LCHS: Financial Aid

by fvillarreal · October 16, 2023

Hello Parents of the Class of 2024!

This parent letter is to inform you about financial aid options. Please read the information carefully.

FAFSA and CASFA:

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The FAFSA is for US Citizens and Permanent Residents
Completing and submitting the FAFSA form is free. It gives you access to the largest source of aid to help you pay for college. Many states and colleges use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for state and school aid. Some private aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether you qualify for their aid.
The department of education has made big changes to the FAFSA. Information about changes can be found here.
The FASFA application will open sometime in December, however, you can create your account now. The link to create your account can be found here. Both student and parent need to create their own separate account.

Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA)

The CASFA is for undocumented Colorado residents
Completing and submitting the CASFA form is free and it gives access to state financial aid for undocumented students who are not eligible for FAFSA funding.
The CASFA application will be available in December. Information about the CASFA can be found here.
The link to create a CASFA account can be found here.

I am available to meet with families to assist with filling out the FAFSA/CASFA forms. Just contact me to set up an appointment.

Scholarships

There are 3 main types of scholarships: Institutional, Local, and Private

Institutional: Scholarships and Grants that are offered by the college or university. They can be merit-based (based on the student’s GPA) or needs-based (based on family income). Contact each school’s financial aid department to learn how to apply to institutional scholarships.

Local: Scholarships offered by local organizations. Lake County High School has a common application for our local scholarships. The application will be available in December. The application will include 3 letters of recommendation, transcript (provided by the high school counselor), resume, and personal essay. Some scholarship committees will ask for additional essays and/or documents. The application deadline is February 29th. Scholarships will be awarded at a Scholarship Night in April (TBD)

Private: Scholarships offered by corporations, non-profit organizations, government agencies, ect. to students based on specific eligibility requirements. Here are some websites that provide information on private scholarships.

*Be aware of scholarship scams!!! Never pay for scholarships or provide credit card/bank account information.

General Scholarship Websites: