Indiana students and their families will have an opportunity to receive free assistance completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid during College Goal Sunday on October 4, 2026.
Financial aid professionals from across Indiana will be available at 35 locations beginning at 2 p.m. local time to help students and families complete the FAFSA and answer questions about the financial aid process.
The FAFSA is required for students seeking consideration for federal and state grants, many scholarships and federal student loans at colleges, universities and vocational or technical schools across the country.
Students who qualify for Indiana state financial aid must file the FAFSA by the April 15 state priority deadline to guarantee consideration for state aid.
For many families, completing the FAFSA can seem complicated and time-consuming. College Goal Sunday provides students and their families with an opportunity to receive assistance from financial aid professionals and complete the form properly and on time.
Now in its 37th year, College Goal Sunday has helped more than 98,000 Indiana students and families complete the FAFSA. The program is a charitable program of the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association.
First of two events this school year
This year’s October event is the first of two College Goal Sunday events scheduled during the school year.
“We are pleased to announce that our first of two College Goal Sunday events this school year happens in the beginning of October,” said Bill Wozniak, co-chair of College Goal Sunday. “Recently, with delays in the launch of the form, we weren’t able to hold both events as we usually do. This year, we will have two events as is our preference.”
Wozniak said families who have not completed the FAFSA are eager to finish the process and meet important deadlines.
“We hope all Hoosiers take advantage of College Goal Sunday, file the FAFSA, and get one step closer to fulfilling their educational goals,” he said.
Wozniak also emphasized the importance of completing financial aid paperwork correctly and on time.
“Students who don’t complete their financial aid paperwork properly and on time are often disappointed when they find out how much financial aid they lost,” he said. “This is why the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association continues to provide College Goal Sunday. If our assistance gives students a better chance at education beyond high school and less debt, we’re fulfilling our mission.”
What students should bring
Students are encouraged to attend with their parent or guardian. Parents should bring their completed 2025 IRS 1040 tax returns, W-2 Forms and other income and benefits information.
Students who worked should also bring their income information.
Students who are 24 years of age or older may attend alone and should bring their completed 2025 IRS 1040 tax return, W-2 Form or other income and benefits information.
Students and parents are encouraged to establish their U.S. Department of Education StudentAid.gov account before attending the event.
Volunteers will be available to assist families with the online FAFSA and answer individual questions. All participating sites will offer online FAFSA capabilities, and many locations will have Spanish interpreters available.
A complete list of participating locations is available at CollegeGoalSunday.org.
Students eligible for $1,000 scholarships
Students who attend College Goal Sunday may also have an opportunity to receive one of five $1,000 scholarships.
Students who attend the event and submit a completed evaluation form will automatically be entered into a drawing for one of the scholarships. Winners will be notified, and the scholarships will be sent directly to the higher education institution selected by the winning students.
21st Century Scholars
The event is also important for students participating in the 21st Century Scholars program.
21st Century Scholars are income-eligible students who sign a contract in the seventh or eighth grade promising to graduate from high school, meet grade point requirements, fulfill a pledge of good citizenship and apply for college financial aid.
After high school graduation, Scholars who have fulfilled the program requirements and demonstrate financial need receive state funds to help cover college tuition and fees for up to eight semesters at eligible Indiana public colleges, or an equal dollar amount at eligible Indiana private colleges.
To fulfill their pledge, Scholars must submit a completed FAFSA form on time.
Indiana program serves as national model
College Goal Sunday originated in Indiana and has since become a national model. Following Indiana’s example, College Goal Sunday events organized by more than 34 states have helped open doors to higher education for hundreds of thousands of students across the country.
For more information about College Goal Sunday, visit CollegeGoalSunday.org.
