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FAFSA Submission Support Resources

Adaptable, ready-to-use content to encourage FAFSA submissions

  • Need help communicating with students and families about the FAFSA reporting delay?

    See the “Communication Resources” section below for starter content.

FAFSA and Pell Grant awarding is set to substantially change for the 2024-2025 academic year. These changes will have major impacts on your prospective and returning students and their families, and subsequently, your communication and financial aid strategy.

Several of these changes should make the FAFSA easier to complete, and hopefully, increase the number of filings, as well as expand access to Pell Grants. But for this to happen, families need to be made aware of these upcoming changes.

Our student communication and financial aid experts are creating a suite of adaptable, ready-to-use content you can use on your website and in your communications stream to walk students and families through the changes and encourage FAFSA submissions, as well as a training toolkit to help onboard financial aid associates to your team.

These tools are being added as more information becomes available. Please check back often for the latest materials.

To make the submission resources easy to use, we made them available with:

  • Multiple editable formats (PDF and HTML)
  • Pre-built logo and branding customizations
  • Colloquial and easy-to-understand verbiage
  • English and Spanish versions

We hope your team and prospective families benefit from these tools, which take our best practices from student communication and apply them to the financial aid process.

Instructions for use

Watch this video for PDF customization instructions

Instructions for saving the PDF after editing:

  1. In the top menu, select File > Print.
  2. Select the PDF printer (The Adobe PDF printer should be installed with Adobe Acrobat. Numerous free PDF printer drivers are also available for download from the internet.)
  3. Select OK.
  4. Specify location to save the printed, “flattened” version of the form.
  5. Select save.

 Or 

  1. In the top menu, select file > Export to.
  2. Select export to > Microsoft Word.
  3. Specify location to save the document.

Submission resources

Concise, accessible content that addresses obstacles we’ve identified as the most common barriers to FAFSA submission or to successfully navigating the financial aid process, particularly for underrepresented minorities and first-generation students. Each can be used as stand-alone content or piecemeal to augment your existing financial aid resources.

The Top 5 Sources for Financial Aid Advice

NEW for 2024-2025 FAFSA: This template lists the best places for students to turn to for questions about the financial aid process.

At a Glance: FAFSA Changes in 2024

NEW for 2024-2025 FAFSA: This guide shares an overview of FAFSA changes, the timeline of the roll out, key recommendations, and questions to discuss with your team.

7 Big Things to Know About the New FAFSA

NEW for 2024-2025 FAFSA: This customizable template outlines the seven most impactful changes to FAFSA and how they’ll improve the financial aid process for students and families.

FAFSA Facts and Fiction: Get the Truth – and the Money You Need for College

This guide addresses the most common barriers to filing the FAFSA, especially for low-income students.

FAFSA Filing Kit

This resource addresses the misconception that the FAFSA takes a long time to complete and requires documentation that is difficult to access.

How to Speak Financial Aid

This glossary explains common acronyms and terms in the financial aid process.

A Second Look: Appealing Your Aid Award When Family Finances Shift

This guide addresses the professional judgment/special circumstances appeal process and how to indicate on the FAFSA that a parent is unemployed.

FAFSA Verification: Don’t Panic and Don’t Wait

This resource provides simple steps for students selected for the FAFSA verification process.

Apples to Apples: 3 Steps to Finding the Best College Deal

This worksheet helps students calculate cost and compare colleges they’re most interested in.

Parent PLUS Loans: Are They Right for You?

This resource offers a quick overview of PLUS loans, so students can decide whether they’re a a good option for them and their families.

Communication resources

Student-focused email, SMS and social media content that centers on FAFSA filing, priority date awareness and counseling outreach that can be used to enhance your existing communications stream.

NEW: FAFSA Reporting Delay Content

These content blocks provide a starting point for messaging to students and families addressing the FAFSA reporting delay, as well as tips for creating effective communications during this disruption.

FAFSA Email Copy Content

This sample content includes various approaches to general FAFSA awareness, priority dates and counseling outreach. It is designed to be sent from your financial aid office, though the content could be modified to send from admissions as well.

Download the guide

FAFSA Social Media Content

These examples include platform-specific messaging for Instagram/Facebook and Twitter to help you boost your presence on social media.

Download the guide

FAFSA SMS Content

This content includes both responsive and static examples of action-oriented messaging.

Download the guide

Training toolkit

Amalgamated content for financial aid professionals on providing clear and concise guidance to students and families, answers to the most common questions asked about financial aid and affordability, and guides on how financial aid is used to enroll and retain students.

Download the toolkit

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