Paying for College, 2026: Everything You Need to Maximize Financial Aid and Afford College

A SMARTER WAY TO PAY FOR COLLEGE. Take control of your financial aid experience with this essential guide—the only annual guidebook with line-by-line instructions for completing the FAFSA aid forms! Includes guidance for how to handle delays to the redesigned FAFSA.

“A first-rate guide through the financial aid maze.” —Lynn Brenner, Newsday


“Can save thousands in college bills.” —John Wasik, Forbes

Financing a college education is a daunting task no matter your circumstances--and the recent rollout of the redesigned FAFSA hasn't made things any easier. College finance guru Kalman Chany and the experts at The Princeton Review come prepared with line-by-line instructions for filling out the latest iteration of the FAFSA, and consumer-friendly advice to minimize college costs. Take control with Paying for College, which will help you:

• Maximize your financial aid eligibility
• Explore long- and short-term strategies to reduce college costs and avoid expensive mistakes
• Complete every question on the FAFSA and CSS Profile aid applications to your best advantage
• Compare aid offers and learn how to appeal them if necessary 
• Wrangle continuing complications around the "FAFSA Fiasco" and delayed redesign rollout