FAFSA

(Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

The FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the form filled out by students in order to gain access to federal grants and loans and possible college/university grants and scholarships. This is the first step in affordable college for all students. Here are a few facts about FAFSA and links to help you get started on the road to receiving financial aid.

• To fill out the FAFSA and successfully submit it, you will need the following:
  • Your Social Security Number
  • Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
  • Your federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
  • Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
  • Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
  • An FSA ID to sign electronically
• You must fill out a FAFSA every year you are in school. It is not a one-time form that you fill out only your first year of college. 
• A student needs a Social Security Number to fill out the FAFSA; however, a student's parents do not need one for the student to fill out the FAFSA.
• After you submit your FAFSA, all other communication about your financial aid will come from the schools you sent the FAFSA to.

FAFSA Verification 

Your FAFSA may be flagged and put into a process called verification. This is a completely normal process that happens to students every year. Below are links to help you through the process of verification. 

Federal Student Aid Next Steps

Do Four Things If Your FAFSA Is Selected for Verification

FinAid's Guide to Verification