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FAFSA February is here with resources to help students and families pay for college

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Statesville High School guidance counselor Tonisha White points to her alma mater, NC A&T. Alli Lindenberg/EducationNC

Many in the higher education community designate February as Financial Aid Awareness Month to provide crucial information to students and families about student financial aid. College for North Carolina, formerly the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC), now is promoting the month by hosting FAFSA February with the goal of bringing more students and families tools and resources about paying for college. 

The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) and CFNC have created a digital toolkit of resources that they hope will give schools and community organizations more flexibility to hold FAFSA/financial aid-focused events and activities throughout the month of February.

The 2025-26 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form is now available online for students and contributors to complete. Completing a FAFSA makes you eligible for federal aid, such as Pell Grants and work-study programs, as well as the Next NC Scholarship, which covers tuition and fees at any North Carolina community college for students from most families making $80,000 a year or less. If interested in a university, eligible students can get a minimum of $5,000 towards tuition and fees at any of the 16 UNC system schools.

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Webinar series

How to Pay for College | Monday, Feb. 3, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Funding for college can come from a variety of different sources. In this session, there will be an overview of the main ways to pay for college, including financial aid and examples of places students can look for gap funding.

NC State Aid | Monday, Feb.10, 6 p.m.- 7 p.m.

NCSEAA manages the state’s financial aid programs including the Next NC Scholarship, the need-based scholarship for students attending private colleges, Aubrey Lee Brooks Foundation Scholarship, Golden LEAF Scholars Program, and Forgivable Education Loans for Service (FELS), among others. Join this session to learn about each scholarship program and their eligibility requirements.

FAFSA Walkthrough | Monday, Feb. 17, 6 p.m.- 7 p.m.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step to unlocking financial aid at the federal, state, and institutional level. In this session, participants will be guided through the 2025-26 FAFSA form for dependent students.

Evaluating Financial Aid Offer Letters | Monday, Feb. 24, 6 p.m.- 7 p.m.

The cost of going to a private college can be very different from going to a public college or university so it can be hard to compare the financial aid award offers you receive from each institution. In this session, we will cover the financial aid award packages students receive so they can make the best choice for their education goals.

School districts, colleges, and other organizations can find resources to host their own FAFSA event here.