Financial Aid

Financial fit is an important consideration for students and families as they embark on the college search and application process. The School Counseling Department is committed to providing information and resources about paying for college, financial aid, and scholarships to help each student and their family make informed decisions regarding post-high school education.

Planning for Paying for College

Discuss your family's ability to pay for college with your child early in the post-high school planning process.
Identify colleges where you might receive aid and make sure to include a range of affordable colleges on your list.
Check out the Federal Student Aid Estimator on the FAFSA website. It is a tool to help students and families estimate their potential eligibility for federal student aid.
Use the Net Price Calculator to estimate the full, four-year cost of attending particular colleges (found on the financial aid office website for each participating college or College Board website).
Attend or watch the recording of the Understanding College Financial Aid and Paying for College program held each January with college financial planning expert, Bill Smith from ScholarFITS.
Use the College Affordability Worksheet developed in consultation with Bill Smith to assist with planning (google doc / spreadsheet version).

Types of Financial Aid Offered by Colleges

Grants: Gift aid, usually based on financial need, that does not have to be paid back. It can be in the form of a federal/state grant or need-based institutional aid.
Loans: Money that will need to be paid back with interest
Scholarships: Merit-based and do not have to be repaid. Most are awarded through the general admission process, but some require a separate application.
Work Study: Working on or near your college campus while in college

Applying for Financial Aid

Each college has its own requirements when applying for financial aid. All colleges require the FAFSA, which is a federal form used to determine federal and state aid. This information is then used to calculate the Student Aid Index (SAI). Each college determines eligibility for financial aid by subtracting SAI from the Cost of Attendance (COA).
Some private colleges, in addition to the FAFSA, also require the CSS Profile (see below) or their own form(s). Check each college’s financial aid website for its specific requirements.
Each college establishes financial aid deadlines for completing the FAFSA and CSS Profile. Families should check colleges’ websites for their specific financial aid deadlines as they vary by college and decision plan (e.g., early decision, early action, or regular decision).
For a detailed explanation, attend or watch the recording of the College Financial Aid Application presentation held each September with Julie Savino, Associate Vice President, Student Financial Assistance at Sacred Heart University.

FAFSA

If you plan to apply for financial aid for the 2025-26 school year, you must complete the 2025-26 FAFSA online once it opens (anticipated December 2024). To fill out the FAFSA, you need to file your 2023 taxes, as the information on that tax return will be used to determine your eligibility for aid. Completing the FAFSA is free. Make sure you complete the form on the website noted above as there are other websites that charge to complete the form.

Steps for Completion of FAFSA

The first step is for the student, along with every contributor who is required to provide information on the FAFSA form, to create a StudentAid.gov account and establish individual FAFSA IDs. Use this worksheet as a guide. Families can use this tool to determine who should be a FAFSA contributor. After creating FAFSA IDs, it may take up to 3 days to access the account.
Student and parent/guardian(s) then complete their sections of the FAFSA form. The student may list up to 20 colleges to which they would like the FAFSA sent. Be sure to sign before hitting submit!
Once the FAFSA form is submitted and processed, the student can find the FAFSA Submission Summary on the Dashboard of their StudentAid.gov account. If the student provided an email, they will receive a link to an online copy of the summary. The FAFSA Submission Summary will include the Student Aid Index (SAI), which is used to determine how much federal and non-federal aid for which the student may be eligible. The colleges will use the FAFSA information (and any other required information) to create a financial aid package for the student.
After the FAFSA has been processed, the student can add colleges or correct the FAFSA by logging into their account.

CSS PROFILE

Some private colleges require the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA. See the College Board website to obtain a guide to the CSS Profile with detailed information along with a list of colleges that require this form. You can complete the CSS Profile starting October 1, 2024.

