EducationQuest Foundation encourages Nebraskans who plan to attend college during the 2025-26 academic year to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), now open at studentaid.gov<http://www.studentaid.gov>.
The FAFSA is the application for federal, state and college-based financial aid. Colleges use the information in the FAFSA to determine eligibility for financial assistance, which can include scholarships, grants, work-study funds and student loans.
EducationQuest Foundation President and CEO Liz Koop said, “EducationQuest’s mission is to improve access to higher education for every Nebraskan, which is why we stress FAFSA completion. The form is key to determining students’ eligibility for financial aid. Last year, only 47 percent of Nebraska’s high school seniors completed the FAFSA, which means millions of dollars in ‘free’ federal money to attend college went unclaimed.”
According to the National College Attainment Network, more than $4 billion in Pell Grants went unclaimed in 2023, of which $24 million was available to Nebraskans.
Senior Vice President of College Access Programs Daphne Hall said, “College is a big investment, and most students need financial aid to make earning a degree possible. Filing your FAFSA early can make all the difference when it comes to paying for college. While the form itself can seem intimidating, it isn’t that complicated and EducationQuest can help with a variety of free online resources and personal assistance.”
Before starting the FAFSA, applicants must create a Federal Student Aid Account at studentaid.gov<https://studentaid.gov/>. The parent or guardian of a dependent student must also create an account. Usernames and passwords should be stored in a safe location as they are required to access and sign the FAFSA. Income tax return information from 2023 will be required to complete the application.