The U.S. Department of Education has the following major Student Financial Assistance
(SFA) Programs:
Grants are financial aid you don't have to pay back.
Work-Study lets you work and earn money to help pay for school.
Loans are borrowed money that you must repay with interest.
Undergraduates may receive grants, loans, and Federal Work-Study.
Graduate students may receive loans and Federal Work-Study and TEACH Grants, but
not Federal Pell Grants (except, in some cases, for attendance at a post baccalaureate
teacher certification programs), Academic Competitiveness Grants, National SMART
Grants or FSEOGs.
Not all schools participate in the SFA Programs. Also, not all schools take part
in all the programs. To get answers to common financial aid questions and to find out which programs (if any) are available at a particular
school, contact the financial aid office at that school.
Student Eligibility
To receive aid from any of the federal student aid programs discussed in this publication,
you must meet all of the following criteria:
- demonstrate financial need, except for some student loans.
- have a high school diploma or a
General Education Development (GED) Certificate, pass a test approved by the
U.S. Department of Education, meet other standards your state establishes that are
approved by the U.S. Department of Education, or complete a high school education
in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under
state law. See your financial aid administrator for more information.
- be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a
regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an
eligible program. (You may not receive aid for correspondence or telecommunications
courses unless they are part of an associate, bachelor’s, or graduate degree program.)
- be a U.S. citizen or
eligible non-citizen.
- have a valid Social Security Number (unless you’re from the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau). If you need
a Social Security Number, you can find out more about applying for one through the
Internet at www.ssa.gov
- meet
satisfactory academic progress standards set by the postsecondary school you
are or will be attending.
- certify that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes.
- certify that you are not in
default on a federal student loan and that you do not owe money on a federal
student grant.
- comply with the
Selective Service Registration, if required. If you’re a male aged 18 through
25, and you haven’t yet registered, you can give the Selective Service permission
to register you by checking a box on the FAFSA. You can also register through the
Internet at www.sss.gov
The law suspends aid eligibility for students convicted under federal or state law
of sale or possession of illegal drugs. The period of ineligibility varies and depends
on whether the conviction was for sale or possession, and whether the student had
previous offenses. The student regains eligibility when the period of suspension
ends, or in some cases, only when the student completes an acceptable drug rehabilitation
program. If you have a conviction or convictions for these offenses, call 1-800-4-FEDAID
(1-800-433-3243) to find out how, or if, this law applies to you. Even if you’re
ineligible for federal aid, you should complete the FAFSA and answer Question 35
because schools use this information in awarding nonfederal aid. If you leave Question
35 of the FAFSA blank, you will automatically become ineligible for federal student
aid. Incarcerated persons have limited eligibility for federal student aid. An incarcerated
person is eligible for a Pell Grant only if he or she is incarcerated in a nonfederal
or nonstate penal institution, such as a local or county jail.
When you apply for aid from the FSA programs, the U. S. Department of Education
verifies some of your information with the following federal agencies:
- Social Security Administration (for verification of Social Security Numbers and
U.S. citizenship status)
- Selective Service System (for verification of Selective Service registration status,
if applicable)
- U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (for verification of
eligible non-citizen status, if applicable)
- U.S. Department of Justice (for verification that an applicant has not been denied
federal student aid by the courts as the result of a drug-related conviction)
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (for verification of veteran status, if applicable)
Financial Need
Aid from most of the programs discussed in this publication is awarded on the basis
of financial need (except for unsubsidized Stafford and PLUS Loans).
When you apply for federal student aid, the information you report on the FAFSA
is used to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The formula used to
calculate your EFC is established by law and is used to measure your family’s financial
strength based on their income and assets. The EFC is used to determine your eligibility
for federal student aid.
If your EFC is below a certain amount, you’ll be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant,
assuming you meet all other eligibility requirements. There isn’t a maximum EFC
that defines eligibility for the other financial aid programs (see types of federal
student aid for information on these programs). Instead, your EFC is used in the
following equation to determine your financial need:
Your financial aid administrator calculates your
Cost Of Attendance and subtracts the EFC. If there’s anything left over,
you’re considered to have financial need. In attempting to meet your need for aid
from FSA programs, your financial aid administrator must first consider other aid
you’re expected to receive.
NOTE: The financial aid administrator puts together a
Financial Aid Package that comes as close as possible to meeting your need.
However, because funds are limited, the total amount awarded to you might fall short
of the amount you’re eligible for. Also, except for Federal Pell Grant aid, the
amount of federal student aid you receive is affected by other sources of aid you
might get— scholarships, state aid, etc.