There is a $25 application fee to file the CSS Profile (which includes one college) and an additional $16 fee for each additional college. Colleges may be added at any time (for a fee). Students whose families earn less than $100,000 may qualify for a fee waiver and will be notified while completing the application.
The CSS Profile goes into more depth than the FAFSA. Set aside 1-2 hours and gather your documentation ahead of time (most recently filed tax return, W-2 forms, other records of income, records of untaxed income and benefits, assets and bank statements).
Check college websites for the deadline to file the CSS Profile (deadlines will vary among colleges).
Changes cannot be made after submission, so check your information carefully. If mistakes were made, contact the colleges’ financial aid offices directly.
Once you submit your application, your Dashboard will show the payment receipt and any next steps, such as submitting documents to the Institutional Documentation Services (IDOC).

Your Financial Aid Package/Financial Aid Awards

Once you have been accepted for admission and have filed the necessary financial aid applications, you will receive a financial aid award letter from the college either by email or in your application portal. Carefully review the award letters you receive and ask the college’s financial aid office for clarification if you need it. Be sure to let the financial aid staff know if your family’s financial situation changes.
Below are some resources to compare college financial aid awards:
Some families elect to appeal a student’s financial aid package with the financial aid office of a specific college. If doing so, keep the below in mind:
- Financial aid administrators are under no obligation to adjust a student’s package. They can modify elements of the SAI formula (such as income, assets, or medical expenses), but not the formula itself.
- Any changes made in the package will be for that year only; families must reapply for financial aid each year.
- Merit aid offers colleges more flexibility as they are working with their own dollars. Research the college’s financial aid policies and awards on a site like College Data.
- Requested changes must be supported with documentation. That may include confirmation of a job loss, current investment account statements showing lower balances, receipts for medical care, etc.
- Provide copies of aid awards from other comparable colleges that are offering the student more.
- Appeal in writing with a polite letter that expresses gratitude for what’s already been offered and provides a detailed rationale for why you deserve more. The appeal letter must be written by the student, though the parent can supply supporting documentation.
- It’s more difficult to appeal to public colleges as they have fewer institutional funds to draw on.

SHS Counseling Department Programs and Offerings

Staff Professional Development

To provide the best support possible, our staff stays informed regarding higher education and financial aid trends and practices. We participate in regular professional development through attending conferences, communicating and collaborating with college financial aid officers, and hosting expert consultant Bill Smith every year for a half-day training focused on financial fit and developing the college list when cost is a consideration.

Presentations and Workshops

Ongoing programming supports our commitment to help each student and their family make informed and sound decisions regarding post-high school education. Programs include targeted student workshops and content covered during Connections and classroom lessons as well as bringing in outside experts for presentations:

September/October: College Financial Aid Application Presentation - Julie Savino, Associate Vice President, Student Financial Assistance, Sacred Heart University (see email or Schoology for link to recording and handout)
November: Navigating the College Search (college admission professionals)
January: College Planning Night for Juniors and Families
January: Understanding Financial Aid and Paying for College - Bill Smith, Managing Director, ScholarFITS (see email or Schoology for link to recording and handout)
February: Scholarship Workshop for students

Individual Student Support

Individual student and family meetings provide an opportunity for school counselors to discuss financial fit and provide resources for determining college affordability. For additional support and assistance, students can visit the college and career center during the school day.

Assistance with local scholarship applications
Individual assistance with completing FAFSA if needed
Counselor post-high school planning meetings during junior and senior year

If you would like assistance in completing the FAFSA, contact Sandra Zeigler, college and career center coordinator, at szeigler@westportps.org.

Helpful Resources

The School Counseling Department has developed resource guides and organizational charts and sends regular communication via email and a weekly newsletter to help students and families stay organized and up to date with the latest financial aid information.

Local scholarship resource list (updated each spring)
Weekly newsletter and regular email communication
SHS Counseling / Bill Smith, ScholarFITS Determining an Affordable Net Price for a Four-Year College Degree budget worksheet for families to use in determining college affordability (google doc / spreadsheet version)
Junior and senior year organizational charts for students and families to keep track of college costs and timelines