FAFSA Requirement and Deadlines
In the hopes of clearing up any confusion based on the information from ISAC regarding April 23, let us assure you:
THERE IS NO MEANINGFUL DEADLINE FOR THE 26-27 FAFSA.
YOU CAN STILL START AND FILE A 26-27 FAFSA
THE FAFSA IS STILL REQUIRED TO GRADUATE WITH THE CLASS OF 2026
If you did not file by April 23, your access to all available funding will be more limited. However, you may still receive significant need-based funding, especially at the federal level. Illinois State funding through the MAP grant is suspended, but not terminated. So while filing after April 23 means that your initial financial aid offering will not include the MAP grant, that offering may be amended to include MAP funding later this Summer.
IT IS STILL IN YOUR BEST INTEREST TO FILE THE FAFSA NOW IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO PURSUE TRADE SCHOOL, VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS, CERTAIN CERTIFICATIONS, COMMUNITY COLLEGE, OR A 4-YEAR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY AT ANY TIME IN THE COMING 26-27 ACADEMIC YEAR
https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/sign-in/landing?redirectTo=%2Ffafsa-apply%2F2026-27%2Froles
- IF you do not qualify for the FAFSA, but will still need financial support to pursue your post-secondary education, you should file the Alternative Application for Financial Aid established through the Illinois RISE Act. Completion of the Alternative App meets the same graduation requirement as the FAFSA. https://studentportal.isac.org/en/alternativeapp
- IF you are going into Military Service, a trade Apprenticeship program, or a job training program that DOES NOT use the FAFSA for financial aid consideration, you can work with the Non-Participation Process through ISAC. Completion of this process also meets the graduation requirement. Even if you complete the Non-Participation Process, you can still fill out the 26-27 FAFSA later if your plans change. https://www.isac.org/home/fafsa/NPF-Instructions.html
Jorge from ISAC will still be in the CCC every Thursday through the end of the year and our final Financial Aid Evening Workshop for students and families will be on May 7.
Please ask your counselor if you have any questions about any aspect of meeting this graduation requirement.
