Multiracial group of high school students learn together at school. Multiracial group of high school students learn together at school.

FAFSA Completion Rates for Maine High Schools

From coastal communities to the County, Maine students are accessing millions in financial aid by filing the FAFSA. Filing the FAFSA opens doors — check out how your high school is doing!
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Paying for College for ME

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Your future and paycheck get better when your skills do, too—so why not level up? Whether you’re headed to community college, a four-year college or university, trade school, or eligible specialized training, filing the FAFSA helps unlock the financial support needed to take the next step. The right training can boost your bank account, open doors to better opportunities, and set you up for success.

Don’t let the cost hold you back from achieving your dreams. File the FAFSA to see how much money schools offer you—because leveling up your skills means leveling up your pay. Get started today!

Why File

Get The Skills You Need

  • Tuition-free community college in Maine
  • 4-year colleges and universities
  • Eligible trade & career programs, too!

Access Financial Aid

  • Maine State Grant and Federal Pell Grants — money you don’t have to repay
  • Federal, state, and school-based aid options
  • Scholarships funds — also money you don’t have to repay

Quick & Easy to Start

  • Explore your options (no commitment)
  • Simple step-by-step filing process
  • FAME is here to help!
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Completed the “Get Ready” steps? File now at StudentAid.gov

Need help? Follow the simple steps below

Simple Steps to Successfully File Your FAFSA

Take the following steps and review the information below to get ready to file the FAFSA.

Step 1: Get Ready

The FAFSA is now quicker and easier to file! Filing your FAFSA will be even easier if you get a few things done first:

  • Make a list of schools you think you’ll apply to. Research each school’s net price by using the Net Price Calculator on their website. While on each school’s website, research and track financial aid deadlines and determine if other financial aid forms, like the CSS Profile, are required in addition to the FAFSA. If you discover a new school to apply to after filing your FAFSA, don’t worry! You can add more schools later. The schools you list on your FAFSA will receive your FAFSA information electronically.

  • Create your StudentAid.gov account(s). All students must create a StudentAid.gov account before filing the FAFSA. If the student is a dependent student, at least one parent will need their own StudentAid.gov account. Use this tool to determine which parent(s) needs to “contribute” to your FAFSA and needs their own StudentAid.gov account.
    (Parents may already have an account if they have older children or have their own federal student loans.) Learn more about creating a StudentAid.gov account.

Step 2: File the FAFSA

Start your FAFSA at StudentAid.gov

The FAFSA is a roles-based online form. For dependent students, there is both a student section and a parent section. When you start the FAFSA, indicate you’re the student and you’ll see student questions. If parent information is required, your parent (referred to as a “contributor”) will indicate they’re the parent, and they will see parent questions.

Everyone logging into the FAFSA will need their own StudentAid.gov account to access their section of the FAFSA.

Either the student or the parent can start the FAFSA. Whoever starts the FAFSA will be required to “invite” the other person to complete the FAFSA.

The FAFSA requires income information from two years prior to the year on the FAFSA. For example, the 2025-2026 FAFSA will require 2023 income information.

Providing consent and approval is required by all, including non-tax filers, to allow federal tax information to be sent from the IRS to Federal Student Aid.

Submit the FAFSA every year as soon as possible once it’s available.

Are you a new Mainer? FAME has some FAFSA-filing tools just for you. Click here!

Step 3: What Happens Next
  • Review your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS). Your FSS will be available once your FAFSA is processed, typically within 1-3 days, and can be viewed by logging in to StudentAid.gov.

  • Make corrections if you find any errors and add more schools if necessary by logging into StudentAid.gov.

  • Watch for requests for info from your school(s). Your school(s) may contact you via your school email or your student portal to ask for additional information (but don’t worry — it doesn’t mean you did anything wrong!).

Need Help With Your FAFSA?

If you need support with your FAFSA filing, FAME is here to help. Choose the support option that works best for you.

I want to meet one-to-one with a FAME financial aid expert.

Get personalized, one-on-one support with FAME’s financial aid experts. In these sessions, our experts will guide you through FAFSA filing, explain aid options, and answer your specific questions.

Book an appointment today.

I just have some quick questions.

Call us at 800-228-3734, option 4; or email us at Education@FAMEmaine.com.