Federal Student Aid

How to apply for Federal Student Aid (FSA):

Eligibility Requirements

The Department of Education uses the information provided on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your eligibility for aid from the Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs. Many states and schools also use the FAFSA to award aid from their programs. Some states and schools may require you to fill out additional forms. Some of the requirements to receive aid from FSA programs are that you must:

• Be a citizen or eligible noncitizen of the United States with a valid Social Security Number;
• Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate or pass an approved "ability to benefit" test;
• Enroll in an eligible program as a regular student seeking a degree or certificate;
• Register (or have registered) for Selective Service, if you are a male between the ages of 18-25; and
• Have a result of Eligible or Partially Eligible on the Drug Conviction question (Question 35).

(Note: answering 'No' to this question (having been convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs) does not mean your status will never change in the case of subsequent convictions. If your status changes, please notify the financial aid administrator at your school.)

Required Documents

You will need records of income earned in the year prior to when you will start school. You may also need records of your parent's income information if you are a dependent student.

For the 2011-2012 school year, you will need financial information from 2010. You will need to refer to:

• Your Social Security Number (can be found on Social Security card)
• Your driver's license (if any)
• Your W-2 Forms and other records of money earned
• Your (and your spouse's, if you are married) Federal Income Tax Return - IRS Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040Telefile, foreign tax return, or tax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia
• Your parent's Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student)
• Your untaxed income records - Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records
• Your bank statements
• Your business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond, and other investment records
• Your alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Thiese dates change oten, here is a tool that can help you stay updated

APPLY FOR A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (PIN)

This Web site is your source of information for the Federal Student Aid PIN.

FIND YOUR SCHOOL CODES

This is a tool works better in Internet Explorer.

You can file an application online - also available in Spanish (Please be aware, you will need to have a USDoE PIN to file an online application)