The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first form you will need to file

to begin the financial need process for most federal student aid programs.

The FAFSA form will be required for all Federal Student Loans and many scholarships. It is used by colleges to determine your financial aid eligibility.

You must determine your dependent and independent status before completing the FAFSA form:

See dependent vs. independent status: Step 1

Dependent Status:
both the parent and the student MUST complete the FAFSA form to be eligible for financial aid.

Independent Status:
only the student and the spouse, if applicable MUST complete the FAFSA form to be eligible for financial aid.

You may submit the FAFSA form anytime after January 1 in the year you intend to begin school;

For example, if you plan to attend school in Fall 2008, you must submit your FAFSA form anytime after January 1, 2008 to about the end of July in order to qualify for financial aid for the academic year coming up.

You should submit your FAFSA form early to meet college financial aid deadlines

The FAFSA form must be completed and renewed each year while you attend school

eligible financial aid may increase or decrease each academic year depending on the college and the renewed FAFSA form that is renewed each year the student is in school.

Some schools may require additional forms for the student to become eligible for non-federal financial aid

The CSS Profile form is the most commonly used form for many Private schools. The PROFILE form requires more complete information not generally covered by the FAFSA form —

contact your college institution to determine whether they require the PROFILE form and any other Financial Aid Application forms

Link for more information and an application:
information on CSS® Profile and participating schools from www.collegeboard.com

Completing the FAFSA form requires the following records:

• social security number and driver license
• alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
  
  
• tax returns for the fiscal year that just ended
• W-2 and 1099 forms
• records of untaxed income, such as Social Security benefits, AFDC or ADC, child support, welfare, pensions, military subsistence allowances, and veterans benefits
  
  
• current bank and mortgage statements
• medical and dental expenses during the past year that was not covered by medical insurance
• business and/or farm records
  
  
• current investment records for stock, bonds, mutual funds, CDs, and money market accounts
  
  make sure you keep a copy of all these records secure in the event that your college is required to request records for verification

Step 1: Get Your Personal PIN

The PIN is your personal identification number that lets your apply, sign your online FAFSA, make corrections and perform any other action with the Department of Education.

The PIN will be required for all parties completing the FAFSA form.

go to www.pin.ed.gov to register for your PIN

Step 2: Collect the Required Documents

Completing the FAFSA form requires the following records:

• your Social Security Number (can be found on Social Security card)
• your driver's license (if any)
  
  
• your recent year W-2 Forms and other records of money earned
• your (and your spouse's, if you are married) recent year Federal Income Tax Return - IRS Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 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 or Palau
  
  
• your parents' recent year Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student)
• your recent year untaxed income records - Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records
  
  
• your most recent bank statements
• your most recent business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond, and other investment records
• your alien registration number or permanent residence card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
  
  make sure you keep a copy of all these records secure in the event that your college is required to request records for verification
  
  for more information about required documents
  (links to the fafsa site)

Step 3: Get School Codes

The results of your FAFSA application will be sent to the schools of your choice. Schools will use the information in determining eligible financial aid.

Have your school codes ready when you are ready to complete your FAFSA online:

find your school codes
(links to the fafsa site)

Step 4: Complete the FAFSA Form Online

You may submit the FAFSA form anytime after January 1 in the year you intend to begin school;

for example, if you plan to attend school in Fall 2007, you must submit your FAFSA form anytime after January 1, 2007 to about the end of July in order to qualify for financial aid for the academic year coming up.

Before you begin:
download a sample FAFSA worksheet that you can use as reference. You need to make sure you enter everything correctly to avoid delays in your financial aid applications:
FAFSA form worksheet

Check your deadlines:
www.fafsa.ed.gov

you should submit your FAFSA form early to meet college financial aid deadlines.

Complete / submit FAFSA online application:
www.fafsa.ed.gov

when you have everything ready, use your assigned PIN to begin submission of your FAFAS form online

Step 5: For Making Corrections

• to review and make any necessary changes to the FAFSA form:
  FAFSA web site
  
  contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center
  at 1-800-433-3243 if your address has changed.
  
  
• need to check your status:
  FAFSA web site
  
  
• add additional schools to your SAR
  request duplicate copies to be sent to you from the FAFSA form web site (under "Request Duplicate Student Aid Report")
  
  add more schools by submitting a correction to your FAFSA information

Step 6: Other FAFSA Notes

• returning students seeking financial aid must complete a FAFSA form each year they attend school.
  
  Returning students will complete the Renewal FAFSA form — the renewal form updates your previous submitted FAFSA form.
  
  Renewal FAFSA online application:
  www.fafsa.ed.gov
  
  
  
• some colleges may require submission of the FINANCIAL AID PROFILE® form in addition to the FAFSA form:
  
  link to the collegeboard for information
  
  The PROFILE form is a fee-based form used by select schools to administer their own financial programs.
  
  The PROFILE form requires more complete information not generally covered by the FAFSA form — contact your college institution to determine whether they require the PROFILE form and any other Financial Aid Application forms:
  
  college and university directory:
  click here for our college search directory