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Hello there!

If you DID NOT pre-register, please sign in with a school counselor.

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If you DID pre-register, please make sure to check in with a school counselor.

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Thank You!

The Stand by Me NexGenTeam

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uwde.org/fafsa

“Paying for College”

Start Your Journey Now for 2027-28!

(Enrolling in 2027-28)

COLLEGE FUNDING PROJECT

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• How much funding is available?
• What types of funding are available?
• How do you apply for it?
• When do you apply for it?
• What else do you need to know?

What should you know?

uwde.org/fafsa

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How much money is available?

Enough to cover the full “Cost of Attendance” if needed!

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What do you want to know?

Cost of Attendance (COA)

The "Sticker Price"

• COA includes tuition/fees as well as allowances for books/supplies, and student’s living expenses for the academic year (adjustments may be made if enrolled less than half time)
• COA is calculated annually by the Financial Aid Office at the school you are attending
• COA can vary by school/state of residence/major
• Total financial aid from all sources cannot exceed “Cost of Attendance”
• COA is NOT prescriptive
• COA is not how much you may need in financial aid funding—you need to assess how much you need recognizing this is the maximum amount you are eligible to receive for the academic year

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What will it cost YOU?

“Sticker Price”

(Cost of Attendance)

Scholarships/grants

(“Free” Money)

“Net Cost” to you

Federal Work Study and Federal Direct Loans/private student loans

can be used to help cover the “net cost,” as needed

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What types of funding are available?

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Types of Financial Aid

Scholarships

and Grants

Work Study

Loans

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Scholarships and Grants

• This is the FREE money – you do not have to pay it back!
• Find out how and when to apply—you must at least complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (other applications also may be required—ask the schools)
• Need-based federal and state GRANTS may be available to students with high need
• How well you do in high school may impact how much in merit-based SCHOLARSHIP funding you are awarded.
• Make sure you understand the “fine print” – for example, will the grant/scholarship be renewed each year?

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Federal Work Study (FWS)

• This is money you can earn from part-time employment while you are in school!
• Jobs typically are on campus and may offer flexibility in your work schedule
• Part-time employment may still be available if you are not eligible for FWS funding, but jobs may be harder to find and more likely will be off-campus with less flexible hours

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Loans

• This is money you (and your parents) can borrow—it must be paid back after you finish school!
• Loans are used to fill any funding gap
• Always borrow federal loans first!
• Repayment of federal loans is very flexible and can be responsive to your circumstances—monthly payments on federal loans borrowed by the student can be based on student’s income rather than the amount of their debt
• Borrow the minimum amount you need to attend your chosen school

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Primary Federal Aid Programs

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
• Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant

Federal grant funding could total more than $7,300/year depending on your situation.

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Grants

Employment

• Federal Work-Study (FWS)

STUDENTS:

• Direct Subsidized Loan
• Direct Unsubsidized Loan

PARENTS:

• Direct PLUS Loan

Loans

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Primary Delaware Programs

Scholarships and Grants

• SEED (Student Excellence Equals Degree) Scholarship – merit-based award for use if enrolled in associate degree, diploma, credit certificate, bachelor’s degree, or workforce training program at Delaware Tech; or the Associate’s (AAP) degree program at the University of Delaware
• INSPIRE Scholarship – merit-based award for use at Delaware State University
• B. Bradford Barnes Memorial Scholarship – merit-based award to cover all direct education expenses at the University of Delaware for the academic year
• Herman M. Holloway Sr. Memorial Scholarship – merit-based award to cover all direct education expenses at Delaware State University for the academic year
• Diamond State Scholarship – merit-based award for use at any college/university in US
• Scholarship Incentive Program (ScIP) Grants – need-based award for use at any college in Delaware or as part of “Academic Common Market”

uwde.org/fafsa

Primary Delaware Programs

Scholarships and Grants

• Educator Support Scholarship – major-specific award for use if enrolled in in bachelor’s or graduate degree programs at public or private Delaware institution
• Career-Based Scholarship – major-specific award for use if enrolled in in bachelor’s or graduate degree programs at public or private Delaware institution
• Education Benefits for Children of Deceased Veterans and Others – covers tuition and fees at a Delaware public college, or private Delaware college if program not offered at DE public institution, or out-of-state public or private college if program of study not offered in DE; student must be 26-24, DE resident of 3+ years, and the surviving child of a military servicemember, state trooper, or state transportation work who was killed in the line of duty
• Foster Care Tuition Waiver – Full ride scholarship for us at any of the three DE public colleges for students who were in foster care in Delaware during teenage years

