article thumbnail

2026–27 Student Aid Index (SAI) and Pell Grant Eligibility Guide

College Aid Services

Last Friday, FSA announced the release of the 2026–27 Student Aid Index (SAI) and Pell Grant Eligibility Guide. This guide includes the methodology for determining eligibility for federal student aid, and the worksheets and tables used to determine a student’s SAI for the 2026–27 award year.

Grant 66
article thumbnail

Q&A: UNCF's Ed Smith-Lewis on the UNITE Convening and HBCU Transformation

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

UNCF recognized that these institutions need more than just emergency support or short-term grants. In 2025, we'll see a more explicit focus on faculty engagement, picking up the student engagement onto the broader aspects of the platform in 2026. When I say we co-created this with the institutions, we truly did.

professionals

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Federal Need Analysis Methodology for the 2026-27 Award Year

College Aid Services

Department of Education released its annual update to the Federal Need Analysis Methodology for the 2026–27 award year. This methodology determines students’ eligibility for federal financial aid programs, including Pell Grants, Federal Work-Study, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Direct Loans, and TEACH Grants.

article thumbnail

How H.R. 1 Will Impact Student Loan Programs

College Planners of America

The changes in Title III take effect on July 1, 2026, and apply to award year 2026–27 and subsequent years. In this post, we focus on Subtitle A, Student Eligibility , Subtitle B, Loan Limits , and Subtitle D, Pell Grants. The HCA has been revised to cover the Pell Grant shortfall to the tune of $2.17

article thumbnail

How to Make College More Affordable: Why Early Financial Aid Planning Matters

CFAA College Financial Aid Advisors

Colleges have different deadlines, scholarships come with various eligibility criteria, and grants can require some paperwork that takes time to gather. Heres a quick review of what financial aid actually refers to: Grants: Money you dont have to pay back (yay!). Now Enrolling: College Financial Aid Advising for the Class of 2026-2027!

article thumbnail

Overview of Federal Direct Student Loans

College Planners of America

This application is essential for determining a students eligibility for various forms of Federal, state, and private financial aid such as grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and loans. For the 2025-26 school year, it is June 30, 2026. After July 1, 2026, undergraduate student loans will carry an interest rate of 6.39%.

article thumbnail

What is the FAFSA: A Complete Guide for Parents

The College Pod

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that students and parents complete to become eligible for financial aid, including federal grants, loans, and work-study programs. If you're admitted to the college, you'll receive a financial aid package which could consist of grants, scholarships, or loans. What is FAFSA?

FAFSA 52