Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
To qualify for federal student aid, a student must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students may apply online at
www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA calculates income and assets to determine a student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC) toward his or her college education for that year. Colleges use the EFC to decide what types of financial aid a student is eligible to receive. The priority application period for seniors, is after January 1st and before March 2nd.
Seniors and their parents should apply for a FSA ID
online. The PINs will be used to electronically sign the application and to access their application record online.
Students may begin exploring their financial aid options early by using
FAFSA4caster. This website provides students with an opportunity to increase their knowledge of the financial aid process, become familiar with the various types of federal student aid that are available, and investigate other sources of aid, such as grants and scholarships.