Money is available to help you pay for college, so don’t rule out any college you like just because of its cost.

Financial aid comes in different forms. Grants and scholarships, which don’t have to be re-paid; loans which generally carry a low interest rate and are repaid after you graduate or leave school; and employment, usually up to 10 to 15 hours per week. Most students receive a combination or “package” made up of all three types of aid based on “financial need”. The information below will direct you to useful resources to help you through the financial aid process.

NYS Scholarship Information

• NYS Excelsior Scholarship Program
• STEM Scholarships NYS

Scholarship Resources

On our Plainedge Support Services Website, we have complied a list of scholarship information.

College Cost – Scholarship – Financial Aid Information:

Federal Student Aid Estimator – The Federal Student Aid Estimator provides an estimate of what federal student aid you may be eligible to receive. To apply for financial aid, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form.

College Affordability and Transparency Center (CATC) – The CATC was designed by the U.S. Department of Education to meet requirements in the Higher Education Opportunity Act and to provide better information to student and parent consumers about college costs. It serves as a central point to several tools that allow users to compare colleges tuition and fees, net price, and other characteristics. The CATC is maintained by the Office of Postsecondary Education with support and technical assistance from the National Center of Education Statistics.

College Navigator – is a useful website that provides you the option to search for and compare colleges on all sorts of criteria including costs, net costs, majors offered, size of school, campus safety, and graduation rates.

Fastweb.com – a search service that matches skills, abilities, and interests to a database of more than 400,000 scholarships.

FinAid – information on financial aid and scholarship search.

FinAid Award Letter Comparison Tool – helps you compare and contrast the financial aid packages from the colleges that have admitted you. In particular, it highlights differences in the cost of attending each school.

FinAid Reduced or No Loans – This link includes a table of colleges that have taken steps to significantly reduce or eliminate the self-help level or eliminate loans from the aid package for lower income students.

FinAid Veterans and Dependent Scholarships – list information on educational assistance for relatives of veterans.

New York State Higher Education Services – The Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) is New York State’s higher education student financial aid agency.

Plainedge High School Scholastic Awards

Every year Plainedge High School recognizes our 12th grade students at our Annual Scholastic Awards Dinner. Students are recognized for their various achievements, and receive both monetary awards and certificates.

If you would like to apply for a Scholastic Award – please complete the application for seniors, below and return to the guidance office by the indicated deadline. Scholarship Application for Plainedge High School Class of 2023 will be available in February 2023.

Forms You Need To Complete to Receive Financial Aid:

Free Application For Federal Student Aid – use to submit your application.

Federal Student Aid ID – the FSA ID website (FSA ID is needed to file for financial aid).

CSS Profile – The CSS Profile is administered by the College Scholarship Service (CSS), the financial aid division of the College Board. The CSS PROFILE is required by many private colleges and universities to determine your eligibility for non-government financial aid, such as the institution’s own grants, loans and scholarships. This profile should be completed in the fall of the 12th grade year. Please check with college or university if they require this document. For more information please select this link: Colleges/Universities Requiring CSS Profile