Teens: high school, college prep and paying for college
In short
Credits, GPA and tests in high school, how US college admission works, and why in-state tuition and FAFSA depend on status.
How high school works
Students earn credits for each class they pass. They need a set number of credits in English, math, science and other subjects to graduate. Ask the school counselor to review your teen's foreign records; some classes may count.
GPA (grade point average) is the average of all grades, usually on a scale of 0 to 4.0. Colleges look at it closely, from grade 9 onward.
Honors and AP (Advanced Placement) classes are harder. A high score on an AP exam can count for college credit.
Colleges also value activities: sports, clubs, volunteering, part-time jobs and summer programs.
Applying to college
1
Meet the school counselor in the first months. Ask: "What does my teen need to graduate and apply to college?"
2
Tests: the SAT or ACT. Some colleges require them; others are test-optional.
3
Most applications are in the fall of grade 12, with deadlines from November to January.
4
Community college (two-year public college) is cheaper and open to everyone with a high school diploma. Many students transfer to a four-year university later.
Tuition and status
Public universities charge in-state tuition (lower) to state residents and out-of-state tuition (often two or three times more) to others.
Who counts as a resident depends on the state, how long you have lived there, and your immigration status. Some states give in-state rates to some visa holders; others do not. These rules have been in court in several states since 2025.
This differs by state; see In your state below.
FAFSA and federal aid
The FAFSA is the free form for federal grants, loans and work-study, and many colleges use it for their own aid. It opens each year on October 1.
The student's own status counts, not the parents'. Eligible students include US citizens, green card holders, refugees and asylees, and some other groups.
Students on temporary visas (H-4, L-2, F-1, F-2, J-2) and DACA recipients are not eligible for federal aid. They can still look for state, college and private scholarships.
A US-citizen teen can get aid even if parents are not citizens. Parents without an SSN can still create a StudentAid.gov account and fill in their part.
Common mistakes
Waiting until grade 12 to plan. Start the conversation in your first semester.
Paying for FAFSA help. The form is free at studentaid.gov.
Missing scholarships with early deadlines. Many close in the fall and winter.