January 1 Brings New Year and New FAFSA

Families should remember that when holiday festivities are over and the brand new year arrives, it is also time to start thinking about filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).      

The 2012-13 FAFSA will become available online January 1, 2012 at www.fafsa.gov.  Purdue University has a priority filing date of March 1.  The FAFSA may—and should—be completed with estimated tax information if returns have not been filed at that time.  Updates must be made to the FAFSA information when final tax figures are available.      

Free assistance is available for students and families in need of FAFSA filing help.  Indiana Student Financial Aid Association sponsors High School Night programs throughout the state for families with questions.  For Tippecanoe County residents, these events are scheduled for Tuesday, December 13, 2011 and Wednesday, January 18, 2012.  Help is offered from 6:30-8:00 pm each evening within Ivy Hall Auditorium at Ivy Tech Community College, located at 3101 S. Creasy Lane in Lafayette.  Students throughout Indiana and other states should check with their high school guidance counselors for information on FAFSA programs in their local area.

In Indiana, College Goal Sunday is scheduled for Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 2:00 pm.  Numerous locations will be available throughout the state.  Local students can seek help filing their FAFSA from financial aid professionals at Ivy Tech Community College in Lafayette.  More information, including items to bring to the help session, is listed at www.collegegoalsunday.org.  Students from other parts of the country can look for programs in their area at www.collegegoalsundayusa.org.    

At Purdue, a FAFSA is required to be filed annually to be considered for need-based financial aid, including federal student loans. 

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