What is the FAFSA?

  • More than $150 billion in grants, loans, and work-study funds comes from the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid Program. The FAFSA is used to determine your eligibility for these funds, which are need-based.
  • In addition, many colleges and universities use the information on the FAFSA to make decisions on scholarships, grants, and loans awarded through their institution. (These may or may not be need-based.)
  • Apply starting October 1st of your Senior year. You will be using your previous year's tax return.  FAFSA applications deadlines vary by school.​

What is the CASFA?

  • The Colorado Application for State Financial Aid or CASFA is a simple, safe and confidential application for state aid, including grants and   work-study funds. These funds help open the door to higher education for students who have attended high school in Colorado as outlined in HB22-1155 and who are otherwise not eligible for federal financial aid.
  • The purpose of the CASFA is to determine need for financial aid awarding purposes to students historically left out of receiving state and federal financial aid. Non-U.S. citizens and those that are not permanent residents of the U.S. can use the CASFA to apply for institutional aid.
  • Like the FAFSA, the CASFA opens on October 1 of each year prior to the aid year, so students should begin working on their CASFA application starting October 1 of your Senior year.

What is the CSS Profile?

  • The CSS Profile is a financial aid profile produced by College Board. The online application collects information used by more than 400 colleges and scholarship programs to award financial aid outside of the federal government such as institutional scholarships, grants, and loans.
  • Not all colleges and scholarship programs require the CSS Profile. Check with the schools you are interested in to see if they require it. Note that most "elite" universities and private colleges require the CSS Profile.
  • The CSS Profile is more of an all-encompassing snapshot of your family's finances than the FAFSA.