College Funding 101
Class of 2027
Topics Covered Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Collge Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile NC Residency Determination Service (RDS) Scholarship Search Tools Crosby Financial Aid Team: Services We Offer Crosby Scholarships Last Dollar Grant
How to Access Financial Aid: FAFSA Form The 2027-28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form the only way to know a students eligibility for federal student aid funds. Colleges and Universities will require the FAFSA to prepare Financial Aid Award packages for admitted students. Submit the FAFSA every year!
October 1 at StudentAid.gov
Using your StudentAid account to complete the FAFSA Student and their Contributor (Parent(s)) will use their own unique StudentAid accounts to log into the FAFSA
Student + Parents complete their sections, provide Consent + Approval, then both Student and Parent Sign
No one can share accounts
Student + Parent MUST participate, consent and sign
CSS Profile The CSS Profile by CollegeBoard is an additional financial aid form some colleges and universities require to provide additional insight into a families financial situation and ability to pay for college. Submit the CSS Profile once per year Universities/Colleges use this form to award non-federal financial aid (Ex: school specific institutional scholarships) Make sure the CSS Profile is required $25 for first school, $16 for each additional school North Carolina Schools requiring CSS Profile are:
October 1 for Class of 2027
Fee Waivers are available
NC Residency Determination Service (RDS) RDS is a centralized service for determining in-state and out-of-state residency for purposes of determining in-state tuition and eligibility for North Carolina state grants Student will need their residency determination for admission applications for all NC colleges (public, private, 2 or 4 year) RDS enables colleges/universities to determine if students receive in-state tuition equally Go to NCResidency.Org and use students College For NC (CFNC) login to begin
Scholarship Search Tools Scholarship Searches should be FREE. Never pay anyone to find scholarship opportunities for you. Try these sources: Scholarships360 (Available now) Scholarships360.org CFNC's Scholarship Search Engine (Available now) CFNC.org QuestBridge National College Match (Opened July 30) Questbridge.org Winston-Salem Foundation (Opens January 2027) WSFoundation.org Crosby Scholarships (Fall 2026) and Last Dollar Grant (Spring 2027) Check in with your School Counselors office
Remember: Do your research! Start your Scholarship searching NOW – don’t wait until Spring/Summer of Senior year
Register now th September 17 at 6PM
Crosby Funding Opportunities Last Dollar Grant To be eligible to apply for the Last Dollar Grant, you must: Complete the Crosby Scholars Program Have a cumulative weighted GPA of at least 2.0 Submit the FAFSA Plan to be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate, degree-seeking program (two or four-year college or university) Available Spring 2027 in Crosby Connect
Crosby Scholarships
Available Fall 2026 in Crosby Connect
Stay Engaged with our Financial Aid Team Read both your weekly senior emails from the Junior / Senior Program, and read our Smart Money Moves newsletter each month to learn about: The most up to date FAFSA, CSS Profile, and RDS Information Crosby Scholarships + Last Dollar Grant Upcoming Financial Aid Webinars (count as Senior Academy Credit) In Person FAFSA Labs opportunities Virtual Financial Aid Advising
When To Do What? Now Submit your Residency Determination Service (RDS) form at NCResidency.org and Start Researching Institutional or Outside Scholarships
October 2026
November 2026
FAFSA + CSS Profile Open
Apply for Scholarships in Crosby Connect
Create your StudentAid.gov accounts + Complete the FAFSA ASAP after Oct 1
Submit your CSS PROFILE form if required at CSSProfile.CollegeBoard. org
Spring 2027 Submit your Last Dollar Grant application
Exit Survey
Ashly Wilson, Assistant Director of Financial Aid + Advising awilson@crosbyscholars.org Molly Thomas, Financial Aid Program Specialist II mthomas@crosbyscholars.org Nancy Trejo, Financial Aid Program Specialist II ntrejo@crosbyscholars.org