Volunteers will be available to assist with the online form and answer all families’ individual questions during College Goal Sunday.
Financial aid professionals from Ivy Tech, USI and UE will be on hand to help collegebound students and their families to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), at College Goal Sunday – Feb. 23, from 2-4 p.m. The event will take place in Carter Library on the Ivy Tech Evansville campus, 3501 N. First Avenue.
The FAFSA is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, many scholarships, and even federal student loans at most colleges, universities, and vocational/technical schools nationwide. Filing must occur by the State of Indiana priority deadline of April 15th to guarantee state aid for those that qualify.
“Indiana was a nationwide leader last year in maintaining the FAFSA-filing rate from 2023 to 2024. That success is due in large part to the Commission's partnerships with INvestEd and other community partners, philanthropy investment, and support from local leaders," said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Chris Lowery. "Though this is an encouraging statistic for Indiana, we must continue to aim higher. The FAFSA is a gateway to unlock potential career options, improved social and financial outcomes for individuals, strengthening Indiana's talent pipeline, and enhancing our communities as a whole.”
Now in its 36th year, College Goal Sunday has helped more than 98,000 Indiana students and families complete the FAFSA properly and on time. College Goal Sunday is a charitable program of the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association (ISFAA).
“Financial aid remains as important to the college going process as ever. At College Goal Sunday events across the state, we aim to provide families with peace of mind about timelines and aid processing steps by surrounding them with a team of experts in the field,” said Caleb Fendrich, director of financial aid for the Ivy Tech Evansville campus. “The Indiana Student Financial Aid Association recognizes the value that this event can provide and is dedicated to helping Hoosier students ensure their financial aid applications are filed and complete in a timely manner, allowing for the most financial aid possible as students consider their education beyond high school.
“At the event, experts from our area colleges will be present to guide students and families through the FAFSA, helping turn any uncertainty about the financial aid process into certainty about the future of our students’ education.”
What students should bring
Students should attend College Goal Sunday with their parent(s) or guardian(s), and parent(s) should bring completed 2023 IRS 1040 tax returns, W-2 Forms and other 2023 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 2023 IRS 1040 tax return, W-2 Form or other 2023 income and benefits information. Students and parent(s) are encouraged to apply for their U.S. Department of Education FSA IDs at studentaid.gov before coming to the event.
Volunteers will be available to assist with the online form and answer all families’ individual questions during College Goal Sunday. All of the sites across the state offer FAFSA online capabilities and many have Spanish interpreters available. A complete list of sites is available at CollegeGoalSunday.org.
Attendees may win a scholarship from College Goal Sunday
Students may also win one of five $1,000 scholarships. Students who attend College Goal Sunday and submit a completed evaluation form will automatically be entered in a drawing for a $1,000 scholarship. The winners will be notified and scholarships will be sent directly to the higher education institution selected by the winning students.
21st Century Scholars benefit
21st Century Scholars are income-eligible students who sign a contract in the seventh or eighth grade promising they will graduate from high school, meet grade point requirements, fulfill a pledge of good citizenship, and apply for college financial aid. Upon high school completion, Scholars who have fulfilled the commitment and demonstrate financial need receive state funds to help cover their college tuition and fees for up to eight semesters at eligible Indiana public colleges or an equal dollar amount at eligible Indiana private colleges. To fulfill their pledge scholars must submit a completed FAFSA form on time.
For more information about College Goal Sunday visit CollegeGoalSunday.org.