• Financial Aid

  • The FAFSA is now available for Seniors to complete for next year: 2025-2026 FAFSA

     

     

    What is Financial Aid?

    Financial Aid is any money received to help pay for college or career training. It can include:

    • Grants: Financial Aid that does not have to be paid back and is awarded based on financial need.
    • Scholarships: Financial Aid that does not have to be paid back and is most often awarded based on merit (something the student has done such a grades, test scores, etc.)
    • Work Study: Financial Aid that is earned through a part-time job on campus for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay educational expenses.
    • Loans: Financial Aid that has to be paid back once the student is no longer enrolled in school.  Loans can be awarded by the federal government or by private institutions and both students and parents can borrow funds.

    How do I apply for Financial Aid?

    1. Complete the FAFSA, this is the first step for all Financial Aid!  You can list up to 20 schools to submit your FAFSA results to. 
    2. Visit the Financial Aid websites for the colleges and universities you’re interested in to see if they have additional financial aid applications and deadlines. 
    3. Complete the CSS Profile (if needed- this only applies to select schools.)
    4. Check the PSHS Scholarship List.
    5. Log into SchooLinks and check the Finances section and upload your FAFSA verification.
    6. Track your progress using the FAFSA Checklist

    What is the FAFSA?

    FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  All seniors are encouraged to complete the FAFSA. Completing the FAFSA is free and can qualify students for all types of financial aid. Many colleges and universities require students to have a FAFSA on file in order to receive any financial aid, including scholarships.

    Below are a series of videos from The Department of Education to explain the process of completing the FAFSA and applying for Financial Aid:

    Completing the FAFSA, TASFA or submitting an Opt-Out form is a graduation requirement in the state of Texas!

    Submitting Proof of FAFSA Completion

    Seniors can submit proof of completion (such as a screenshot of your submission email) in SchooLinks by using the following steps:

    1. Log into SchooLinks using your student username and password (also found on the Webdesk)
    2. Select “Finances” and “College Financing”
    3. Click “Update” for FAFSA/TASFA Status and follow the prompts
    4. If you are having trouble, stop by the Counseling Office and we can help