Every college has its own financial aid process, and missing a deadline could mean missing out on thousands of dollars in aid. That’s why it’s crucial to research the financial aid requirements and deadlines for each school on your list.
Whether you’re applying for need-based aid, merit aid, or both, knowing the timeline and required documents is a key part of your college strategy.
🧭 Step-by-Step: How to Research Each College’s Requirements
1️⃣ Visit the College’s Official Financial Aid Page
Start by Googling:
"<College Name> financial aid"
Click on the school’s official website, typically ending in .edu.
Look for a page labeled:
Financial Aid
Applying for Aid
Cost & Aid
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Undergraduate Aid
2️⃣ Find These Key Details:
✅ Which forms are required?
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) – required by nearly all U.S. colleges
CSS Profile – required by many private colleges and some public universities
Institutional or school-specific forms – sometimes used in place of or in addition to FAFSA/CSS
IDOC (College Board’s document collection system) – some schools use this for tax return submission
📅 What are the deadlines?
Early Action / Early Decision deadlines (often earlier than Regular Decision!)
Regular Decision deadlines
Priority or preferred deadlines for maximum aid consideration
💬 Any special instructions?
Do they require signed tax returns?
Do they need non-custodial parent information?
Do they have different deadlines for merit aid or scholarships?
🧮 Use the Net Price Calculator
Every college is required to provide a Net Price Calculator on its website. This tool gives you a personalized estimate of what you might actually pay after financial aid is applied.
How to find it:
Google:
"<College Name> Net Price Calculator"
Or visit the school’s Financial Aid page and look for a link to the calculator.
What you’ll need:
Parent/guardian income and assets
Student income (if applicable)
Household size and number of children in college
Basic academic info (some calculators estimate merit aid, too!)
🧠 Pro Tip: Stay anonymous with a test name (like “Sample Student”).
📌 This is not a final aid award but a helpful estimate and a great way to compare schools early on.
🔍 Helpful Tools & Resources
FAFSA – opens October 1 (typically)
CSS Profile – available via College Board
College Board IDOC – where some colleges collect tax documents
📌 You can also find a school’s financial aid requirements in your Common App under the “Financial Aid” tab or in the college’s admissions portal after applying.
✏️ GradMap Pro Tips
Make a spreadsheet (or use your GradMap dashboard!) to track:
Each college
Required forms
Deadlines (EA, ED, RD)
Submission status
Don’t wait until the last minute. Give yourself time to request tax documents, resolve ID verification issues, and fix any errors.
Some merit scholarships have earlier deadlines than financial aid—research both!
Reach out to the Financial Aid Office if you have questions. They’re there to help you navigate the process.
Financial aid doesn’t need to be overwhelming, especially if you get ahead of it. Doing your research early, running Net Price Calculators, and knowing what forms are due when gives you a significant advantage.
Need help organizing your forms and deadlines? Contact college funding professionals like College Planning Source.
Let’s ensure you don’t leave any financial aid on the table! 💰