FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA)

This is the most essential form to use when applying for financial aid. Everyone planning to attend college needs to fill one out. The form becomes available after October 1st. Most financial aid priority deadlines in Montana are December 1st, but University of Montana- Missoula is November 15th. To learn more and to get help, stop in my office. A lot of great resources are available at www.reachhighermontana.org. Or to talk directly to a specialist, contact our local Reach Higher Montana representative, Cullen Gilbreath at 533-2132 or cgilbreath@ReachHigherMontana.org.

FAFSA Completion Night- October 29, 2018. Individuals from the Financial Aid Department at Western and Reach Higher Montana, a Montana organization devoted to helping make college affordable, will be present to provide one-on-one help on filling out the FAFSA. Come anytime between the hours of 6:00- 7:30 to fill out your FAFSA. Both students and parents must fill out this form, so everyone is encouraged to come. To fill out the FAFSA, bring the following items to the event:

  • FSA ID – get your FSA ID (user name and password). Both the student and one parent (if the student is under the age of 24) will need a FSA ID. The ID is needed to log on to several U.S. Department of Education websites to allow access to federal student aid information. It replaces the FAFSA PIN. Those individuals who previously had a PIN will need to log on to the system to get a FSA ID and link their PIN to that ID. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to complete this step.

  • Social Security numbers (students and parents)

  • 2015 tax returns

  • W-2s

  • Additional asset information (savings and checking account balances, real estate excluding the home in which you live, money market funds, stocks, other investments)

  • Untaxed income information (child support received, payments to retirement, health savings plans and tax-deferred pensions)

Resources:

http://www.reachhighermontana.org is an excellent website to visit for financial aid information

www.fafsa.ed.gov is where you go to fill out the FAFSA, get your FSA ID and get information

MONTANA MONEY MAGIC

Montana Money Magic is a program that helps qualifying students save and prepare for college or other postsecondary training while gaining financial literacy. More specifically, students attend 16 hours of financial education to learn how to manage their money, and are rewarded with a 3:1 match of their savings. In fact, students have the potential to save $450 and receive a maximum match of $1,350!

Last year, students used their match funds to pay for:

  • Tuition payments for approved post-secondary schools;

  • Textbooks, computers, and software for college programs;

  • Dual enrollment courses that allow high school students to earn college credit while completing high school course requirements;

  • And required equipment for specific post-secondary programs, like welding masks, gloves and boots.

Click on the link below to view details on the program. If you believe you or your student are a good match, contact Ms Perisho for more information

Montana Money Magic

FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

FOR MONTANA COLLEGES

Aaniiih Nakoda College


Blackfeet Community College


Carroll College


Chief Dull Knife College


City College at Montana State University Billings


Dawson Community College


Flathead Valley Community College


Fort Peck Community College


Gallatin College MSU


Great Falls College MSU


Helena College


Highlands College


Little Big Horn College


Miles Community College


Montana State University


Montana State University Billings


Montana State University Northern


Montana Technological University


Rocky Mountain College


Salish Kootenai College


Stone Child College


UM/Missoula College


University of Montana


University of Montana Western


University of Providence