If I decide to take a gap year before starting college, will I still be eligible for FAFSA? I'm concerned about how taking a year off might impact financial aid opportunities.
Absolutely, your eligibility for FAFSA isn't affected by taking a gap year. The FAFSA is available to students no matter how many years out of high school they are, or whether they took gap years or not.
After your gap year, when you're ready to start college, you'll just need to submit the FAFSA for the appropriate upcoming academic year. Essentially, you apply for FAFSA based on the year you plan to attend college, not the year you graduate high school.
Remember to keep an eye on FAFSA deadlines as they tend to be early in the year and vary from school to school. It's important to get your submission in early so as to not miss out on any potential federal, state, and institutional aid. Lastly, don't forget to have your family's financial information on hand when completing the FAFSA, as income, assets, and household size will determine your Student Aid Index (SAI), which in turn influences the financial aid package you can receive.
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