FAFSA and Government Documents

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA is the form to be completed when applying for all forms of federal aid; i.e., Pell Grants, workstudy, and some loans. (It is also one of the forms required for State Aid.)

About the FAFSA

The Department of Education uses the information provided on your FAFSA to determine your eligibility for aid from the federal Student Financial Assistance (SFA) programs described below. Many states and schools also use the FAFSA to award aid from their programs. Some states and schools may require you to complete additional forms.

Some of the requirements to receive aid from federal Student Financial Assistance (SFA) programs are that you must

• be a citizen or eligible non-citizen of the United States with a valid Social Security Number;
• have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate or pass an approved "ability to benefit" test, or have completed a high school education in a homeschool setting that is treated as a home school or private school under state law;
• enroll in an eligible program as regular student seeking a degree or certificate; and
• register (or have registered) for Selective Service, if you are a male between the ages of 18-25.

Finding a FAFSA form

You can get a FAFSA at the school you plan to attend or your local library, from a high school counselor, or from the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC). You can also access various electronic versions of the FAFSA, including FAFSA on the Web (an online application) at www.fafsa.ed.gov and FAFSA Express (downloadable software) at www.sfadownload.ed.gov/fafsa/fexpress.html.

Completing the FAFSA

The task of collecting the information, completing and submitting the FAFSA form is only the first step in the financial aid process.

If you submit a paper version of the FAFSA, the Department will send you a Student Aid Report (SAR) within four weeks. If you apply using FAFSA Express and submit a signature page, you will receive a SAR within 10-14 days of sending the signature page. The SAR will either request further information or list a number called an Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

If you apply using FAFSA on the Web and send a signature page, you will receive a SAR Information Acknowledgement within 10-14 days of sending the signature page. The SAR Information Acknowledgement shows the information you reported on the FAFSA and tells you your EFC.

Your SAR will summarize the data you report on your application. Please check this information carefully to make sure it is accurate. Keep a copy of your SAR and note your Data Release Number (DRN) in the upper right hand corner of the first page; you will need your DRN if you decide to apply to additional schools.

If your FAFSA information is complete, an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be printed next to your DRN. Your EFC will be based on the financial information you provide on the FAFSA, and your school will use it to award your financial aid. The Federal Processor uses a formula established by law to calculate your EFC from the information you provide on your FAFSA.

More Help and Additional Information

For additional help filling out the FAFSA, you can go to the US Dept. of Ed. "Completing the FAFSA" web site at:
www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/FAFSA or to use the phone to request forms or assistance in completing the FAFSA contact the FSAIC or SFA

SFA and FSAIC Telephone Numbers:

• TOLL FREE: 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)
• TTY USERS: 1-800-730-8913
• NON-TOLL FREE: 1-319-337-5665