Financial Aid and Scholarships

  Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)- Should be completed by anyone who is considering continuing his/her education after high school. Completing the FAFSA allows students to be eligible for grants, loans, and work study aid. The priority deadline is March 1st, 2024.

To complete the FAFSA the following information is needed from you and your parents:

• Social Security Number
• Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
• Most recent federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
• Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
• Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
• A Federal Student Aid PIN to sign-in electronically. (If you do not already have one, visit www.pin.ed.gov to obtain one.)

When can I file the FAFSA?
Families can file the FAFSA for the 2024-25 school year as early as December, 2023.  Income information from 2023 must be reported on the 2024-25 FAFSA

  American Opportunity Tax Credit - Tax credit information for tuition payments.

  Michigan Financial Aid Programs - Various State programs providing grants and scholarships to students.

Scholarship Resources

Scholarship eligibility is based upon ACT score, GPA, special circumstances, where you live, where you go to school, and other criteria.

December Deadlines

  College/Tech School Based Scholarships- Check the website of the schools you applied to for scholarships from that school.

February

Careerline Tech Center Scholarships - 12th grade Careerline Tech Center students are eligible to apply.

March Deadlines

Grand Haven Area Community Foundation - Students living in the Grand Haven Tri-Cities area (Grand Haven,
Spring Lake, Ferrysburg) are eligible to apply. Exception - Any 12th grade student enrolled at Careerline Tech Center is eligible to apply for the CTC Paraprofessional Scholarship.

Allendale Community Foundation - Affiliate of GHACF, students living in Allendale are eligible to apply

Coopersville Area Community Foundation - Affiliate of GHACF, students living in the Coopersville area are eligible to apply

Community Foundation Holland/Zeeland Area - Students living in the Holland/Zeeland Area are eligible to apply

Allegan County Community Foundation - Students living in Allegan County are eligible to apply

Various Deadlines

Fastweb.com- National Scholarship search engine providing scholarship information based upon applicant demographic information.

Additonal Scholarship Resources

• Local High School Counseling Office
• Parents Workplace
• Your place of worship
• Clubs, organizations, volunteer activities you were involved in