Your financial aid administrator can adjust data used to calculate your EFC or adjust
your Cost
Of Attendance if he or she believes your family’s financial circumstances
warrant it based on the documentation you provide. However, the financial aid administrator
does not have to make such an adjustment. For more information on special circumstances,
click here.
You can get worksheets that show how the EFC is calculated by downloading them at
www.ifap.ed.gov. At the site, under "FSA Library," click on "Current Publications
by Title." Then click on "E" in the alphabet list across the top of the page. Then
go to "EFC Formula Information." You can also get the worksheets by contacting the
Federal Student Aid Information Center.
Dependency Status
When you apply for federal student aid, your answers to certain questions will determine
whether you’re considered dependent on your parents. If you’re considered
dependent, your parents' income and assets as well as your own must be reported
on the FAFSA. If you're independent, you'll report only your own income and assets
(and those of your spouse, if you’re married). Not living with your parents does
not necessarily classify you as independent.
Students are classified as dependent or independent because federal student aid
programs are based on the principle that students (and their parents or spouse,
if applicable) are considered the primary source of support for postsecondary education.
For the 2008-2009 academic year, you’re an independent student if at least one of
the following applies to you:
- you were born before January 1, 1985;
- you’re married;
- you are or will be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program (beyond a bachelor’s
degree) during the 2008-2009 school year;
- you have children who receive more than half their support from you;
- you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who
receive more than half their support from you and will continue to receive more
than half their support from you through June 30, 2009;
- you’re a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces ("veteran" includes students who attended
a U.S. service academy and who were released under a condition other than dishonorable).
In unusual cases, an aid administrator can determine that a student who doesn’t
meet the above criteria should still be treated as an independent student. The financial
aid administrator can change your dependency status if he or she thinks circumstances
warrant it based on the documentation you provide. But remember, the aid administrator
won’t automatically do this. The decision is based on the aid administrator’s
judgment and is final—it can’t be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.
Applying
If you applied for federal student aid for the 2007-2008 school year, you probably
will be able to file a 2008-2009 Renewal FAFSA.
If you didn’t apply for federal student aid for the 2007-2008 school year, you can
apply for the 2008-2009 school year by completing and submitting the 2008-2009 FAFSA.
You can apply through the Internet, using FAFSA on the Web, or you can complete
a paper FAFSA.
FAFSA on the Web. With this method, you can complete a FAFSA online
and submit it via the Internet. You can access FAFSA on the Web (on a computer equipped
with Internet capability) through the same Department Web site where you can get
general student aid information:
www.studentaid.ed.gov.
If you can, you should use FAFSA on the Web because if you file electronically,
the software immediately identifies potential errors and allows for on-the-spot
correction. Plus, once you transmit it, your information goes right into the U.S.
Department of Education’s Central Processing System (CPS). The CPS will process
your application in one to five days, provided you (and your parents, if applicable)
have provided electronic signatures (see the PIN discussion below).
Mailing a paper FAFSA. To apply by completing a paper FAFSA, you
can get one from your high school, local library, postsecondary school, or from
the Federal Student Aid Information Center.
Complete the application and mail in the pre-addressed envelope that’s in your FAFSA
packet. Or, before mailing it, you could check to see if your school, or a school
that interests you, offers the option of submitting your FAFSA information electronically
(which is different from you submitting it over the Internet).
What is a PIN, and who gets it? A PIN is an electronic access code
number that serves as an identifier. A PIN lets you access your personal federal
student aid information online in various U.S. Department of Education systems.
It works much like the personal identification number you get from your bank. Whether
you complete a paper FAFSA or file an application using FAFSA on the Web, you can
get a PIN. The process for getting and using a PIN is described below.
If you fill out a FAFSA using FAFSA on the Web, having a PIN allows you (and your
parents, if they have a PIN and you’re a dependent student) to "sign" your FAFSA
electronically, which means the student aid process can be completed totally online.
Your electronic signature holds the same legal status as a written signature, so
don’t give out your PIN to anyone. Once you get a PIN, you should remember it, because
you use the same PIN in the future to apply electronically for student aid and to
access your U.S. Department of Education records.
FAFSA on the Web filers who are new applicants should request a PIN through
www.studentaid.ed.gov. At the site, click on "Apply for PIN," right under
"My FSA" in the left column.
You should get a PIN before completing FAFSA on the Web, so you (and your parents,
if applicable) can electronically sign your application at the time you submit it.
