Ivy Tech providing free FAFSA filing help at College Goal Sunday

Financial aid professionals will be volunteering at Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington for College Goal Sunday on Feb. 26 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. College Goal Sunday is free and assists college-bound students and families apply for financial aid by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

“We want to eliminate barriers in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and help students access available financial aid to help pay for college,” said Patt McCafferty, Ivy Tech Bloomington Director of Financial Aid.

The FAFSA form is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, scholarships, and federal student loans at most colleges, universities, and vocational/technical schools nationwide. The state deadline for filing the FAFSA is April 15 in order to be eligible for most Indiana financial aid.

“We want students to capitalize on every opportunity they can that makes going to college affordable, no matter what field or industry they pursue or where they find themselves on their educational journey,” said Dr. Sue Ellspermann, President of Ivy Tech. “Ivy Tech is proud to host events like College Goal Sunday that align with the goals of the State of Indiana and the Commission for Higher Education, as we strive to achieve a statewide FAFSA completion rate of at least 60 percent this year.”

College Goal Sunday doubles the help offered

“The event on Feb. 26 will be the first of two College Goal Sunday events ISFAA is offering this FAFSA filing season.” 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 very disappointed when they find out how much financial aid they lost,” said Wozniak. “This is why the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association not only continues to provide College Goal Sunday but offers two events during the year. 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 2021 IRS 1040 tax returns, W-2 Forms and other 2021 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 2021 IRS 1040 tax return, W-2 Form or other 2021 income and benefits information. Students and parent(s) are encouraged to apply for their U.S. Department of Education FSA IDs at www.studentaid.gov before the event.

Volunteers will walk through the online form line-by-line and answer questions as needed. All sites offer FAFSA online capabilities and many have Spanish interpreters. A complete list of sites is available at www.collegegoalsunday.org.

Attendees may win a scholarship from College Goal Sunday

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

College Goal Sunday is a cooperative, charitable effort of the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association (ISFAA). It is provided in cooperation with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, and is funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc. and INvestEd.

Ivy Tech Bloomington is located at 200 Daniels Way on the west side of Bloomington. For more information about College Goal Sunday, visit www.collegegoalsunday.org.