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Students and families can access scholarships and financial aid to make college affordable, with free assistance available at College Goal Sunday, February 22. Indiana University Kokomo and Ivy Tech Community College are participating in this event, with experts available in Kokomo and Logansport.
Financial aid experts will be available from 2 to 4 p.m. in the IU Kokomo Library, 2300 S. Washington St. Kokomo, to help families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Ivy Tech also will provide access to financial aid professionals from 2-4 p.m. at its Logansport campus, 1 Ivy Tech Way.
The free College Goal Sunday program assists Indiana students in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, many scholarships, and federal student loans at most colleges, universities, and vocational/technical schools nationwide. The event is open to all students who may attend college for the 2026 to 2027 academic year.
The FAFSA must be filed by the State of Indiana priority deadline of April 15 to guarantee state aid for those who qualify.
“We participate in College Goal Sunday because we believe every student should know that paying for college doesn’t have to feel overwhelming,” said Meredith Dittfield, IU Kokomo assistant director of financial aid and scholarships. “Our mission is to make the financial aid process simpler, clearer, and more accessible for everyone. College Goal Sunday gives us the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with families, answer their questions, and support them as they take that important step toward turning their college plans into reality. By guiding them through each stage of the process, we help open doors to opportunities that can truly change their lives.”
Students should attend College Goal Sunday with their parent(s) or guardian(s), and parent(s) should bring completed 2024 IRS 1040 tax returns, W-2 Forms and other 2024 income and benefits information. Students who worked should also bring their income information. Students 24 years of age or older may attend alone and bring their completed 2024 IRS 1040 tax return, W-2 Form or other 2024 income and benefits information.
Students and parent(s) are encouraged to set up their U.S. Department of Education StudentAid.gov account at studentaid.gov before coming to the event. Volunteers will be available to assist with the online form and answer all families’ individual questions during College Goal Sunday. All sites offer FAFSA online capabilities, and many have Spanish interpreters available.
“College Goal Sunday is a great opportunity to find the help you need to fill out your FAFSA,” said Darnell Ross, director of Financial Aid for Ivy Tech’s Kokomo Service Area. “Assistance also is available Mondays through Fridays in the Express Enrollment Centers at both our Kokomo and Logansport facilities. Students can call 1-888-489-5463 to make an appointment or just walk in and meet with our financial aid professionals.”
Ivy Tech’s Kokomo Service Area covers Cass, Fulton, Howard, Miami, Pulaski and Tipton counties.
Now in its 37th year, College Goal Sunday has helped more than 98,000 Indiana students and families complete the FAFSA properly and on time. College Goal Sunday is a charitable program of the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association (ISFAA).
Students who attend College Goal Sunday and submit a completed evaluation form will automatically be entered in a drawing for one of five $1,000 scholarships. The winners will be notified, and scholarships will be sent directly to the higher education institution selected by the winning students.
21st Century Scholars also benefit. These are income-eligible students who sign a contract in the seventh or eighth grade promising they will graduate from high school, meet grade point requirements, fulfill a pledge of good citizenship, and apply for college financial aid. Upon high school completion, Scholars who have fulfilled the commitment and demonstrate financial need receive state funds to help cover their 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.
For more information about College Goal Sunday, visit CollegeGoalSunday.org.