Why fill out a FAFSA?

The FAFSA is the first step in the financial aid process. It is used to apply for federal financial aid, such as grants, and student loans. Even if you don't think you are eligible for financial aid, you should still fill it out because many states and schools also use it to award non-federal aid. Before you fill out your FAFSA you'll need to collect quite a bit of information that the application will require. You will need records of income earned in the year prior to when you will start school. You may also need records of your parents´ income information if you are a dependent student. For the 2010-2011 school year you will need financial information from 2009. You will need to refer to:

Your Social Security Number. Be sure it is correct!
Your driver's license (if any)
Your 2009 W-2 Forms and other records of money earned
Your 2009 Federal Income Tax Return (this will be either your IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040 EZ, your Foreign Tax Return, or your Tax Return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federal States of Micronesia, or Palau)
Your Parents´ 2009 Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student)
Your 2009 untaxed income records (this includes Veterans benefits records, any Child support received, and Worker's compensation)
Your current bank statements
Your current business and investment mortgage information (such as business and farm records, stock, bond and other investment records
Your alien registration or permanent resident card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

To organize your information, it is recommended that you print and complete a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet before you begin entering your information online. Keep these records! You may need them again. Do not mail your records to Federal Student Aid.

Then, you'll need to decide how to sign your FAFSA. Federal Student Aid is required to collect signatures from you and your parents (if applicable) when you file a FAFSA. There are three ways to sign:

1) Electronically with a PIN
2) By printing, signing and mailing a signature page after you submit a FAFSA
3) By signing your Student Aid Report (SAR) and returning it in the mail

(TIP: The application process is faster if you use your PIN to sign your application electronically.)
(TIP #2: Do not leave a field blank. If a question does not apply to you, write N/A.)

Need to apply for your PIN?  Click here.

When is it due?

Deadlines for aid from your state, school, and private sources are usually earlier than deadlines for federal aid. Most colleges have financial aid priority deadlines in early February; therefore, it is important that you apply for aid as soon as possible after January 1st.

What happens next?

You should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) in approximately three to four weeks after you submit your FAFSA. This report will state your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), restate what you put on the FAFSA, and give you the opportunity to correct wrong information. A financial aid administrator at your college will then put together your financial aid package and send you an award letter. The award letter will tell you what financial aid you are eligible to receive.

If you are unclear about a question or are having trouble filling out the FAFSA, please contact someone in your college's financial aid office or the U.S. Department of Education at 1-800-4-FED-AID.