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FAFSA Financial Aid Process

FAFSA Introduction
FAFSA - General Information
FAFSA Assistance
Apply for a FAFSA PIN
Print the FAFSA Worksheet
Complete the online FAFSA
FAFSA Corrections

Complete the Online FAFSA

 

To complete your online FAFSA application, go to Fill Our Your FAFSA:

 

1. Select the “2011-2012 FAFSA” in the “Select” box in the page lower right,
2. Click on “Next” in the blue arrow button,
3. Enter your information and create a password,
4. Click on “Next” in the blue arrow button,
5. Complete the FAFSA application by entering your financial information and submitting online,
6. Print a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR) before exiting the FAFSA application website.  Place the paper copy of your SAR in your paper filing system.

 

If you have trouble with technical aspects of the online FAFSA (such as why it’s not working on your computer – not if you’re having trouble understanding the questions on the form or what answers to give), you can send an e-mail to get your questions answered at FAFSA E-mail questions or chat online livewith a FAFSA assistant (to chat live online, click on small underlined blue letters, “Live Help” in the page center).

 

When you finish and submit your online FAFSA, you will be able to print the FAFSA results, called the Student Aid Report (SAR or “E-SAR”).  Review your SAR to make sure all the information listed is correct.  The SAR will show your calculated Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based upon the financial information entered.  Your EFC will be used by your colleges to calculate your financial aid awards.

Remember, financial aid awarded by colleges (campus-based scholarships and grants) is given out on a first-come, first-served basis.  So you need to apply early by completing the FAFSA in the first or second week of January.  If you wait until the end of February to complete the FAFSA, the “pools” of scholarship and grant money may be dry; the money could already be given to students who applied before you did.

If you used a paper copy of the FAFSA and mailed it to the U.S. Department of Education, your Student Aid Report (SAR) will be mailed to you after the FAFSA is processed.