Summer help available for students trying to complete FAFSA, financial aid process

May 30, 2024

To help ensure students can successfully submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and begin college in the fall confident in the amount of funding they will receive, GEAR UP Kentucky (GUK), a unit of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, is partnering with the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) throughout the month of June to provide FAFSA completion and financial aid assistance.

The new FAFSA form includes revised formulas that means more students will be eligible for financial aid. However, the delayed rollout of the new form by the U.S. Department of Education has made it challenging for class of 2024 high school graduates and current college students to determine the amount of financial aid they will qualify for in the 2024-25 school year. The statewide campaign, which will provide both a virtual event and one-on-one assistance, is aimed at reducing the confusion associated with the new form and increasing student completion rates, which are currently at an all-time five-year low.

Statewide virtual event

On Tuesday, June 4 GUK and KHEAA will co-host a virtual session designed especially for recent high school graduates, current college students and their parents/guardians. “FAFSA First Aid: What’s Next After the FAFSA” will enable participants to:

• understand their college financial aid paperwork and processes;
• hear the most up-to-date information about the 2024 financial aid timeline; and
• ask KHEAA financial aid experts their questions about FAFSA and financial aid.

To participate, go to GEAR UP Kentucky’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/GearUpKentucky, at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Local one-on-one assistance

Each Wednesday, beginning June 5, GEAR UP Kentucky is joining KHEAA in its statewide Kentucky FAFSA Office Hours. In-person FAFSA and financial aid help will be offered from 2-4 p.m. local time at more than 70 locations statewide; all students and parents/guardians are welcome to drop in for assistance. The Kentucky FAFSA Office Hours being hosted by GUK staff are listed below; a complete listing of all available locations, as well as details about the locations below, can be found at www.kygoestocollege.com.

• Augusta Independent School: June 12 and 26
• Bath County High School: June 5, 12 and 26
• Fleming County High School: June 12 and 26
• Frankfort High School: June 5, 12 and 26
• Holmes High School: June 5, 12 and 26
• Marion County High School: June 12 and 26 (Note: Also hosting session on June 6)
• Mason County High School: June 5, 12 and 26
• Mercer County Senior High School: June 5, 12 and 26
• Paris-Bourbon County Public Library: June 5, 12 and 26 (Note: Spanish translation services available on June 12 and 26.)
• Pendleton County High School: June 5 and 12
• Pendleton County Board of Education: June 26 at 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Pendleton County Public Library: June 26 at 1-3:30 p.m.
• Robertson County School: June 5, 12 and 26

In addition to these in-person events, visit www.gearupky.org/money for FAFSA information and assistance resources.