Financial Aid - FAFSA

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Financial Aid & FAFSA 

Texas Graduation Requirement

Per Texas Education Code (TEC) §28.0256, all graduating seniors must complete one of the following to graduate:

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Graduating seniors in the Class of 2027 will be completing the 2027–2028 FAFSA / TASFA application cycle for their upcoming college academic year. (Students will be attending college in 2027-2028.)

  1. Submit a FAFSA or TASFA application

or

  1. Submit an official Texas Education Agency (TEA) Opt-Out Form

How to Fulfill This Requirement:

  • Option 1 (FAFSA / TASFA Submission): Upload proof of completion directly to SchooLinks.
    • Path: College > College Applications > FAFSA/TASFA Update Status
    • Proof required: Upload a PDF of your FAFSA Submission Summary or a screenshot of your official "Success" confirmation email.
  • Option 2 (Opt-Out Form): Pick up and submit a signed paper Opt-Out Form (English or Spanish) in Room 130 (College & Career Center).

Which Application Should You File?

  • FAFSA (studentaid.gov): For U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and eligible noncitizens.

OR

  • TASFA (highered.texas.gov/tasfa): For non-U.S. citizens who are classified as Texas residents for higher education purposes.  
    • Note: TASFA applications should only be submitted directly to the specific college or university you plan to attend.  TASFA can only be submitted to one college.
    • Is FAFSA or TASFA right for me article.
    • Read about Texas Residency requirements here.

AND, IF REQUESTED BY THE COLLEGE

  • CSS Profile (cssprofile.collegeboard.org): Additional application required by select private and out-of-state universities for institutional aid. Check each college's deadline.

Official FAFSA Guides & Reliable Resources

Important Note: FAFSA rules, contributor requirements, definitions, and procedures change annually. Always rely on studentaid.gov as your primary, official source of information.

Step-by-Step Official Guides

Need Real-Person Support? Follow This Order:

  1. Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC)
    • Phone: 1-800-433-3243 (1-800-4-FED-AID)
  • Best for: Account setup, contributor issues, technical glitches, and FAFSA processing status.
  1. College Financial Aid Offices
    • Best for: Special circumstances, income appeals (Professional Judgment), verification documents, or questions about a specific school's financial aid offer.

Need help with Identity Verification & Account Setup

If you or a parent/contributor are required to verify your identity or upload a photo ID to complete your StudentAid.gov account (FSA ID):

Need assistance with ID verification? Contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-433-3243 to initiate a verification case number before submitting your documentation.

Key Financial Aid Deadlines (2026–2027)

Date

Deadline

Action Required

Oct 1, 2026

FAFSA/TASFA Open

Create FSA ID and complete FAFSA.  TASFA can only be submitted to attending college.

Dec 1, 2026

Texas Priority Deadline for many colleges

Major application and scholarship deadline for UT Austin, TAMU, UTSA, Texas State, UT Dallas, Texas Tech

Jan 15, 2027

Texas State Priority Deadline

Deadline for Texas Grants, TASFA, and state aid.  ACC deadline.

Types of Financial Aid

Type

Repayment Needed?

Description/Examples

Grants

No

Need based aid from federal or state governments (e.g. Federal Pell Grant, Texas Grant

Scholarships

No

Merit or need-based awarded by colleges, companies, private organizations. Check SchooLinks for local opportunities.

Work-Study

No

On campus part-time jobs awarded based on financial need to help pay for educational expenses

Loans

Yes

Borrowed money that must be repaid with interest. Federal loans (subsidized/unsubsidized) offer lower rates and better protections than private loans.  Use sparingly.

Calculated Aid Need: Cost of Attendance (COA) − Student Aid Index (SAI) = Financial Need

Financial Aid Evaluation & Planning Tools

McCallum Workshops & Support

  • Austin ISD Parent U: Financial Aid Slidedeck
  • In-Class Sessions: Senior students receive dedicated financial aid presentations in government classes
  • ACC FAFSA Workshops @ McCallum
    • Wednesday, Oct 18 - Sign up in SchooLinks > Engage > Events
    • Wednesday, Dec 16 - Sgin up in SchooLinks > Engage > Events
  • Campus Support: Visit the College & Career Center (Room 130) for one-on-one help with FAFSA, TASFA, or opt-out forms.

Campus Contact

Jill Spencer

College & Career Advisor, McCallum High School

Email: jill.spencer@austinisd.org