You can request a PIN, and your parents can request their own PIN, anytime before
you complete the FAFSA. If you don’t request a PIN, you can always print out, sign,
and mail in a signature page, but the application process will take longer.
When requesting a PIN, you’ll need to provide your name, Social Security Number,
date of birth, and mailing address, and submit your request. After that information
has been verified with the Social Security Administration’s records, a PIN will
be generated. If you provide an e-mail address, you’ll get an e-mail response that
contains a link to your PIN so you can get it quickly, through the Internet. If
you don’t provide an e-mail address, you’ll get your PIN through regular mail.
Even if you file electronically and don’t request a PIN, or even if you file a paper
FAFSA, you’ll receive a PIN if the personal data mentioned above matches the Social
Security Administration’s records. A PIN has other uses besides just signing an
application electronically. So, whether you’re a paper or an electronic filer, you
can use your PIN to
- access your Student Aid Report (SAR), which is your processed FAFSA data;
- make corrections to your application information;
- electronically sign a master
promissory note;
- complete your Renewal FAFSA (see below); and
- access your applicant data records online. You can, among other things, check your
student loan history through the U.S. Department of Education’s National Student
Loan Data System (NSLDS)
If you file for 2007-2008 using a paper FAFSA, you can use your PIN to apply for
federal student aid electronically in 2008-2009, if you choose.
What if I have questions about the PIN? You can get answers about
the PIN process by going to http://www.pin.ed.gov/ At the site, click on "Apply for
PIN" in the left column, right below "My FSA". Or, you can call the Federal Student
Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID.
Can I request a PIN from the Federal Student Aid Information Center?
No, you can only request a PIN by going online.
I applied for federal student aid in 2007-2008. Can I use a Renewal FAFSA?
Yes. Using a Renewal FAFSA means you'll have fewer questions to answer than if you
applied with a new application, because most of the Renewal form will be filled
in already with information you provided on your 2007-2008 FAFSA. You’ll only have
to update any information that has changed since 2007-2008 and fill in a few answers.
If you applied for federal student aid electronically in 2007-2008, you’ll get a
reminder, either through regular mail or e-mail (depending on whether you provided
your e-mail address) that it’s time for you to reapply. The reminder will include
your PIN, which you’ll use to go online to complete your Renewal FAFSA on the Web
and sign it electronically.
If you applied using a paper FAFSA in 2007-2008, usually you’ll receive a paper
Renewal FAFSA for 2008-2009. If so, review the pre-printed information on the Renewal
FAFSA, add what needs to be filled in or changed, sign it, and mail it. In some
cases, instead of a paper Renewal FAFSA, students will receive a reminder notice
containing a PIN. You’ll get this if (1) you used the Web to make corrections in
2007-2008, (2) your school requests that you receive a PIN, or (3) you’re a graduate
or fifth- year undergraduate student. If you get a PIN, use it to access the Renewal
FAFSA on the Web, complete it online, and sign it electronically.
You’ll receive either the paper Renewal FAFSA or the reminder notice containing
your PIN in November or December 2007, but you cannot submit your application (whether
it’s paper or electronic) before January 1, 2008.
Check with your financial aid administrator if you have questions about the Renewal
FAFSA or contact the Federal Student Aid
Information Center.
What information do I need to complete a FAFSA accurately? First,
read the instructions carefully! Most mistakes are made because applicants don’t
follow instructions. If you apply using FAFSA on the Web, you can print a pre-application
worksheet if you want to practice filling out the form before you submit your information
online. Filling out the worksheet can help you see what information you need and
help you provide the correct, complete data. The preapplication worksheet follows
the order of the questions as they are presented on the Web (the order is somewhat
different from that on the paper FAFSA). The worksheet will also reference the question
numbers as they appear on the paper FAFSA, however.
When you fill out your application, pay special attention to questions on income;
most errors occur in this area. When you apply, you should have a tax return
on hand.(1) You’ll need to refer to your tax return, your parents’ return (if you’re
a dependent student—see page 6), and your spouse’s return (if you’re married and
your spouse filed a separate return). Referring to the tax form will make it easier
to answer the questions when you apply. Other records such as W-2 forms and bank
statements also will be useful.
You might not have to report certain asset or income information on your FAFSA if
you (and your parents, if you’re a dependent student) don’t have income over a certain
amount and filed, or were eligible to file, a 1040A or 1040EZ (that is, not required
to file a 1040). The paper or electronic FAFSA will provide instructions to determine
if you qualify. Note that even if you do qualify, some states and schools require
this information anyway. Check with the schools in which you are interested.
