Indiana students to get free FAFSA filing help at College Goal Sunday

Financial aid professionals from across Indiana will be at 34 sites, including in Columbus and Franklin, helping collegebound students and their families with the most important form for financial aid during College Goal Sunday.

The event is set for 2 p.m. on November 9. 

This free program assists Indiana students with filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In Columbus, College Goal Sunday will take place at IU Columbus, 4601 Central Ave. In Franklin, College Goal Sunday will take place at Ivy Tech Franklin, 2205 McClain Drive.

The FAFSA is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, many scholarships, and even federal student loans at most colleges, universities, and vocational/technical schools nationwide. Filing must occur by the State of Indiana priority deadline of April 15 to guarantee state aid for those that qualify. Many families perceive the form to be too complicated and time consuming to complete and often leads to students missing out on financial aid they would receive. This is one of many reasons College Goal Sunday is so important. In less than one afternoon during the event, students and their families get free help from the expert volunteers and file the form.

College Goal Sunday Returns to the fall
“We are pleased to announce there will be a College Goal Sunday this fall. The last two years, due to delays in the launch of the form, we were not able to hold an event at this time of year. With many families anxious about getting the form filed, and meeting various deadlines, this is very good news” said Bill Wozniak, co-chair of College Goal Sunday. “We hope all Hoosiers take advantage of College Goal Sunday, file the FAFSA, and get one step closer to fulfilling their educational goals.”

“Students who don’t complete their financial aid paperwork properly and on time are often disappointed when they find out how much financial aid they lost,” said Wozniak. “This is why the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association continues to provide College Goal Sunday. If our assistance gives students a better chance at education beyond high school and less debt, we’re fulfilling our mission.”

What students should bring
Students should attend College Goal Sunday with their parent(s) or guardian(s), and parent(s) should bring completed 2024 IRS 1040 tax returns, W-2 Forms and other 2024 income and benefits information. Students who worked should also bring their income information. Students 24 years of age or older may attend alone and bring their completed 2024 IRS 1040 tax return, W-2 Form or other 2024 income and benefits information. Students and parent(s) are encouraged to set up their U.S. Department of Education StudentAid.gov account at studentaid.gov before coming to the event. 

Volunteers will be available to assist with the online form and answer all families’ individual questions during College Goal Sunday. All sites offer FAFSA online capabilities and many have Spanish interpreters available. A complete list of sites is available at CollegeGoalSunday.org. 

Attendees may win a scholarship from College Goal Sunday
Students may also win one of five $1,000 scholarships. Students who attend College Goal Sunday and submit a completed evaluation form will automatically be entered in a drawing for a $1,000 scholarship. The winners will be notified and scholarships will be sent directly to the higher education institution selected by the winning students.

21st Century Scholars benefit 
21st Century Scholars are income-eligible students who sign a contract in the seventh or eighth grade promising they will graduate from high school, meet grade point requirements, fulfill a pledge of good citizenship, and apply for college financial aid. Upon high school completion, Scholars who have fulfilled the commitment and demonstrate financial need receive state funds to help cover their college tuition and fees for up to eight semesters at eligible Indiana public colleges or an equal dollar amount at eligible Indiana private colleges. To fulfill their pledge scholars must submit a completed FAFSA form on time.

For more information about College Goal Sunday visit CollegeGoalSunday.org.