FAFSA
Gateway to student financial aid
Every student who is applying for financial aid should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Here are the facts you need to help your students with this form.
What is the FAFSA?
The FAFSA is a federal form that colleges use to determine a student's eligibility for federal aid (the vast majority of the $168 billion in financial aid awarded each year is from federal funds). The form is also used by many state and college financial aid programs. It is developed, distributed, and processed by the U.S. Department of Education's office of Federal Student Aid (FSA).
When and how to file
Students can't file the FAFSA before January 1, but should file it very soon after that date.
Assure families that it is acceptable and in fact is the norm to use estimated income and other figures on the FAFSA. Tell parents not to wait until they prepare their final tax forms but to use pay stubs and other records to complete the document, preferably by early February. They will be able to change information later.
The FAFSA can be filed on paper or electronically at the FAFSA page on the FSA website. Urge students to file electronically. This method is fastest and has the advantage of online prompts that help families avoid mistakes.
Students who plan to file online will need a PIN—a personal identification number—before they can fill out the form. They should get that in November or December at the Department of Education's PIN website.
Paper copies of the FAFSA are mailed to schools in the fall. To get additional copies, call (800) 394-7084 or visit the FSA publications website.
Helping families complete the form
Providing families with expert advice and/or computers can go a long way to ensuring that students correctly file this important form.
"Counselors should avoid giving advice on what to report on the form, or not," says Laura Malmstrom, a counselor in Wilmington, Delaware. "I bring in financial aid officers from local colleges to help students complete the forms, so they are getting expert help."
Here are some ways to help families:
- Provide copies of the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet (available in English and Spanish) to families so they can prepare their information in advance of filing the actual FAFSA.
- Prepare a list of documents they should have handy, including:
- Social security number
- Federal income tax returns
- W-2 forms
- Current bank statements
- Records of untaxed income (such as welfare benefits, Social Security, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
- Records of any stocks, bonds, or other investments
- Present a FAFSA overview in the fall, using this PowerPoint presentation developed by the Department of Education.
- Convene a panel discussion in the fall about financial aid with financial aid professionals from local colleges.
- Host open lab nights with college financial aid professionals on hand during January, when the FAFSA needs to be completed.
Information from the Office of Federal Student Aid
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid mails an excellent booklet—the Counselors and Mentors Handbook on Federal Student Aid—to each school every year. This easy-to-use reference, aimed at counselors, explains federal aid, how aid is awarded, and the process of completing the FAFSA. It includes handouts that can be used at financial aid events and information on the many federal web-based tools that can help you navigate the FAFSA. Call (800) 394-7084 or go to FSAPubs.org to request a copy.