THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA)
COMPLETE THE FAFSA in fall of senior year to have the best opportunity for first-come-first served money and a great offer of financial aid! The earlier, the better! No FAFSA? No money! Why wait??
When will the FAFSA open?
The release of FAFSA has been delayed, and it may be in December or no later than January 1st.
FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This online form is used as a tool to help technical schools, colleges and universities determine the amount of money a family is expected to contribute to the price of attending a college, university or technical college. The results of the FAFSA are used in determining student grants, work study, and loan amounts.
To apply for most financial aid — including federal and state student grants, work-study, and loans — you’ll need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Although this financial aid form may seem complex, there are many free resources to help you. And completing the form is easier than it used to be, thanks to the new IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
You should never pay a fee to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or to have someone fill out the FAFSA for you. The correct website for FAFSA is https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa! The FAFSA is a FREE application.
Where to Find the FAFSA
The FAFSA is available online at FAFSA on the Web at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.
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.
​
Before You Apply
Get prepared with a copy of your parent's 2021 and 2022 tax returns. Know your social security number. Create your a FSA ID# for the student and another one for only one parent. If you have siblings who already completed the FAFSA, your parent will already have an FSA ID and does not need to create another one.
Create an FSA ID in advance!
When you start your FAFSA on the Web application, you will set up your account by creating a user ID and password. These will become your online identifiers for all federal student aid programs. You will need to provide your own email address and password (parents will create their own account using a different email address and password). Set up your user ID and password before you start your FAFSA.
If you live with someone who is not your biological or adoptive parent, create a FSA ID number for yourself only.
Note: If your parent already has a FAFSA FSAID, s/he can use that number.
Read this article that explains why you should complete the FAFSA!
READ THIS: COMMON MISTAKES MADE WHEN COMPLETING THE FAFSA.
READ THIS ALSO.
Families with students in grades 9-11 can estimate their financial aid eligibility now at https://studentaid.gov/aid-estimator
The CSS Profile: The Other Financial Aid Application
The Profile is an online application that collects information used by certain colleges and scholarship programs to award institutional aid funds. All federal funds are awarded based on the FAFSA). Some colleges may require additional information, such as tax returns or an institutional application. If your parents are divorced, some colleges will also require your noncustodial parent to complete the Noncustodial PROFILE.
When do you file the Profile?
You may file the Profile as early as October 1st of your senior year and no later than two weeks before the earliest priority filing date specified by your colleges and programs.
Who must file the profile?
Check your colleges/programs information to determine whether they require the Profile. You should only submit a PROFILE if your college or scholarship program instructs you to do so.
How to file the CSS Profile
You file the profile online at https://student.collegeboard.org/profile. Do not guess on answers about your family finances. Provide accurate answers.
What does the Profile cost?
The fee for the initial application or program report is $25. Additional reports are $16. Fee waivers are granted to students who use testing fee waivers for the SAT or based on the financial information entered on the Profile. The waiver covers the application fee and reporting fees for up to eight colleges or scholarship programs. The waiver will be applied based on the results of the CSS Profile. No separate waiver is required.
​
PLEASE READ: COMMON MISTAKES MADE WHEN COMPLETING THE CSS PROFILE!
Please read this also.