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Delaware Application Requirements:�2027-28 Delaware Scholarships/Grants

• Complete the FAFSA at FAFSA.gov and submit it by 5/14/2027
• Create your Delaware Higher Education Office (DHEO) “Student Account” by clicking on the “Student Account Access” link at: https://tinyurl.com/DEFinAid
• Complete the required application form for the merit-based scholarships funded by the State of Delaware and submit online by 2/26/2027
• Application is available at: https://tinyurl.com/DEFinAid
• Complete any additional requirements specified by the school

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uwde.org/fafsa

Primary Delaware Programs

Reduced Tuition Opportunity

• Academic Common Market (ACM) is an option for student looking to attend an out-of-state school for a major/program of study not offered at UD, DSU, or DTCC

• ACM is a tuition-savings agreement between 15 states and select public colleges
• Eligible students can pay in-state tuition at participating public colleges in other states
• Delaware students can submit applications year-round through the Delaware Higher Education Office (DHEO)�
• Visit DHEO’s ACM website to learn which colleges and majors are eligible
• Delaware ACM Information

uwde.org/fafsa

Delaware Student Success:

Your Scholarship Source

• Allows you to:
• Search/Research Colleges and Trade Schools
• Search/Research/Apply for scholarships by selecting the Delaware Scholarship Compendium
• Download Checklists for Grades 9-12
• Easily navigate to the DE Higher Education Financial Aid Portal

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• Let’s visit delawarestudentsuccess.org and preview this excellent resource!

uwde.org/fafsa

Delaware Student Success:

Launch Into Your Future

• Launch Into Your Future Month is Delaware’s push to get seniors on track towards their futures

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• The Launch site brings together varied college and career resources, including:
• College application fee waivers
• Senior Year Checklists
• Info on non-college pathways

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• Let’s visit delawarestudentsuccess.org/launch and see what’s on offer!

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Who is eligible for federal financial aid?

Student generally must be:

• U.S. citizen, permanent resident or eligible noncitizen with a valid Social Security number
• Pursuing a degree or certificate at an eligible institution
• You also must be enrolled at least half-time to borrow Federal Direct Loans
• In possession of a high school diploma, GED certificate, completed home schooling or enrolled in an eligible career pathway program
• Maintaining satisfactory academic progress once in college or career school

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Both student and at least one parent/contributor must create an FSA ID (account username and password) to complete the FAFSA and gain access to federal student aid

uwde.org/fafsa

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DACA/Undocumented Students

You should:

• Contact the Financial Aid Office at each school you are considering and ask what funding options may be available to you at that school
• Apply to TheDream.US scholarship program (DSU and other colleges)

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You are:

• Not eligible for FEDERAL financial aid under current federal law

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How do you apply for federal funding?

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Minimum Application Requirements

for Federal Student Aid

At a minimum, you must:

• Apply for admission
• Submit the FAFSA (the “Free Application for Federal Student Aid”) at FAFSA.gov

However, there may be ADDITIONAL application(s) required

by some schools or funding programs!

uwde.org/fafsa

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What is the FAFSA?

Money is available if you file the FAFSA!

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“FAFSA"

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

FAFSA is where your journey begins!

