Should we apply for FAFSA if son is only going to community college?

YES! Absolutely apply for FAFSA regardless of where your son is going. Community college students are eligible for federal financial aid including Pell Grants (which don't need to be repaid) and federal student loans with better terms than private options. Many state grants and some institutional scholarships also require a completed FAFSA application, even at community colleges. The 2025-2026 FAFSA should be submitted as soon as possible since some aid is first-come, first-served.

Yep do it! My daughter got a pell grant for community college last year and we made about 65k. Its free money!

The answer is definitely yes - apply for FAFSA regardless of which institution your son will attend. With a household income of $72,000, your son may qualify for various types of aid: 1. Federal Pell Grants (don't need to be repaid) 2. Subsidized federal loans (government pays interest while in school) 3. State-specific grants (many states have special community college grants) 4. Work-study opportunities 5. Institutional scholarships (many require FAFSA) Also, if your son decides to transfer to a 4-year institution later, having established financial aid history will make that transition smoother. The new FAFSA for 2025-2026 calculates your Student Aid Index (SAI) rather than the old EFC, which may actually benefit families in your income range. Complete it as soon as possible after October 1st, as some aid is first-come, first-served.

My son went to community college and we didn't bother with FAFSA the first semester and it was a HUGE mistake! When we finally applied for the spring semester, he qualified for a $3,800 Pell Grant that we totally missed out on for fall. APPLY!!!!!

Absolutely apply! I was in a similar position with my daughter last year. Just make sure you have all your tax documents ready - 2023 tax return for the 2025-2026 FAFSA. The new FAFSA format is actually easier than the old one (thank goodness!). One thing to consider - if your son is undecided, he might transfer to a 4-year college later. Having the FAFSA already completed will make that transition much smoother financially. Most transfer scholarships also require FAFSA information. With your income around $72k, depending on your family size and other factors, he might qualify for some Pell Grant money and definitely for federal student loans which have much better terms than private loans if needed.

DO IT NOW!!! Srsly my nephew waited till March to apply and all the state grants were GONE already. Don't wait!!! First come first served for alot of the money!!

I tried calling the Federal Student Aid hotline to ask this exact question last month when my daughter was deciding between schools and kept getting disconnected or waiting 2+ hours. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that someone on here recommended and got through to a real person in about 10 minutes. They confirmed that YES community college students should absolutely submit FAFSA. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ They gave me so much good info about community college aid options I didn't know about!

lol at everyone saying its easy... took me 3 tries to get teh stupid fafsa submitted because the website kept crashing. but yea do it anyway its worth it.

One more thing to consider - if your son does well at community college, many 4-year schools offer transfer scholarships, but they often require FAFSA information even if the scholarship isn't need-based. Having a FAFSA on file keeps all those doors open. Also, with the new SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation that replaced EFC, some middle-income families are seeing better aid packages than in previous years. The $72k household income puts you in a range where some aid is definitely possible.

Just wanted to add my experience - we were in a very similar situation last year! My daughter started at community college with plans to transfer, and I'm so glad we filled out the FAFSA. With our income around $70k, she qualified for a partial Pell Grant that covered about 60% of her tuition and fees. The application process really isn't as scary as it seems - just make sure you have your 2023 tax return handy and set aside about an hour to complete it. The new FAFSA is much more streamlined than the old version. Also, don't forget to check if your state has any community college-specific grants or programs. Many states are really pushing community college attendance and have created special funding programs that require FAFSA completion. You might be surprised what's available! Good luck with everything - your son is making a smart financial choice starting at community college!