Financial Aid

Financial Aid at Brookdale

Important Changes to Federal Financial Aid

Changes to federal student aid programs took effect beginning with the 2026–2027 academic year. These changes may affect Pell Grant eligibility, student loan borrowing, and other federal aid programs.

For more information: Changes to Federal Student Loan Programs.

The FAFSA® 27/28 is Now Available

We at Brookdale encourage all current and prospective students to file a FAFSA^®. Doing so may provide opportunities to assist you in financing your education and is worth the effort. If you need assistance with completing your FAFSA^®, schedule an appointment with a FAFSA Coach.

Remember, students must have completed their Admissions process and entered their social security number on their Admissions Application before they can receive notification from the Financial Aid Office. Processing begins each April. If you, the student does not have a Social Security number complete the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application.

• 2026-2027 — If you are applying for financial aid for classes you attend between September 2026 and July 2027, you must complete the 2026–2027 FAFSA^®.
• 2027-2028 — If you are applying for financial aid for classes you attend between September 2027 and July 2027, you must complete the 2027–2028 FAFSA^®.

Learn how to prepare for and stay informed about the FAFSA^® launch.

Need help?

• Steps to follow when Applying for Financial Aid
• Need help with your FAFSA application? Make an appointment with a FAFSA Coach.
• Watch our “Preparing for the FAFSA^® Form” playlist to understand what information and documents you’ll need to fill out the FAFSA form.
• Find out if your parent(s) or spouse will need to be contributors (contribute their info on your FAFSA form)
• Special Circumstance Review: Changes at home financially since filing the FAFSA? Students may request a Special Circumstance Review*.
• Unusual Circumstances/Dependency Override: If you have extraordinary reasons for not being able to provide parent information on your FAFSA, you may request a Dependency Override*.
• Important to Know

*Once your request is complete, you can expect a response in 3–10 days.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Office of Financial Aid is to increase opportunities for student access in higher education, to succeed by helping students and their families seek, obtain, and make the best use of all financial resources. We will work together to provide service in a timely, equitable and caring manner, in full support of the community, College, and comply with all governing agencies. Emphasis is placed on the electronic steps of applying for financial aid, providing students links to the latest financial aid web sites, and providing students with the ability to check their financial aid status online.