It’s the federal application used to collect demographic and financial information from “contributors” – e.g., student, student’s spouse, parent(s), step-parents

• FIRST STEP: Student and at least one parent (if student is considered dependent) each must create their own Studentaid.gov account by creating their FSA ID (account username and password) initially at Studentaid.gov the first time they are completing the FAFSA
• SECOND STEP: Complete the FAFSA application online at: FAFSA.gov (FAFSA must be completed every year financial aid is needed)

2027–28 FAFSA will be available on October 1, 2026

• Uses federal tax information (e.g., income/taxes paid) from your 2025 federal tax return

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Completing the 2027-28 FAFSA: Step 1

• Create Studentaid.gov account by creating FSA ID (account username and password) at: StudentAid.gov
• Both the student and at least one parent (if student is considered “dependent”) must create their own Studentaid.gov account by creating their own FSA ID (account username and password) if they have not already done so
• FSA ID is required before you can complete the FAFSA, and become eligible for federal student aid
• It can be created in the same sitting as the FAFSA

uwde.org/fafsa

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FSA ID:

Your “Electronic” Signature

• FSA ID is used to access your account and sign the FAFSA
• You can use the “Create Account” option to create your FSA ID (account username and password) at: StudentAid.gov
• STUDENT and at least one PARENT (if parent(s) information is required on the FAFSA) each need to create their own FSA ID if they have not done so previously before they complete/submit the FAFSA
• For assistance creating your FSA ID, call 800-4-FED-AID (800-433-3243) or register for a Stand By Me NexGen One-on-One Zoom FSA ID Completion Appointment at UWDE.org/fafsa

NOTE: Parent(s) who do not have a valid Social Security Number (SSN) still must create an FSA ID

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“CONTRIBUTORS”

“Contributor” is anyone who is required to provide personal and financial information in their portion of the FAFSA form

• Contributors are:
• Student
• Student’s spouse, if married
• Biological/adoptive parent(s) if student is considered dependent
• Stepparent if parent required to provide information has remarried and student is dependent
• Contributors are NOT:
• Grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, brothers or sisters, aunts or uncles, even if they have helped raise the student

Contributors must provide information on the FAFSA for the student to be eligible to receive federal financial aid, but they are not financially responsible for the student’s education costs by providing that information.

uwde.org/fafsa

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Completing the 2027-28 FAFSA: Step 2

When you are ready to start filling out the 2027-28 FAFSA:

• Go to: FAFSA.gov
• Select:
• “Start a New Form” if you are starting a new 2027-28 FAFSA application
• “Edit an Existing Form” if you are returning to update/finish an existing 2027-28 FAFSA
• You will be asked to log-in using your FSA ID if you have not already done so.
• Indicate if you are the “STUDENT” or the “PARENT”
• Complete ALL required sections of the online 2027-28 FAFSA
• Dependent students will need to “invite” their parent(s) as contributors to complete their portion of 2027-28 FAFSA before it can be processed.
• Partially completed FAFSA can be saved and finished/updated with parent information on a later date/time if parent(s) are not readily available to complete their portion when the student is completing their portion of the application.

uwde.org/fafsa

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Information Needed to Complete FAFSA

• Student’s Social Security number (SSN) – student must have SSN to be eligible for federal student aid
• Parents’ email address [if providing parental information and parent(s) have a Social Security number (SSN)]
• Parent(s) who do not have a valid SSN still can complete the FAFSA but they first will need to create their own FSA ID (account username and password)
• Student’s Alien Registration Number if he/she is not a U.S. citizen
• Copy of 2025 federal tax return, schedules and W-2 form(s)
• Records of untaxed income, interest income, veteran’s non-education benefits
• Information on ASSETS including cash; savings and checking account balances; annual child support received; education savings accounts (529 Plans) if student is designated beneficiary; investments including real estate but not including the family home; net worth of businesses and farm investments

uwde.org/fafsa

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Federal Tax Information & the 2027-28 FAFSA

• For you to be eligible for federal financial aid, and to have your 2027-28 FAFSA processed by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), you and your parent(s) as contributors (if dependent) will be required to provide CONSENT AND APPROVAL for your 2025 federal tax information to be transferred automatically through the IRS Direct Data Exchange as part of the FAFSA application (even if a federal tax return was not filed for 2025).
• However, you and your parent(s) as contributors (if dependent) will still want to have the 2025 federal tax return/schedules and W-2 forms available if tax return(s) was/were filed—additional information may need to be entered from them that is not transferred automatically as you complete the 2027-28 FAFSA online.

uwde.org/fafsa

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Why do you have to submit the FAFSA?

