Filing the FAFSA
What students need to know
When to apply
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) applications can be filed starting October 1st each year.
Remember: Financial aid deadlines aren’t the same as college admission deadlines.
The FAFSA must be filed every year a student is in school.
What do you need?
If you’re a dependent student, you’ll need this information for you and your parents:
- Social Security number
- Alien Registration number (if you aren’t a U.S. citizen)
- Federal income tax return, W-2s, and other records of money earned; you may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
- Bank statements and investment records (if applicable)
- Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
- An FSA ID so you can sign the form electronically
Why FAFSA matters
The FAFSA gives families and students access not just to federal loans, but also state aid, if it’s available. Many colleges offer their own aid too, although it’s usually limited. Students should check https://studentaid.gov/ for their state’s deadlines and their colleges’ websites for those deadlines.
Submission time frames and tax information*
Submit the FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/
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*Source: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants#federal. FAFSA application submission time frames and required tax information are projected based on information provided in the September 14, 2015 IFAP FAFSA filing date change announcement (also referenced as the Dear Colleague letter).
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