The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is the application used to apply for Federal, State, and some institutional financial aid. To be considered for financial aid students must complete the FAFSA every year. Some colleges and universities have a priority date for completing the FAFSA. That means students who complete the FAFSA by the date given are considered first for some types of limited grants and loans. Students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA on the web as soon as possible after January 1 of each year as possible. Financial Aid and Scholarships
How to Complete the FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the financial aid application form you need to apply for federal and state student grants, work-study, and loans. Although it may seem complex, there are many free resources to help you navigate the application process.
Where to Find the FAFSA
The FAFSA comes in two versions — electronic and paper. The electronic version is available online at FAFSA on the Web. If you need a paper copy, call 800-4-FED-AID (433-3243).
FAFSA on the Web
You can complete, submit and track your application online. This is the easiest way to apply for federal aid. The online program even checks your data before it is transmitted to the processing center, so there's less chance of making an error. Filing the FAFSA online can reduce processing time by one to two weeks.
Before You Apply
Complete Your Income Tax Return
You and your family should complete your income tax returns before filling out the FAFSA — a lot of the information requested is the same. However, you do not have to file your income tax return with the IRS before you fill out the FAFSA. Here is a list of documents you need to get started.
Get a PIN
Obtain a U.S. Department of Education personal identification number (PIN) by filling out the brief application at www.pin.ed.gov. You can get your PIN immediately by e-mail or have it mailed to you. You can still use FAFSA on the Web without a PIN; you just have to print out and mail in a signature page.
Completing the Application
Here are some reminders and resources to help you complete the FAFSA.
January 1 is the first day you can file the FAFSA. You should try to file as close to this date as possible; college, state and private aid deadlines may be much earlier than federal deadlines. You should pay attention to your colleges' priority financial aid deadlines.
If you have questions about any part of the FAFSA application, go to the government website Completing the FAFSA. It has a detailed, question-by-question guide to filling out the FAFSA.
Many colleges also require you to submit additional financial aid forms, such as the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® or their own forms.
What Happens After You Apply
Once you submit the FAFSA, your family’s financial information is analyzed using the federal need formula.
The Student Aid Report (SAR)
This form contains the data you entered on the FAFSA. The Department of Education will send it to you either by e-mail (three to five days) or postal mail (two to three weeks). Review the SAR carefully for errors (the form highlights items that may need attention) and follow directions for making and submitting corrections. Submit corrections promptly to avoid long delays in processing your application. Make sure to keep a copy of the SAR for your records.
Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
At the upper right of the front page of the SAR, you'll find a figure called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is a preliminary estimate of the amount your family can contribute to college costs. The EFC is sent electronically to your state scholarship agency, as well as to the colleges you listed on the FAFSA. State agencies and colleges use the EFC to determine the size of your aid award. Learn more about your EFC.
If you see an asterisk next to your EFC figure, it means that your application has been randomly selected for verification. Your colleges will request copies of signed tax returns or other information to verify the information reported on the FAFSA. Be sure to furnish this information as soon as possible after you receive the request.
Help with the FAFSA
If you have questions about the application, FAFSA on the Web, or federal student financial aid in general, call: 1-800-FED-AID (433-3243)
HOW TO FILL OUT THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID
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