The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency is hosting several free webinars to assist college-bound students and their families in correctly completing and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid

“Filing the 2026-27 FAFSA is the first step in determining qualification for a Federal Pell Grant, PA State Grant, scholarships, institutional awards and federal student loans,” said Sen. Wayne D. Fontana, PHEAA board chairman. “Next year’s application became available on Oct. 1; we encourage college-bound students to complete and submit the FAFSA as soon as possible so that they don’t miss out on available aid.”

All students and contributors (such as parents and spouses) must establish their StudentAid.gov Account (FSA ID) at StudentAid.gov/fsa-id/create-account before attending a FAFSA completion workshop. Attendees should visit here before attending an event to determine who should create a StudentAid.gov Account.

FAFSA Overview

PHEAA Access Partners will present an overview of the 2026-27 FAFSA process to guide students and families through a step-by-step process of filing the FAFSA and PA State Grant applications. You can register for these webinars at pheaa.org/virtual.

They are scheduled for:

• 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14.

• 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 11.

FAFSA Completion

PHEAA Access Partners will provide one-on-one support with completing the 2026-27 FAF-SA. This is especially helpful for families with unique circumstances. Sessions are approximately 30 minutes long. Registration is required for the events as space is limited.

• 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22.

• 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 21.

“Our PHEAA Access Partners possess the knowledge and experience necessary to guide any college-bound student who has encountered questions or issues with FAFSA completion,” said James H. Steeley, PHEAA president and CEO. “We’re pleased to be able to offer these free virtual events to provide student and families with the guidance they need to successfully apply for most types of financial aid.”

PHEAA also provides free FAFSA resources online and offers a free FAFSA tool kit to aid counselors and partners in assisting students and families with FAFSA completion.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency was created by the General Assembly in 1963 to provide affordable access to higher education for students and families.

Through the years, PHEAA has evolved into one of the nation’s leading providers of student financial aid services, including the commonwealth’s first state-based student loan program — PA Forward.

PHEAA also serves millions of students through its loan guaranty, loan servicing, financial aid processing and other programs.