You should save all records and all other materials used in completing the application
because you might need them later to prove the information you reported is correct.
The process of proving your information is correct is called verification. If verification
is required, and you don’t provide the proof your school requests, you won’t receive
aid from FSA programs, and you might not receive aid from other sources.
You should photocopy your application (or print out a copy of your FAFSA on the
Web application) so you’ll have a copy for your own records.
What if I need help filling out my application? If you apply using
FAFSA on the Web, help is built into the program. You can also go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/help.htm
You can also contact the Federal Student
Aid Information Center with questions on either the paper or electronic
FAFSA. Or, contact your school’s financial aid office. Remember, you can get the
help you need for free from one of these sources; you don’t have to pay for assistance.
NOTE: that if you (or your parents, if you’re a dependent student)
are eligible for the Earned Income Credit, make sure you get it by filing a tax
return. Also, you’ll have an accurate record of your earnings.
Will I need to fill out forms in addition to the FAFSA to receive aid?
For most of the federal student aid programs, the FAFSA (or Renewal FAFSA) is the
only form you need to file. To receive a PLUS Loan, your parents will have to complete
different forms (see the PLUS Loans Section). Remember, applying for federal student
aid is free.
To be considered for nonfederal aid such as institutional aid (aid from the school),
you might have to fill out additional nonfederal forms. Check with your school.
Be sure to ask about any deadlines.
When do I apply for federal aid? Apply as soon AFTER January 1,
2008, as possible. (If you apply before this date, your application will be rejected,
so do not sign [in print or electronic format], date, or send your application before
January 1.) If you want to apply through FAFSA on the Web, you can apply beginning
January 2, 2008. It’s easier to complete the application when you already have a
completed income tax return, so you might want to complete your tax return as early
as possible.
If you use a paper FAFSA, send your completed application in the envelope provided.
It’s already addressed, so your application will automatically reach the correct
place.
NOTE: You must reapply for federal student aid every year. Also,
if you change schools, your aid doesn’t automatically go with you. Check with your
new school to find out what steps you must take to continue receiving aid.
How do I know if my application has been received? If it’s been
more than four weeks since you submitted your application and you haven’t heard
anything, you can check on your application through the FAFSA on the Web site, even
if you didn’t apply using FAFSA on the Web. You can also check by contacting the
Federal Student Aid Information Center
at the address or toll-free number.
If you want confirmation that your paper application was received, send in the postcard
that comes with the paper FAFSA. Just fill in the required information, attach a
stamp, and mail it along with the FAFSA. When the FAFSA processor receives your
application, the postcard will be stamped with the date it’s received and mailed
back to you for your files. If you don’t hear anything within four weeks of the
date stamped on the postcard, contact the
Federal Student Aid Information Center and refer to the date stamped on
the postcard.
What happens after I apply? After the Department’s processing system
receives your completed application, generally you’ll receive a Student Aid Report
(SAR), if you applied using the paper FAFSA, or a SAR Information Acknowledgement
if you applied electronically. If you provided your e-mail address on your paper
or electronic FAFSA, however, you’ll instead get back an e-mail that contains a
secure link so you can access your SAR data on the Web. You’ll get this e-mail in
one to five days provided you (and your parents, if applicable) signed your application
at the time you applied. If you don’t have or provide an e-mail address, you’ll
get a SAR within four weeks or a SAR Information Acknowledgement within two weeks.
Your SAR or SAR Information Acknowledgement will list all the information you reported
on your FAFSA. If there are no questions or requirements for additional information,
your SAR will contain your
Expected Family Contribution (EFC), the number used in determining your
eligibility for federal student aid. Your EFC will appear in the upper right-hand
portion of your SAR. Whether you apply electronically or with a paper form, the
Department will send your data electronically to the schools you list on the FAFSA.
What do I do with my SAR? You must review it carefully to make
sure it’s correct and complete. If it is, and it contains your Expected Family Contribution
(EFC), your school will use your SAR as the basis to pay you federal student aid
funds. If you need to make corrections, you can make them in a number of ways You
can make corrections online through the Department of Education’s FAFSA on the Web
site, even if you didn’t apply using FAFSA on the Web. Your school might be able
to submit the corrections electronically.
You can make corrections on the paper SAR (if that’s what you received) and return
it to the address provided. If you don’t have a copy of your SAR, you can request
one from the Federal Student Aid Information
Center. (If you send a written request for a duplicate SAR, make sure you
include your full name, permanent address, Social Security Number, date of birth,
the school year for which you’re applying for aid, and your signature.) Your duplicate
SAR will be sent to the address you reported on your application. If your address
has changed, include your old and new mailing addresses and ask for a change of
address. Note that you can’t use a SAR Information Acknowledgement to make corrections
(just to check the information reported). You’ll make corrections using FAFSA on
the Web.
