East Tennessee State University’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will host its annual Tri-Cities Financial Aid Night on Monday, Oct. 5, from 5-8 p.m. in the ballroom located on the third floor of the D.P. Culp Student Center.  

Financial Aid counselors and TRIO's EOC staff will provide free in-person support with the 2027-28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which covers the fall 2027 through summer 2028 semesters.  

“This event is both educational and accessible,” said Sierra Arguello, a member of the Financial Aid and Scholarships Student Advisory Council. “Sometimes financial aid terms can sound confusing. However, there is a team of great people who are there for your needs. It is a beneficial source to utilize, and you will come out with more knowledge than you went in with.”

Any prospective college students in the Tri-Cities and current ETSU students are welcome to attend.

"Having help navigating my FAFSA was extremely beneficial,” said Mary Widener, a first-generation college student. “No matter your background or age, I strongly urge every student to seek assistance when it comes to applying for financial aid. This will ensure you get the full extent of benefits available to you.”

Students and parents are encouraged to create a Federal Student Aid account and username (FSA ID) before attending the event. The 2027-28 FAFSA will use 2025 tax information for determining the Student Aid Index (SAI). 

"We host this event annually to raise awareness about getting the FAFSA completed,” said ETSU Financial Aid and Scholarships Director Catherine Morgan. "I always recommend that students start the financial aid process as soon as possible.”

ETSU students unable to attend Tri-Cities Financial Aid Night will have another opportunity to get support with the 2027-28 FAFSA during the Jordan Center’s Fiscal Fitness event on Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

ETSU is committed to balancing academic quality with affordability. Nearly 84 percent of ETSU students receive some form of financial aid. For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at finaid@etsu.edu or (423) 439-4300.