Completing the FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the jumping off point for all financial aid. In other words, you must submit a FAFSA to be considered for grants, work-study, and federal student loans, including Federal Stafford and Federal Parent PLUS loans.
The FAFSA examines your family’s financial situation and evaluates your eligibility for student aid based on U.S. Department of Education Guidelines.
The official deadline for submitting a FAFSA varies from state to state. To be safe, though, and to increase your chances of receiving financial aid, submit your FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible.
Keep in mind—funds are limited for need-based financial aid, so you’ll want to apply as soon after January 1 as possible to increase your chances of getting financial aid.
To complete a FAFSA, use FAFSA on the Web at www.FAFSA.ed.gov or call 800-801-0576 to order FAFSA Express software. Or, you can submit a FAFSA through your high school or college financial aid office.
The FAFSA process takes about four to six
weeks. Use this time to start investigating scholarships using
the award-winning NextStudent
Scholarship Search Engine.
The Financial Aid Process
» The Financial Aid Process
» Finding Free Money
» Completing the FAFSA
» The Student Aid Report (SAR)
» Financial Aid Eligibility Quiz
Financial Aid Advisor
» Financial Aid Advisor: The Guided Tour
» First Step: Completing The FAFSA
» The Financial Aid Calendar
» The Financial Aid Process
» Know Your Options