Every college student seeking financial aid (either scholarships or loans) should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
You and your parents will need a PIN.
- The first thing you will need to do is get a PIN for you and your parents.
- The PIN is your signature on the FAFSA and other federal documents.
- You can apply for a PIN from the PIN website.
The FAFSA is free.
- FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
- There are some services that will charge you to complete the FAFSA. Using these services will most likely not increase your financial aid award.
- The free website is fafsa.ed.gov
Complete the FAFSA as early as possible.
- The FAFSA for the following academic year is available starting January 1st.
- Most financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. You may lose out on some financial aid if you wait too long.
- Be sure to contact your school’s financial aid office for more information on when they send award letters to students.
You can complete the FAFSA before your taxes are complete.
- The tax information on the FAFSA is based on the previous year’s tax information.
- To complete the FAFSA before your taxes are complete, you will select “Will File” from a drop down box on the FAFSA.
- You can either estimate your tax information, or if it will not change much from the prior year, you can use that information.
- Once you complete your taxes, you will update the FAFSA with the current information.
Don’t rely on second hand knowledge.
- If you have any questions while completing the FAFSA, ask a financial aid administrator.
- Call the financial aid office and get the answer to your questions.
- If you complete the FAFSA with incorrect information, you could lose out on financial aid. This loss of aid may impact your decision on which school to attend.
