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At KCTCS, we believe no one should miss out on a college education because they think they can't afford it. That's why we offer the lowest tuition in the state and various debt-less financial options for students. Many financial resources are allocated on a first-come first-serve basis, so you'll need to start planning early and make sure all forms are turned in on time.
To help you get started, we've broken the process into three easy steps:
Complete the FAFSA
The process starts with filling out the FAFSA, which needs to be completed annually. The application for the 2026-27 award year will open on October 1, 2025. The FAFSA encompasses the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. For instance, the 2026-2027 FAFSA will cover the Fall 2026, Spring 2027, and Summer 2027 semesters.
Applying early ensures consideration of your information for maximum funding and applicants are encouraged to apply October 1st or as soon as possible after October 1st (December 1st for the 2025-26 award year). Some KCTCS’s colleges offer assistance with filling out the FAFSA and other financial aid processes. Our priority processing deadline varies depending on your college.
Gather the required documents, and use them to complete the FAFSA. All required documents must be marked as ‘received’ prior to your college's priority processing deadline to be considered for priority packaging.
Review Available Financial Aid Opportunities for Your College
KCTCS colleges offer a variety of debt-less financial aid options including scholarships, grants, work-study, work-ready and more! Visit the Paying for College page to select your college and learn more!
Check Your Status and Awards
Let's make sure you haven't missed anything. For some students additional paperwork is needed. It’s important to visit your student self-service on MyPath and check your To-Do List to make sure you've got everything taken care of. You can use the Financial Aid tile on your student homepage in student self-service to review your awards. Just remember that if more documents are needed, you won’t be eligible for federal aid until they are turned in and processed.
To view your home college's financial aid information, available assistance, and priority dates, please visit the Paying for College page and select your college.
(Financial Aid > Applying for Aid)