Financial Aid

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    PHEAA Update 

    ·       The 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is now available. Students and families can access the form on StudentAid.gov. Families should create their StudentAid.gov account prior to completing the FAFSA. As part of the two-step authentication, families can also download an authenticator app which can be used to assist families with logging in even when cell and internet service isn’t available. This two-step verification method offers more security than other methods against phishing, hacking, and interception of text messages or email. 

     

    ·       PHEAA’s “Before Filing the FAFSA–get your StudentAid.gov account” poster encourages students to create their StudentAid.gov account a few days prior to the FAFSA being completed. Please use our online ordering system to order the poster or any additional materials you may need. If you have a planned event with an Access Partner, we will automatically send you printed materials for your event. 

     

     ·      PHEAA has 2025-26 FAFSA completion reports available for you to view. If you already have access, you will be able to log in to your PageCenterX mailbox to see the reports. If you have not used these reports in the past and don’t currently have access, please notify your Access Partner and we will send you a remote access agreement to begin that process. 

     

     

    PA Forward Bridges Tuition Gaps

    After the holidays, seniors will focus on their final high school term and begin preparing for college by filing the FAFSA. PHEAA’s PA Forward Student Loan Program can help them pay for college next fall by covering tuition gaps that federal aid doesn’t pay for. PA Forward offers great benefits like competitive rates, no fees, and multiple repayment options for PA residents attending school in or out of state. Have your students visit pheaa.org/PAForward for more information.

    Industry News:

    Sticker v. Net Price in 2024-25: The College Board Breaks Down What Students Actually Pay to Attend College 

    A new report from The College Board found that the average published sticker prices for tuition and fees continue to rise across all higher education institutions for full-time undergraduate students, but the “net price”–what a student actually pays to attend postsecondary education after grant aid is subtracted–has been declining or stable in recent years. 

    Financial Aid’s Foggy Future—Outside of administration policies or congressional action, some say another Trump presidency indicates a cultural shift that could have broad implications for institutional aid and state grant programs. 

     
    Resources:

    The U.S. Department of Education has released resources to assist partners in helping students and families prepare for and navigate the 2025–26 FAFSA cycle, including: 

     

    ·       2025–26 Counselor Resource for Completing the FAFSA Form—Counselors and advisors are provided with information and resources to guide students and their families through completion of the FAFSA form. 

     

    ·       “Who’s the Parent on the FAFSA Form?” Wizard—A new, stand-alone tool helps students and families determine who will need to provide contributor information on the 2025–26 FAFSA form prior to starting the application. 

     

    ·       Pro Tips for Completing the FAFSA Form—This resource provides updated tips for preparing to complete and submit the FAFSA form; it will also link from the StudentAid.gov Dashboard to promote easier access for students and their required contributors. 

     

    • As stated above, the FAFSA is now open.  We recommend that all families complete it as soon as possible to be considered for any need-based financial aid.  Many colleges and universities also require completion of the FAFSA prior to awarding any merit scholarships.  Follow the link to the right to create your FAFSA ID and complete the FAFSA .  Some colleges also require completion of the CSS Profile.  Click the link to the right to learn more about this additional form required by some colleges.

     

    IMPORTANT INFORMATION:  

    PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Agency) offers virtual webinars on the topics of financing college education.  Check out their free events:  PHEAA Webinars

     
    • Please check the college tab in Naviance for lists of scholarships that East has received.  The list is at the bottom of the "College" tab, under scholarship list and scholarship match.   Also, there are helpful scholarship links to the right on this page.