• Determine student’s eligibility for federal student aid
• Gather family’s income and asset information needed to calculate “Student Aid Index” (SAI)
• Need to be submitted every year financial aid is needed

FAFSA does …

• Collect information about household’s expenses or “special circumstances”
• Determine what specific financial aid will be awarded
• Determine how much financial aid will be awarded
• Serve as loan application

FAFSA does NOT …

uwde.org/fafsa

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What is the “Student Aid Index” (SAI)?

• SAI is an eligibility index number used by schools (e.g., colleges and universities) to help them determine how much “need-based” financial aid a student is eligible to receive at that institution
• SAI is the same amount regardless of the school attended
• SAI can be negative (down to -$1,500)
• Student is eligible for a maximum Federal Pell Grant if SAI is between -$1,500 and $0
• SAI does not account for the number in college (family can contact the Financial Aid Office to request consideration of this “special circumstance” to see if additional financial aid can be offered)

Non-need based financial aid (e.g., unsubsidized federal loans) is available to help you replace the SAI, if needed

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Parents and the FAFSA

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Will parents’ information �be needed on the FAFSA?

• YES, if student is determined to be DEPENDENT
• NO, if student is determined to be INDEPENDENT

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Student is considered INDEPENDENT�in 2027-28 if …

• Born before 1/1/2004
• Married
• Grad/prof student
• Serving on active duty in military for purposes other than training
• Veteran of U.S. armed forces
• Has dependent children
• Has dependents other than children/spouse

• Emancipated minor as determined by court
• Someone other than parent or stepparent has legal guardianship as determined by a court (court papers must say ”guardianship" rather than ”custody")
• Since age 13, both parents deceased, in foster care, or dependent/ward of court
• As of 7/1/2026, determined to be unaccompanied youth who is homeless or self supporting and at risk of being homeless

NOTE: Most high school seniors are considered DEPENDENT, and therefore, must provide parent(s) information on the FAFSA

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Who are “Parents” on FAFSA?

• “Parents” are the legal (biological or adoptive) parents of the student (includes any individual listed as a “parent” on student’s birth certificate)
• The following are NOT the “Parents” when completing the FAFSA even if the student lives with these individual(s):
• Grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings or other relatives
• Foster parents, legal guardians (student likely is ”independent”)

uwde.org/fafsa

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Are BOTH parents required to

provide information on FAFSA?

• YES, if parents live together (regardless of marital status)
• NO, if parents do NOT live together:
• Information must be provided by the parent who provides the greater amount of financial support for the student regardless of where the student resides
• Must include information from stepparent if the parent who provides the greater amount of financial support has remarried
• If both parents provide the exact same amount of support or if they don’t support the student financially, then the parent who has the greater income or assets must provide their information (and if remarried, so must the stepparent)

uwde.org/fafsa

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What if student does not have contact with parents

or cannot obtain information from them?

For example …

• Parent(s) whereabouts is unknown
• Parent(s) is/are not permitted to have contact with student

Then, “Unusual Circumstances” may exist …

• Student can complete/submit the FAFSA without providing parents’ information and have it processed provisionally by ED
• But student also must contact Financial Aid Office (FAO) at EACH school to which they are applying for admission/financial aid to request further review/evaluation by the FAO to determine if they can override dependency status so that the student does not have to provide information from parent(s) on FAFSA before processing of the submitted FAFSA can be finalized by ED and financial aid awarded

uwde.org/fafsa

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What if you have “Special Circumstances?”

Special circumstances may exist that make it difficult for the family to provide support for the student to the extent expected based on information reported to ED in the FAFSA

• Special circumstances may include:
• Loss of income/employment
• Extraordinary expenses (e.g., healthcare, dependent care)
• More than one child in college/school

When you feel “Special Circumstances” exist …

• Contact the school’s Financial Aid Office after submitting the FAFSA application and explain the circumstances to see if any adjustments can be made and additional financial aid offered to the student

uwde.org/fafsa

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When do you apply?

uwde.org/fafsa

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Apply Early!

