FAFSA Information

You must complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for federal student financial aid and to apply for most state and college aid.  Applying online with FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov is faster and easier than using a paper FAFSA. 

Apply Online, Apply Faster - Sign you FAFSA with a U.S. Department of Education PIN.  If you do not have a PIN, you can apply for one at www.pin.ed.gov before beginning FAFSA on the Web.  You will recieve your PIN within a few days, and then you can electronically sign your FAFSA when you submit your information.  If you are providing parent information, one parent must sign your FAFSA.  To sign electronically, your parent can also apply for a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov. 

You will need the following information to complete your FAFSA worksheet:

• Your Social Security Number and your parents' Social Security Numbers if you are providing parent information.
• Your driver's license number if you have one.
• Your Alien Registration Number if you are not a U.S. citizen.
• 2005 federal tax information or tax returns (including IRS W-2 information) for yourself and spouse if you are married, and for your parents if you are providing parent information.  If you have not yet filed an income tax return, you can still submit your FAFSA but you must provide income and tax information.  
• Records of untaxed income, such as Social Security benefits, welfare benefits (e.g., TANF), and veterans benefits, for yourself, and your parents if you are providing parent information.
• Information on savings, investments, and business and farm assets for yourself, and your parents if you are providing parent information.   

If not filing electronically on the internet you may pick up a FAFSA packet in the Guidance Office.

Submit you FAFSA early, but not before January 1.  It is highly-advised to file the FAFSA before March 1, to ensure optimal loan/grant packages for which your family is eligible.  In order to file the FAFSA, your taxes must be filed -- file your taxes early!

So.... I can't file the FAFSA until after January 1; what can I be doing NOW?
       -apply for your PIN (see above).
       -Print out and complete your FAFSA worksheet on the FAFSA website (www.fafsa.ed.gov), so that you are organized and have all necessary information
        when you apply online.           
       -Complete the FAFSA4caster on the FAFSA website (www.fafsa.ed.gov), to estimate your eligibility for federal student aid.