Paying For College
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- The FAFSA determines your eligibility for federal financial aid—grants, work-study, and student loans—as well as aid from the State of Utah (like the Regents’ Scholarship) and your college.
- Everyone should submit, even if you think you make too much money to qualify for financial aid. You never know what you’ll be awarded unless you apply.
- It’s best to submit the FAFSA the same time you apply to college in the fall of your senior year. The FAFSA application opens October 1 of your 12th-grade year. You can complete the application at any point in your senior year, but for the following school year, you should apply as soon as you can. However, you can still submit your FAFSA later than that if needed. Check the priority deadline at the colleges you’re applying to so you know when you should complete the FAFSA. Remember: You need to resubmit the FAFSA every year you’re in college.
- Submit the FAFSA at fafsa.gov or use the official myStudentAid mobile app from Federal Student Aid. Never use any other website to file. If you need help submitting your FAFSA, ask your college access advisor, attend a FAFSA Completion Open House at UtahFutures.org, or watch the FAFSA Walk-Through video on this page on the right.
What Do I Need To File the FAFSA?
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Ways To Pay For College
Scholarships: Scholarships are financial awards based on merit. Different awards require different criteria. Visit this scholarship page for current scholarship opportunities and to access the scholarship websites for Utah colleges.
Grants: Grants are given by the state or federal government and do not need to be repaid as long as you maintain satisfactory academic progress. Grants are based on financial need. You must submit your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in order to receive grants. If you're curious about whether or not you will qualify, try the FAFSA4caster. Click on the links on this page for FAFSA tutorials. One of the most common grants is the Federal Pell Grant. The maximum award is more than $6,000 per year. Ask the financial aid office at your college for more info about available grants.
Loans: Student loans are money you borrow for college that you have to pay back-even if you don't graduate.
If you're eligible to receive grants or take part in the work-study program, always use those funds first. Apply for as many scholarships as possible and use college savings before deciding to borrow student loans. Explore federal student loans first (through submitting your FAFSA), as they often have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options compared to private loans.
Work-Study: Work-Study is the 3rd financial assistance option determined by FAFSA. Qualified students will receive the opportunity to work on-campus part-time to help off-set the cost of attendance. These jobs have flexible hours that generally work around your class schedule. Eligibility for work-study does not guarantee a job, as all employment opportunities vary. Work study jobs can give you work experience related to your college major (such as working in a chemistry lab, tutoring center, or campus business office).
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SLCC Promise: If you qualify for a grant, SLCC will make up the difference in tuition cost resulting in a full-ride.
Dream Weber: The Dream Weber program provides free tuition and general student fees to students whose annual household income is $40,000 or less.
GI Bill: If a parent served in the military, you may be eligible for financial assistance through the GI Bill.
The College Financial Aid Office can be a valuable resource:
2022-2023 FAFSA Walkthrough
2022-2023 FAFSA Walkthrough (Spanish)
What's Included in the Cost of College? (7th Grade)
Financial Aid Order of Operations (8th Grade)
How to Plan for the Cost of College- 4 steps (11th Grade)
Budgeting 101 for Future and Current College Students (12th Grade)
