Navigating college financial aid in 2026 requires understanding a system that rewards early planning, strategic decision-making, and a working knowledge of how need-based and merit-based aid actually gets calculated and distributed. Start Earlier Than You Think Necessary Families who begin college financial planning when their student is in 9th or 10th grade have meaningfully more options than those who start in senior year. Early planning allows time to optimize financial positioning, research merit aid opportunities at specific schools, and build the academic and extracurricular profile that attracts institutional grants. Understanding the FAFSA and CSS Profile The Free Application for Federal...