How to apply for the FAFSA
1) Get a PIN – www.fafsa.ed.gov
Before filing your FAFSA on the Internet, it is recommended that you (and one of your parents)
apply for a PIN. With a PIN, you’ll be able to:
- Electronically sign your application.
- Make corrections to your submitted application.
- Review your process application data on Student Access on the Web.
2) Apply Online - www.fafsa.ed.gov
Although you can submit a paper application, there are many advantages to using FAFSA on the Web:
- You’ll get your Student Aid Report (SAR) quicker than with the paper form.
- FAFSA on the Web checks your answers before you submit your application, so it will less likely be rejected because of missing/conflicting information.
- You can save application information for transmission at a later time.
3) Complete a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet
This optional tool can be completed to help gather all the necessary documentation prior to completing the actual FAFSA. Be sure to keep these records handy; you may need them again during the financial aid process. The information you’ll need to complete this worksheet, as well as the FAFSA, includes:
- Social Security Number
- Driver’s license (if any)
- W-2 forms and other records of money earned
- Current
bank statements and mortgage information.
- Records
of medical expenses not covered by health insurance.
- Business and
investment records: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs.
- Your Federal Income Tax Return – IRS Form 1040.
- Parent’s Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student).
- Untaxed income records, such as Social Security, aid to dependent children, child support, welfare, pensions and veterans benefits.
- Alien registration
Tips for filling
out the FAFSA
Estimate, if necessary
The FAFSA requires tax return information. Be sure to file your tax return as soon as possible after January 1 to ensure the accuracy of the application. However, if you’re unable to file your tax returns that quickly, don’t wait to submit your FAFSA. Instead, estimate your income as accurately as possible. You’ll be able to make corrections via the FAFSA Correction on the web or though your school’s financial aid office.
Read the instructions carefully
The words “you” and “your” always refer to the student, whereas questions for parents will be specified.
Don’t leave any fields on the FAFSA blank
Instead, answer “zero” or “not applicable” if the question does not apply to you. Round to the nearest dollar, and do not use commas or decimal points.
Proof and Sign
Double check your answers & Proofread your application before you submit it. Make sure you (and your parents, if applicable) sign the FAFSA. If you submit your application electronically, print or save your confirmation for your records.
Tax Forms
Use
the U.S. Individual Income Tax Return Form 1040, NOT
the W-2, for reporting income and taxes paid.
Family with divorced parents
The parent
with whom the student lived the most during the past
12 months is responsible for filling out the FAFSA. This
may not necessarily be the one with legal custody.
Remarried?
If
a single or divorced parent marries, the income and assets
of the new spouse must be entered on the FAFSA.
Legal Dependent
A
legal dependent is a person for whom you provide and
will continue to provide more than half of their support,
which includes money, housing, food, clothing, loans,
gifts, medical care, and college.
Need
Help?
The Department of Education has free detailed
instructions about completing
the FAFSA and reporting unusual circumstances. You may also contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center
at 800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). You can also contact your high school guidance counselor or a college
Financial Aid Administrator for assistance. For technical
questions about online submissions, call 800-801-0576
(TDD: 800-551-5806).
Beware of professional educational consultants who offer to complete
the form for you and provide guidance. They charge
a fee for their service. www.fafsa.ed.gov is the official online FAFSA application site, and it is 100% free.
4) Submit
the Form
Submit your application online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Print a copy for your
records and make sure you get a confirmation of an electronic
signature. If you choose to electronically submit the form but not
the signatures, you still need to print, sign, and send
in your signature page by mail right away.
5) Follow
Up
To find out if your FASA has been processed, log on to www.fafsa.ed.gov or contact the Department
of Education at 1-800-4FED-AID. You will be asked to provide your Social
Security number and date of birth for verification. Several
weeks after submitting the FAFSA, look for your Student
Aid Report (SAR) in the mail. It will contain your Estimated
Family Contribution (EFC).
Student Aid Report (SAR)
You'll
receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) approximately four to
six weeks after you submit the FAFSA to the Department
of Education. This report is generated from your family's
financial information you provided on the FAFSA and indicates
your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or the amount your
family is expected to contribute to your college education.
The EFC listed on your SAR will determine the amount of
financial aid you will receive.
Each
school listed on your FAFSA (up to six) will also receive
a copy of your SAR. The school's Financial Aid Office will
use the information contained in the SAR to determine your
total aid package, including loan eligibility and Federal
Work-Study qualification.
Once
you have received your SAR, it is a good idea to check
with the Financial Aid Offices at the schools where you
applied. Make sure that they have received all the documents
needed to process your application for financial aid. Often,
colleges have their own forms and deadlines for applying
for financial aid.
Sending
Your SAR to More Schools
If
you want to send your SAR to more than six schools, there
are several ways to accomplish this without spending any
money.
- Provide
the schools with your Social Security number and the
data release number (DRN) listed on the SAR. The school
will then be able to download an electronic version.
- Call
the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243
(TTY 1-800-730-8913) and request duplicate copies be
sent to you.
- Go
to www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Select "Entering a FAFSA Online." Choose the "Request
Duplicate Student Aid Report" option and complete the
form.
Go
to FAFSA
Corrections on the Web and add more schools by submitting
a correction to your FAFSA information.
Check
Your Student Aid Report Carefully!
As
soon as your SAR arrives in the mail, check it carefully
for mistakes. Compare the information listed on the SAR
to your copy of the FAFSA you submitted. Do they match?
Special
Note for Males age 18-25
Males age 18-25 who haven't yet registered with
the Selective Service are not eligible for student
financial aid. When your FAFSA is processed, the Selective
Service Database is checked to see if you have registered and the results are listed on your SAR. Males age 18-25 can register for Selective Service by checking a box on the FAFSA form, online at www.sss.gov, at the Post Office, or at their high school.
Incorrect
Data?
If
you find incorrect data, there are three ways to correct
it:
- Enter
your corrections online at FAFSA
Corrections on the Web
- Contact the Financial Aid Office at the school
you plan to attend to see if the school can send the corrections
electronically. If not, you will need to send corrections yourself.
- Write the correct answers on the SAR
and mail it to the designated address.
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