How to Pay for College
Financial aid is money to help pay for college or career school. Grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships help make college or career school affordable for many students.
FAFSA Finish Events
FCPS is dedicated to providing our students and families with Financial Aid and FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) information. In addition, we have partnered with local colleges and local non-profit organizations to aid FCPS students with FAFSA Finish Events (listed below when scheduled) and financial aid information nights. These events will walk students and their families through creating, completing, and submitting their FAFSA , which is the first step in the applying for Federal and State Aid for college.
Register here for any of the below Financial Aid and FSA ID Creation events.
2024 Dates
|
Dates |
Financial Aid NIght Presentation Time |
FAFSA Finish Workshop Time |
School |
|
October 30 |
7:00 – 8:00 PM |
Workshop at a later date (Jan 7) |
Linganore High School |
|
November 13 |
6:00 – 7:00 PM |
Workshop at a later date (Dec 9) |
Gov. Thomas Johnson High School |
|
November 20 |
5:00 – 6:00 PM |
Workshop at a later date (Dec 11) |
Catoctin High School |
|
December 3 |
6:00 – 7:00 PM |
7:00 - 9:00 PM |
Tuscarora High School |
|
December 4 |
6:00 – 7:00 PM |
Workshop at a later date (Jan 13) |
Oakdale High School |
|
December 5 |
6:00 – 7:00 PM |
7:00 - 8:30 PM |
Urbana High School |
|
December 9 |
- |
6:00 – 8:00 PM |
Gov. Thomas Johnson High School |
|
December 11 |
5:00 – 6:00 PM |
6:00 – 8:00 PM |
Walkersville High School |
|
December 12 |
5:00 – 6:00 PM |
6:00 – 7:00 PM |
Frederick High School |
|
December 16 |
6:00 – 7:00 PM |
7:00 – 8:00 PM |
Brunswick High School |
|
December 18 |
6 – 7 PM |
7 – 9:00 PM |
Middletown High School |
|
January 7 |
- |
6:00 – 8:00 PM |
Linganore High School |
|
January 13 |
- |
6:00 – 8:00 PM |
Oakdale High School |
Complete Your FAFSA
Get started on your FAFSA now at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
Video Resources
The videos below will open YouTube in a new tab.
- Overview of the Financial Aid Process
- FAFSA Overview
- Types of Federal Student Aid
- Applying for financial aid with the FAFSA form
- Create and access your StudentAid.gov account
- How to create your username and password
- Gather information required to complete the FAFSA form
- Determining your dependency status
- Who is a contributer on the FAFSA form?
- Why do my contributors and I need our own StudentAid.gov accounts for the FAFSA form?
- Understand and prepare FAFSA form contributors
- What does it mean to provide consent and approval on the FAFSA form
- How do I complete the FAFSA form if my parents are divorced or separated?
- How do I complete the FAFSA form if my parent is a noncitizen?
- How do I create a StudentAid.gove account if I don't have a social security number?
- Complete the Personal Circumstances and Demographics sections of the FAFSA form
- Complete the Financials section of the 2024-25 FAFSA form
- Select schools to include on your 2024-25 FAFSA form
- Review, sign, and submit your 2024-25 FAFSA form
- What happens after submitting your FAFSA form?
- How to regain access to your FSA ID
- Where's my financial aid?
- Troubleshooting your StudentAid.gov account
Other Resources
Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
Types of Aid
Fact Sheets
- Information for International Students Wishing To Attend College in the United States
- Internal Revenue Service fact sheet on education tax benefits—"Students and Parents: Why Form 1098-T Is Important to You"
- Saving Early = Saving Smart! Watch Your Money Grow With Your Child (English)
- Saving Early = Saving Smart! Watch Your Money Grow With Your Child (Spanish)
Booklets and Brochures
- Federal Student Loans: Repaying Your Loans (English)
- Federal Student Loans: Repaying Your Loans (Spanish)
- Do You Need Money for College or Career/ Trade School
- Direct Loan Entrance Counseling Guide
- Direct Loan Entrance Counseling Guide (Printer-friendly version)
- Direct Loan Exit Counseling Guide
- Direct Loan Exit Counseling Guide (Printer-friendly version)
College and University Partners
The partnership with community agencies and local colleges/universities has resulted in increased opportunities to assist students and their families through the Financial Aid process and promote FAFSA and MFSAA completion.
FCC is instrumental in supporting Frederick County students in completing the FAFSA/MFSAA. They host a FAFSA Finish even, assist FCPS families with FAFSA completion, provide professional learning for FCPS staff, and participate in financial aid and college information nights provided by FCPS schools.
Hood College has hosted FAFA Finish events, provides staff to assist families with FAFSA completion and participates in financial aid and college information presentations offered by FCPS schools.
Mount St. Mary's is influential in supporting Frederick County students in completing the FAFSA/MFSAA. They provide staff to assist families with FAFSA completion, provide professional learning for FCPS School Counselors and participate in financial aid and college information nights offered by FCPS schools.
Community Partners
Our community partners have been instrumental in hosting FAFSA Finish events, providing supports to our FCPS community and connecting students to a wealth of resources for financial aid and post-secondary options.
The New Horizons program helps overcome the challenges and barriers for youth experiencing homelessness within Frederick County Public Schools, by advocating and effectively connecting them to community services. SHIP has created a FAFSA Mentor program to support seniors experiencing homelessness in FAFSA completion and creating a post-secondary plan.
The Community Foundation is dedicated to enriching the quality of life in Frederick County now and for future generations. Their dedication to helping FCPS students and families prepare for the financial commitment to college is very appreciated. Learn more about FAFSA Finish Events they host as well as scholarships they offer by clicking on the link above.
The NAACP works to ensure that every disadvantaged student and student of color graduates ready for college or a career by ensuring access to great teaching, fair discipline, equitable resources, and a challenging curriculum. NAACP and FCPS have partnered to offer FAFSA Finish events to increase supports provided to students.
The United Way of Frederick County is a key member of the FAFSA Finish group. The staff plays an important role in advertising and finding funding to support the FAFSA Finish events being offered. United Way staff members have been active participants in numerous events to support families in FAFSA completion.
The Housing Authority of the City of Frederick values education and helps residents thrive and reach success. The HACF provides educational programs and connects residents to opportunities with community partners. The HACF hosts FAFSA Finish events and encourages FCPS families to participate in FAFSA completion.
Spanish Speaking Community of Maryland, Inc provides supports with the goal of empowering low-income families and immigrants from diverse backgrounds by promoting self-sufficiency, greater social change, education, and legal rights. A collaborative relationship with FCPS has resulted in additional supports and resources for our English Learner students and their families. These supports have been important to support the FAFSA completion and outreach efforts!