Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA
CSS Profile
CSS Profile
Interested in applying for need-based financial aid or for merit scholarships at a college? The FAFSA is the main tool you will need.
Parents will need to help by inputting their financial information using their tax forms from the previous year.
You can start your application by clicking here.
This form was revamped recently, but has historically been available on October 1 of each year and does NOT require a fee.
Find free videos and answers to your application questions here.
CSS Profile
CSS Profile
CSS Profile
Over 400 schools also require families to complete
the CSS Profile through the College Board.
If you're applying to a small liberal arts school, there's a good chance your school is on this list of schools that require this form.
To begin filling out the CSS Profile, click here.
Once you complete the CSS Profile, you may be asked to upload supporting documents through IDOC.
There is more information about this service here.
This form is available October 1 of each year and requires a fee to submit.
Don't forget to submit documentation through IDOC after filing your form!
Other Financial Aid Resources
COA
Colleges will generally list their Cost of Admission (COA) on their website. When comparing COAs, keep these factors in mind:
- Is this price for a semester or for a full school year?
- Does this price include incidentals like books, fees, and local travel?
- What will be the cost of travel to and from this school 2-5 times a year?
Net Price Calculators
Net Price Calculators can be found on college websites and will give you a better picture of what you will pay. College Navigator, created by the National Center for Educational Statistics, provides links to each school's net price calculator as well as data that can be difficult to find elsewhere such as four and six year graduation rates and average amount of aid awarded.
Determining Value
Determining Value
Value can be found in schools that:
- Graduate more students in four years.
- Provide a program that will motivate this student to study and learn.
- Provide appropriate supports for neurodiverse students.
- Give students work experience through internships or co-op learning.
Scholarships
Tools for scholarship searches
It is possible to search scholarships by state, ethnicity, religion, sex, ancestry, majors, academic merit, talents, athletic participation, commitment to community service, interests, and more. Most of these sites require free registration but registration also gains you access to useful college search tools:
- Scholarships.com offers a well organized searchable list with categories for LGBTQ+ students, students with learning or physical disabilities, environmental activists, artists and performers, and more.
- Bold offers many unique scholarships for students whose lives have been impacted by mental health, LGBTQ+ students, STEM students, entrepreneurs, and creatives.
- Unigo provides a large list of scholarships, including good lists for students who are creative or have financial need.
- College Board
- Get Schooled offers good advice about applying for scholarships and a nice list of scholarships that are easy to apply to.
Some great scholarships for students with learning differences
- AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability up to $1000, for current undergraduates
- Academy of Special Dreams HELEN WOO College Scholarship $1000, requires art portfolio
- Academy of Special Dreams HELEN WOO Working Artist Scholarship $1000, requires art portfolio
- Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship up to $5000 for two year study
- Amateur Radio Digital Scholarship, over $7000 for female HS seniors who will study electrical or electronics engineering in college
- Society for Women Engineers has many regional and interest-area scholarships
- Anne Ford Scholarship, $10,000 for student with LD attending 4 yr college
- Anne Maureen Whitney Barrow Memorial Scholarship $8000 for women attending college for engineering or engineering technology
- John's Crazy Socks Autism Can Do Scholarship $5000 to sock designer
- Big Future Scholarship, up to $40,000
- Breanden Beneschott Grant for Chemical Engineers $1000
- Caesar’s STEM Headstart Scholarship $3000 for young women going into engineering or computer science
- CAPED Scholarships for undergrads at California colleges with disabilities
- Creative Expression Scholarship $500 for artists
- Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship $500
- Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship amount varies
- First Robotics Scholarships amount varies, for students involved in First Robotics
- Future Leaders in Technology Scholarship - High School Award $1000 for student from underrepresented group (includes LGBTQA+ and women)
- Gemm Learning Dyslexia/Auditory Processing Disorder Scholarship $1000
- High School Social Leaders Bi-Annual Scholarship $1000 for students working to solve a key social issue
- Hopper Scholarship $5100; Preference is given to women in computer related engineering majors
- Horatio Alger Scholarship $10000
- Incight Scholarship
- Jaki Nelson LGBTQ+ Music Education Scholarship
- Joe Bonamassa Music Studies Scholarship $1000
- Joseph James Morelli Foundation Scholarship $500-$2500 neurodiverse student studying STEM
- JusticeTheTutor Scholarship $500 STEM
- Kelly Autism Scholarship $1000 for students who would like to further their education