Graduation Requirement - FAFSA, Illinois Alternative App. or Opt Out Option
On June 1, 2020 the State of Illinois signed a bill into law that every student in a public school must file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), or as eligible to complete the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid, or complete the FAFSA Non Participation Form in order to graduate high school.
Senior students and their parents are able to submit the FAFSA starting October 1 (December for the class of 2024) using the website https://studentaid.gov/
Students who are undocumented and do not have a social security number or for students who are transgender may use the Alternative Application for Illinois State Aid at https://www.isac.org/AlternativeApp
Parents/students who do not want to complete the FAFSA will need to submit the FAFSA non participation to the ISAC portal by May 1 of the year they graduate.
The 2023-24 Nonparticipation Form (used to opt-out of the 2024-25 FAFSA) can be submitted online on ISAC's Student Portal under the Program Applications & Status Checks tab. See the Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form Instructions for details on how to complete the electronic form. If the student is an emancipated minor, they will need to complete the paper Nonparticipation Form which can be requested by emailing [email protected].
This is a requirement for every MCHS student to graduate. More information about this requirement can be found at: https://www.isac.org/pd/fafsa-mandate.html
More financial aid info: https://studentaid.gov/h/complete-aid-process
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) has information to help with the college admission and financial aid process: Click here for more information