Introduction to FAFSA
(Watch this short video explaining the FAFSA Process)
FAQs
What is the FAFSA® form? |
Why should I fill out the FAFSA® form? |
To apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, work-study, and loans, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. Completing and submitting the FAFSA form is free and easier than ever, and it gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for college or career school. In addition, many states and colleges use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for state and school aid, and some private financial aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether you qualify for their aid.
What will I need to fill out my FAFSA?Click the button below for a helpful checklist of information and materials you will need to complete your FAFSA.
When do I fill out the FAFSA® form?The 2020–21 FAFSA form became available on Oct. 1, 2020. However, there are a few federal student aid programs that have limited funds, so be sure to apply as soon as you can once the FAFSA form is available for the year you’ll be attending school.
Can I update information on my FAFSA® form if my situation has changed since I filed it?There is some information that must be updated if it changes, while most information cannot be updated. Find out the difference and how to update FAFSA information.
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If you don’t fill out the FAFSA form, you could be missing out on a lot of financial aid! We’ve heard a number of reasons students think they shouldn’t complete the FAFSA form. Here are a few:
What questions will be on the form?Download the file below to see a preview of what questions will be asked on the FAFSA form.
What if I made a mistake on my FAFSA® form? How do I correct it?Once your application has been processed, you can correct your FAFSA form online or on paper. (Making corrections online is the easiest and fastest option.)
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I've completed the FAFSA. What happens next?
(Watch this short video to see 'what happens next' after you submit your FAFSA)
Who will I hear from, and when?First, we (the office of Federal Student Aid at the U.S. Department of Education) will send you a Student Aid Report (SAR), which is a summary of the FAFSA data you submitted. You’ll get your SAR within three days to three weeks after you submit your FAFSA form.
Be sure to look over your SAR, make sure you didn’t make a mistake on your FAFSA form, and make corrections to your FAFSA data if necessary. Find out more about the Student Aid Report, its purpose, how the method you use to file your FAFSA form determines when you’ll get the SAR, and what you should do with the SAR. The SAR won’t tell you how much financial aid you’ll get, and it won’t show the details of the income and tax information if you used the Internal Revenue Service Data Retrieval Tool when you completed your FAFSA form. Instead, if you applied for admission to a college or career school and have been accepted, and you listed that school on your FAFSA form, the school will calculate your aid and will send you an electronic or paper aid offer, sometimes called an award letter, telling you how much aid you’re eligible for at the school. The timing of the aid offer varies from school to school and could be as early as winter (awarding for the fall) or as late as immediately before you start school. It depends on when you apply and how the school prefers to schedule awarding of aid |
Where does my FAFSA information go once I submit it?Your FAFSA information is shared with the colleges and/or career schools you list on the application. The financial aid office at a school uses your information to figure out how much federal student aid you may receive at that school.
If the school has its own funds to use for financial aid, it might use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for that aid as well. (The school might also have other forms for you to fill out to get school aid, so check with the financial aid office to be sure.) Your information also goes to your state higher education agency, as well as to agencies of the states where your chosen schools are located. Many states have financial aid funds that they give out based on FAFSA information. So, your FAFSA form helps you apply for federal, state, and school financial aid. Not bad for a form that takes students an average of about 30 minutes to complete! What do I do if I’m told I’ve been selected for verification?You might see a note on your Student Aid Report saying you’ve been selected for verification; or your school might contact you to inform you that you’ve been selected.
Verification is the process your school uses to confirm that the data reported on your FAFSA form is accurate. Your school has the authority to contact you for documentation that supports the information you reported. If you’re selected for verification, don’t assume you’re being accused of doing anything wrong. Some people are selected at random; and some schools verify all students' FAFSA forms. All you need to do is provide the documentation your school asks for—and be sure to do so by the school’s deadline, or you won’t be able to get financial aid. |
Tips for Parents
(Watch this short video to see more FAFSA tips for parents)
Interested in more information or links about FAFSA? Go to https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/
All of this information was gathered verbatim from:
FAFSA®: Applying for Aid. (2017, November 13). Retrieved January 12, 2018, from https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa
Next Steps. (2017, October 02). Retrieved January 12, 2018, from https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/next-steps
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FAFSA®: Applying for Aid. (2017, November 13). Retrieved January 12, 2018, from https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa
Next Steps. (2017, October 02). Retrieved January 12, 2018, from https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/next-steps
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Icons made by <a href="https://www.flaticon.com/authors/freepik" title="Freepik">Freepik</a> from <a href="https://www.flaticon.com/" title="Flaticon">www.flaticon.com</a></div>