What is College Goal Sunday?
College Goal Sunday is a free service to help students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and obtain financial aid information.  South Dakota will host the 2011 event on February 13.

Who should attend College Goal Sunday?
Anyone interested in attending college in 2011-2012 should attend College Goal Sunday.  The event is for students planning to attend a college, university, or technical school, and for those who are still undecided about continuing their education.  Students should bring their parents or legal guardians along to help complete the FAFSA.

What should I bring to College Goal Sunday?
Students and parents of dependent students should bring the following:   

• 2010 income information
• 2010 untaxed income information, if applicable
• Social Security numbers  

What if I haven't completed my taxes or if I forget something?
You may use estimated tax information, although the actual information will need to be provided later.  Student financial aid professionals will be available to answer your questions and help you complete as much of the FAFSA as possible.  You will be able to save your partially completed FAFSA and finish it later.  This allows you to submit your form at a later date when you have the needed materials.

What is the FAFSA?
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the general application form needed to apply for aid for college.

Will I qualify for financial aid?
All students who complete the FAFSA are guaranteed some form of aid.  The information you submit, though, will determine how much aid you can receive and what form it will take (grants, loans, etc.).

Do I need to register?
In order to receive the best service possible, please pre-register to attend at the site most convenient for you.

Who sponsors College Goal Sunday?
College Goal Sunday in South Dakota is sponsored by the South Dakota Association of Financial Aid Administrators (SDASFAA).

Additional questions about the FAFSA for foster youth or wards of the court

The History of College Goal Sunday

College Goal Sunday is a volunteer program that helps students and families who need assistance in completing financial aid forms, giving particular focus to helping low-income, first generation students. The program got its start in Indiana in 1989 as a joint project of the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association (ISFAA) and the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (SSACI), with funding from Lilly Endowment, Inc.  College Goal Sunday is a program of the Y-USA (YMCA).

College Goal Sunday is designed to remove barriers that have kept many qualified students from pursuing a higher education. Research shows that families see the high cost of a college education as the main barrier between them and a degree, even though millions of dollars in various forms of financial aid are available to students. The simple fact is many families - particularly minority, low income, and first generation college students - are not applying for those funds. These students and their families need two things: First, they need to receive more information about the availability of financial aid, and second, they need expert assistance in filling out the required paperwork.

On College Goal Sunday (traditionally, a week or two after Super Bowl Sunday), ISFFA professionals volunteered in selected community sites in Indiana to help families complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid ).