FAFSA
Getting money for college all starts here … with the FAFSA.
The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the jumping-off point for all federal financial aid.
» To complete your FAFSA online, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov.
You MUST submit a FAFSA to be considered for federal financial aid — grants, work-study, federal student loans, and federal parent loans.
Many states and schools also require you to complete a FAFSA in order to be considered for institutional financial aid and state-funded grants, college loans, and tuition assistance programs.
The FAFSA examines your family’s financial situation and evaluates your eligibility for student financial aid based on U.S. Department of Education guidelines. The FAFSA looks at a number of financial factors, including your and your parents’ income, net assets, family expenses, the number of family members in your household, and the number of siblings attending college at the same time.
Don’t count yourself out and pass up getting easy money for college: Fill out the FAFSA even if you think there aren’t any financial aid options available to you. You and your family may well be eligible for some form of financial aid, even if you think your parents earn too much. Some types of federal student aid — unsubsidized Stafford student loans and PLUS parent loans — are available regardless of financial need.
To increase your chances of receiving financial aid, submit your FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible. Funds for need-based financial aid are limited, and manyt awards are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Your FAFSA filing date holds your place in federal, state, and school queues, so the sooner you file, the greater your chances of getting financial aid.
The application generally process takes about two to six weeks. Use this time to start searching for scholarships and grants. The award-winning online NextStudent Scholarship Search Engine, powered by Scholarships 101, lists more than 6.2 million individually awarded scholarships, worth over $16 billion, and lets you browse all these scholarships absolutely free.
Don’t forget: You must complete the FAFSA each year in order to be eligible for financial aid for the new academic year.
To complete a FAFSA, use FAFSA on the Web at www.FAFSA.ed.gov or submit a FAFSA through your high school or college Financial Aid Office. See our Tips on Completing the FAFSA to help you ace the application process.
Completing & Submitting Your FAFSA
» FAFSA on the Web
» Tips on completing the FAFSA
» Financial Aid FAQ
