Financial Aid Resources

Financial Aid Glossary

Scholarships and Financial Aid Websites

  • Big Future - College Board's Scholarship search

  • Cappex- College and scholarship finder tool

  • Chegg Scholarships- Buy books, find tutors, browse scholarships

  • College Access Fairfax - A local non-profit organization dedicated to removing financial barriers to college

  • CSS Profile - College Scholarship Service Profile- Financial aid application required by some colleges in addition to the FAFSA. The CSS is used to determine eligibility for nongovernmental aid.

  • College Score Card Detailed information on college demographics, academic and financial information

  • Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Calculator The College Board's calculator used to estimate how much the student's family will be expected to contribute to the cost of college for the academic year 

  • Naviance Student - FCPS scholarship database accessed through your Schoology account

  • FinAid.org - A comprehensive student guide to financial aid that links to Fast Web, a national free scholarship search

  • FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid

  • Good Call - An online tool which gives access to data, technology, and other tools to help students make important decisions

  • IRS Tax Form 970 Tax Benefits for Education

  • NACACnet - Complete family financial aid resource

  • Net Price Calculators - Use this College Board tool or visit each college website for its own calculator

  • SCHEV - Financial aid application deadlines for Virginia colleges

  • Studentaid.ed.gov - The Guide to Federal Student Aid

  • VA 529 Plans - College Savings Plan information

FAFSA- The Free Application for Federal Student Aid

from the U.S. Department of Education  

The FAFSA is the free financial application from the US Department of Education that must be completed by students and parents to apply for federal student aid. Federal student aid is responsible for managing the student financial assistance programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. You must reapply every year you are in college. Do the FAFSA first. It is used to determine eligibility for federal financial aid but also for other types of aid unrelated to need. Many colleges and universities use the information to make decisions about their institutional aid. That aid is often allocated on a first-come, first-served basis; completing the FAFSA early benefits you.

There are three main categories of federal student aid: grants, loans, and work-study. Some scholarships require a copy of your FAFSA.