Paying for your Post-Secondary Plans

• MCAN Michigan College Scholarship Links

• MCAN Michigan College Response Guide with Scholarship Links

• College Scorecard
• Comparing Financial Aid Package
• Glossary of Terms - Paying for Post-Secondary Education
• Going Merry Scholarships
• MI Student Aid
• Sallie Mae - Paying for College Resource
• Sallie Mae - Scholarship Search
• Scholarship Link 23/24
• Tuition Estimation
• Types of Aid
• US Department of Education - Net Price Calculator
• Affordability and Scholarships searching
• Michigan Top 50 Jobs through 2028

The 2025-2026 FAFSA won't be available until October, but you and all who will contribute information on the FAFSA can get a FSA ID. If you already have a FSA ID, you don't need a new one.

Getting this step done now will save you time later. Be sure to save your ID and password where you can access them when the FAFSA becomes available in October.

All parents who need to contribute information to the FAFSA can get a FSA ID, even if they don't have a SSN. They will be asked several identifying questions by TransUnion, a credit agency that will be serving to confirm the identity of anyone without an SSN. These questions will be based on information they can find on a credit report (Ex: What is the make/model of the car with a loan you are currently paying?).

The benefits of FAFSA simplification include:

• A more streamlined application process
• Expanded eligibility for federal student aid
• Reduced barriers for certain student populations (e.g., homeless and unaccompanied youth, incarcerated students, English language learners, and students from low-income backgrounds)
• Better user experience for the FAFSA form

Significant changes to the application process include changes to the FAFSA form, how students and families complete the application, and the eligibility calculation.

• Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is being replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI)
• Students who can't get parental information can now fill out the form and get a calculated Student Aid Index (SAI)
• All students and parents will need to consent to have their information pulled in from the IRS.
• All students and parents, including those without a social security number, can fill out the form.
• Siblings in college will be listed but will no longer have an impact on the SAI
• Business income now needs to be reported.

• Replaces the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
• Determines Federal Pell Grant eligibility
• Determines federal loan offers and work study funding

Eligibility for federal student aid will be expanded in the following ways:

• New methodology will be introduced to calculate and determine applicant eligibility. The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be replaced with the Student Aid Index (SAI).
• The new need-analysis formula allows for a negative SAI calculation and implements separate eligibility criteria for Federal Pell Grants.
• Federal Pell Grant access will be expanded and linked to family size and federal poverty levels, which will allow more students and families from low-income backgrounds to qualify.
• Federal Pell Grant access will be restored to incarcerated students under specific rules and programs.
• Selective Service and drug conviction questions will be eliminated to reduce applicant barriers.

You can estimate all federal aid you may be eligible for in 2025-2026 through the Federal Aid Estimator.

• The FAFSA will not be available to fill out until October 2024 for the 2025-26 school year.
• Michigan does not have a deadline.   May 1, 2024 is the deadline to qualify for the Michigan Tuition Grant which is for students who are planning to attend a private college in Michigan. 

• Yes. Everyone needs to consent regardless of filing or citizenship status
• If you didn't file taxes or you filed taxes in another country you still need to consent
• If your information is unavailable from the IRS, you will be asked to add it manually.