• Do NOT wait until you are offered admission
• You could miss important filing deadlines established by the school you want to attend
• 2027–28 FAFSA becomes available on October 1, 2026

For assistance completing your 2027-28 FAFSA, call 800-4-FED-AID (800-433-3243) or register for a Stand By Me NexGen One-on-One Zoom FAFSA Completion Appointment at UWDE.org/fafsa.

uwde.org/fafsa

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FAFSA RESULTS:

“FAFSA Submission Summary”

• Student can access their online “FAFSA Submission Summary” once the FAFSA has been processed by ED
• Student and parent(s) should review the information:
• Check all information for accuracy; correct any errors
• Update estimated information, if necessary
• Update school listing, if necessary
• Submit corrected/updated FAFSA, as needed

uwde.org/fafsa

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How will you know what financial aid

you are eligible to receive?

The school’s Financial Aid Office will notify you of the types and amounts of financial aid you are eligible to receive as soon as possible after:

• You have been admitted to the school
• You have submitted your FAFSA and all other required financial aid application materials

You will need to follow the directions provided by the school to complete the process (including applying for any loans you need to borrow)

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How are we doing?

Please take our short survey using the QR code below:

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Thank You!

The Stand by Me NexGenTeam

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Final Comments

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In summary …

• Is money available? – YES, money is available—but you must apply for it!
• How much? -- You can receive financial aid in an amount up to the “Cost of Attendance” (tuition/fees, books/supplies, living expenses) calculated by the school you attend
• What types of funding are available? – (1) Scholarships/grants, (2) Federal Work Study and (3) loans
• How do I get the money? – At a minimum you must: (1) apply for admission to the school, and (2) complete and submit the FAFSA—but additional forms may be required by the school you want to attend
• When can I apply for 2027-28? – As soon as possible once the 2027-28 FAFSA is available by October 1, 2026

uwde.org/fafsa

Financial Aid Prep Checklist

• Create a separate FSA ID for student and parent(s) at StudentAid.gov

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• Create your DHEO “Student Account” for Delaware state funding at https://tinyurl.com/DEFinAid

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• Begin researching scholarships online and in your community
• Delawarestudentsuccess.org and their Scholarship Compendium is a great place to start
• Your school counselor will also be a great resource for scholarships

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Financial Aid Prep Checklist

• Begin researching colleges/universities/trade schools which might be good options for you
• Use the CollegeScorecard.ed.gov to review and compare schools
• Use delawarestudentsuccess.org to research and consider Delaware schools
• Visit StudentAid.gov to learn more about the FAFSA and the types of aid for which you might be eligible
• You can also use the Aid Estimator to see what aid you may be eligible for and plan accordingly
• Additionally, you can use the Net Price Calculator to see what each school may cost you and compare that to your Aid Estimator result

Financial Aid Prep Checklist

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Helpful Tools …

• “Federal Student Aid Estimator” available at: StudentAid.gov/aid-estimator
• “Net Price Calculator” for the college you want to attend—search tool available at: CollegeCost.ed.gov
• “College Scorecard” available at: CollegeCost.ed.gov
• “College Navigator” available at: CollegeCost.ed.gov

uwde.org/fafsa

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For assistance/more information . . .

• College admission and financial aid staff
• High school counselor
• Online resources:
• StudentAid.gov
• DelawareStudentSuccess.org
• CollegeCost.ed.gov
• GIBill.va.gov
• UWDE.org/fafsa

For phone assistance, call:

• U.S. Department of Education at 800-4-FED-AID (800-433-3243)
• Stand By Me NexGen: Dial 211 or call (800) 560-3372

uwde.org/fafsa

COLLEGE FUNDING PROJECT

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Paying for college begins today; �start your journey now!

Money is available, but you need to file the FAFSA!

Be strategic, start preparing now!

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Stay Connected

Scan for more great SBM NG events and resources!

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Thank you!

The Stand by Me NexGen Team

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