If you want to have your application information sent to a school you didn’t list
on your FAFSA, you can
- contact the Federal Student Aid Information
Center to have your information sent to the school,
- give the school permission to request your information, or
- correct your paper SAR to add the school or make the correction on the Web.
If you ask the Federal Student Aid Information Center to send your information or
give permission to the school to request the information, you’ll need to provide
your Data Release Number (DRN), located in the lower left hand corner of the first
few pages of the SAR.
If your address changes after you receive your SAR, you should correct your address
as soon as possible. You can do this online at the FAFSA on the Web site, by contacting
the Federal Student Aid Information Center
(you’ll need to provide your DRN), or by correcting the SAR and mailing it to the
address listed on the SAR.
Special Circumstances
Although the formula used to determine eligibility for federal student aid is basically
the same for all applicants, there is some flexibility.
In some cases, your financial aid administrator might adjust your
Cost Of Attendance or the information used to calculate your EFC to take
into account any special circumstances you might have. These circumstances could
include a family’s unusual medical expenses or tuition expenses. Also, an adjustment
might be made if you, your spouse, or either parent (if applicable) has been recently
unemployed. If conditions such as these apply to you or your family, contact your
financial aid administrator.
Also, check with your financial aid administrator if you think you have any other
special circumstances that might affect your dependency status or the amount you
and your family are expected to contribute. But, there have to be very good reasons
for the financial aid administrator to make any adjustments, and you’ll have to
provide adequate proof to support those adjustments. Note that the financial
aid administrator’s decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department
of Education.
Withdrawals
If you should withdraw from school, the law states that the amount of FSA program
assistance you have "earned" up to the point of withdrawal must be determined by
a specific formula. If you received more assistance than you earned, the excess
funds must be returned.
The amount of assistance you’ve earned is determined on a pro-rata basis. That is,
if you completed 30 percent of the payment period or period of enrollment, you earned
30 percent of the assistance you were originally scheduled to receive. Once you’ve
completed more than 60 percent of the payment period or period of enrollment, you
earn all of your assistance.
If you received excess funds that must be returned, your school can explain what
portion of those funds you must return.
Deadlines
Application Submission - The application processor must receive
your application by June 30, 2009, for the 2008-2009 school year.
There are no exceptions to this deadline.
Apply as soon as you can on or AFTER January 1, 2008. (Please note
that your application will be rejected if you apply before that date, so don’t sign,
date, or send your application before January 1.) If you want to apply through FAFSA
on the Web, you can apply beginning January 2, 2008.
Schools and states often set deadlines early in the calendar year that students
must meet to receive certain types of funds, including aid from the federal "campus-based”
program funds (click here for information on these programs). Make sure you know
your school’s deadlines so you won’t miss out on any aid.
SAR Submission
Your correct, complete application information must be at your school by your
last day of enrollment in 2008-2009 or by mid-September 2008, whichever is earlier
(check with your school’s financial aid office). If your school hasn’t
received your application information electronically, you must submit your SAR to
the school by the deadline. Be sure you know your last day of enrollment in 2008-2009
— it might be earlier than mid-September.
NOTE: If you’re selected for verification, additional deadlines
apply to you. Your financial aid administrator can tell you what they are.
FSAIC The Federal Student Aid Information Center
You can get information from the Center for free by calling this number: 1-800-4-FED-AID
(1-800-433-3243). Information specialists at this number can
- help you complete the FAFSA (either electronic or paper).
- answer your questions about a PIN.
- help you make corrections to your SAR.
- tell you whether a school participates in the federal student aid programs and tell
you the school’s student loan default rate.
- explain federal student aid eligibility requirements.
- explain the process of determining financial need and awarding aid.
- have your application information sent to a specific school.
- send federal student aid publications to you.
- answer questions about federal student loans.
You can use an automated response system at this number to
- find out if your FAFSA application has been processed.
- request a copy of your SAR.
TTY users may call 1-800-730-8913. Callers from locations that do not have access
to 800 numbers may call 1-319-337-5665. This is not a toll-free number.
You can also write to the Federal Student Aid Information Center at the following
address:
Federal Student Aid Information Center
P.O. Box 84
Washington, DC 20044-0084
For a list of other frequently requested telephone numbers and Web sites,
click here.
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