Financial Aid for College

For students interested in continuing their education beyond Fort Defiance High School, one of the main factors impacting a student's decision is cost. Attending a two or four-year college represents a considerable financial investment for students and their families. To that end, we hope the resources you find on this page, and throughout our website, are beneficial to you and your family. 

The cost to attend college includes both direct and indirect costs. Direct costs include: tuition, fees, and on-campus housing. Indirect costs can include books, supplies, travel expenses and a variety of personal expenses including laundry, food, off-campus housing, etc. To estimate these costs, students and their families can speak to the colleges/universities which interest them; they can utilize the "net price calculator" available on college websites; and visit the Financial Aid Estimator website: https://studentaid.gov/aid-estimator/. 

To pay for college, students and their families often seek out assistance in the form of loans, grants, work-study programs, and scholarships. To apply for most financial aid, students and their families will complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Filing the FAFSA is free so there should never be a need to pay for this service. The earliest the FAFSA can be filed is December 1 of a student's senior year.

Parents/Students - Fort Defiance High School is fortunate to have a GRASP advisor who can help students with the financial aid process. Susan Arritt is here every Wednesday and can meet with students and/or parents. To schedule an appointment, please email her at fortdefiance@grasp4virginia.com; visit this website; or contact your school counselor. 

Click below for more college financial aid resources.