FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that is completed annually by current and prospective college students (undergraduate and graduate) in the United States.

Students should complete their FAFSA as early as December of their Senior year. Students should also complete the Florida Financial Aid application aka the Bright Futures Scholarship application. The FAFSA and FFAA are totally different!!!

  • The FAFSA then determines your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is an index number used to determine your eligibility for federal student financial aid. 
  • Your EFC is reported to you on your Student Aid Report (SAR). You can view your SAR by logging in to your FAFSA form and selecting “View SAR” from the My FAFSA page.
  • Your EFC is calculated according to a formula established by law and considers your family’s taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits (such as, unemployment or Social Security).
  • Colleges and universities use the EFC to determine your federal aid eligibility and financial aid award. 
    • A large number of SHS students will qualify for the PELL GRANT. In a "nut-shell" the PELL GRANT is money "granted" to you by the Federal Government. If eligible, you do not pay this back. It is up to $6,500 per year for up to 4 years.

Please view the videos provided for an overview of the federal financial aid process, types of awards, and a walk through of the actual application.

Financial Aid Presentation (by PHSC)

Spanish speakers attending PHSC may speak to Ms. Maria Morales at PHSC for financial advising in Spanish. Her contact information is: email: moralem@phsc.edu and phone: 727-816-3319.

Find out who counts as your parent when you file your FAFSA form.

Accepted into college for the summer term? If you are a graduating senior who has been accepted to a university for summer admission, please be advised that you will need to complete a FAFSA application for both the current school year and the last year. For example: If a senior in the graduating class of 2020 is set to start college at say USF in the summer term. This senior would need to complete a FAFSA for both the 2019 and 2018 tax years.

Seniors,
Many of you should already be receiving “Financial Aid Award Letters” from each of the colleges that you have been accepted to. Please carefully read the information below to help you understand and then evaluate your financial aid award letter. The purpose of doing this is to determine if “this” college is affordable for you as part of helping you make your final decision.

I have attached the Unmet-Need Calculator that is used for the CAP Grant. Please use this as a guide to help you determine your unmet need. If you do not yet have an award letter from your college, you can use one of the award letters below.