The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
As soon as you've wrapped up your college applications, you should plan to file your FAFSA. FAFSA stands for "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" — but we like to think of it as “Financial Aid's First Step Always.” Families sometimes avoid filing a FAFSA because they don't think they'll qualify for federal aid. But the FAFSA does more than determine your eligibility for federal student aid (student loans, grants and federal Work-Study programs) — most schools also use the FAFSA to help decide your eligibility for scholarships and non-federal student aid. And states often use the FAFSA to determine state aid.
Some colleges and universities require additional forms such as the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®. Please check with your school to see if additional information is required in addition to the FAFSA.
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Step 1 – Complete the FAFSA
You can file a FAFSA on paper or electronically—but it’s usually faster and easier to fill out online. Filing the FAFSA online lets you complete, submit and track your application, and can reduce processing time by one to two weeks. And because your data is checked before being transmitted to the processing center, there's less chance of making an error.
You can download or fill out the FAFSA online at fafsa.ed.gov. If you plan to complete and submit your FAFSA online, we recommend getting a U.S. Department of Education PIN. The PIN will serve as your electronic signature, and gives you the fastest way to submit your application. Fill out the brief PIN application at pin.ed.gov.
Deadlines
You can file the FAFSA after January 1. Try to file as early as possible because award deadlines vary from school to school and state to state. Pay attention to your colleges’ financial aid deadlines and other required financial aid forms.