  • Completing the FAFSA by January 15 is recommended in order to meet priority deadlines for scholarships and financial aid.

• Scholarships: Money that does not have to be repaid, usually based on the student’s ability, skills or talents.
• Grants: Money that does not have to be repaid, based on the student and family’s financial situation. The most common is the Pell Grant, but there are other grant programs.
• Loans: Money that must be repaid. Some student loans do not have to be repaid until after the student graduates from college.
• Work-Study: Money earned from an on-campus job.

• FAFSA provides access to funds to help pay for the cost of education after high school, including tuition, books, fees, and living expenses.
• Filing the FAFSA and being accepted to a college allows students to know how much financial aid they are eligible to receive.
• Filing the FAFSA gives students access to the largest source of financial aid.

• The FAFSA is useful for anyone planning to attend a four-year college or university, a two-year college, or a career/trade school.
• A new Nebraska law (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-729) requires that all students who are graduating from a Nebraska public high school in 2025 must complete the 2025-26 FAFSA or opt out. 
• All students who are graduating from a Nebraska high school in 2025 or later must complete the 2025-26 FAFSA or opt out.
• Even if you are just curious about funding, completing the FAFSA provides an estimate of federal aid eligibility. Students who are in college should complete the FAFSA each year.

• Before completing your FAFSA, you must create a Student Aid account.

  • • Determine dependency status - use the dependency questions on the FAFSA checklist (English | Spanish) to determine if parent information is required.
    • For dependent students, determine which parent's information to report. Use the Parent Wizard to determine who counts as a parent on the FAFSA. The person(s) identified by the Parent Wizard must contribute information and needs a student aid account.
    • Use the FAFSA Tools from EducationQuest to help:
      • FAFSA Checklist - English
      • Lista preparativa para la FAFSA  - Spanish
      • How to Create a Federal Student Aid Account (FSA ID) - English
      • Como Crear una Cuenta de Ayuda Federal para Estudiantes (FSA ID) - Español 
      • How to Create a Federal Student Aid Account (FSA ID) Without a Social Security Number - English*
      • Como Crear un FSA ID Para Aquellos sin un Número de Seguro Social - Español*

  *Parents without a Social Security Number may either create a Federal Student Aid account to complete the FAFSA or opt out of the FAFSA by notifying their child's counselor.

  • • Go to https://studentaid.gov and click on Create Account.
      • Legal name - be sure that the name entered matches exactly (pay close attention to spaces and hyphenated names).
      • Social Security Number - each student must have a Social Security Number or a USCIS number in order to create an account. Parents are able to create their own accounts to contribute information to their child's FAFSA. Mixed-status families (where the student has a Social Security Number, but their parent does not) may either create a Federal Student Aid account to complete the FAFSA or opt out of the FAFSA by notifying their child's school counselor.
      • Date of Birth
      • Email address - each student and their parent need separate email accounts, do not use your school email accounts.
      • Mobile phone number - each student and their parent will need separate phone numbers.
      • Answer the challenge questions - choose answers that are easy to remember and that won't change over time.
      • Enter validation codes to confirm your email and mobile number to set up the Authenticator App.
      • Be sure to save your information in a secure place.
      • Information used to create your account has to be verified, which may take up to three (3) days. A FAFSA cannot be submitted until the StudentAid.gov account is verified.

   

  • • Begin organizing financial documents for both the student and the parent(s). This includes 2023 tax returns and the value of cash, checking, savings; investments and business or farm.

• Go to https://studentaid.gov and log in.
• Start a 2025-26 FAFSA.
• When you enter information to link accounts, make sure to enter the other person's name exactly as they entered it on their account.
• Follow the prompts to complete the FAFSA. Parents and students will both "sign" using their Student Aid account.
• If you would like to receive help with completing the FAFSA, your school counselor can help you make an appointment with EducationQuest.

• A parent/guardian may sign an opt-out form available from their child’s school counselor.
• Opting out of the FAFSA now does not prevent you from later choosing to file the FAFSA.

• The EducationQuest website has resources under FAFSA Tools. They also provide free in-person or virtual appointments in English and Spanish. Contact the Omaha office at 402-391-4033. EducationQuest Specialists visit each OPS high school a couple times a month; students/parents can schedule an appointment through the counseling office.
• Contact your child’s school counselor. School counselors are ready to answer questions and help with the process.
• StudentAid.gov - https://studentaid.gov/ is the official government site for federal financial aid. There are many resources to help families understand the process and file correctly.
• Students learn about the FAFSA from their school counselors and from teachers in Personal Finance classes and Advisement.
• Resources and links are posted in the School Counseling section of the Omaha Public Schools website under FAFSA information at https://www.ops.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=557
• Admissions and financial aid representatives at area colleges are able to provide assistance.
• Community organizations that focus on helping students graduate from high school and pursue post-secondary education can also help provide answers.
• If you are on the FAFSA website and need help filling out the FAFSA form, use these free tools:
  • In the online FAFSA form, select the question mark icon next to a FAFSA question to view a “tool tip” that provides information about how to answer that question.
  • Visit the “FAFSA® Help” to find answers to common questions.
  • In the online form, chat with Aidan®, our virtual assistant.
  • Chat with, email, or find a phone number for the Federal Student Aid Information Center.