STEP 1 – UNDERSTANDING FAFSA

• It is important to understand what FAFSA is and how it will work for your educational journey after high school. This video will offer you and your family an overview about FAFSA and how much aid you might receive.
• Step by step Financial Aid Application Process helps you understand and complete each step appropriately.
• The FAFSA form is available every Oct. 1 for the next school year (for our Blue Aces, this will be your Senior Year).
• Students attending college in the Fall of 2022 will complete the 2022-2023 application.
• Fill it out as soon as possible to meet school and state deadlines.
• Schools and states often use FAFSA information to award nonfederal aid, but their deadlines vary. Check with the schools that you’re interested in for their deadlines and find state and federal FAFSA deadlines.

STEP 2 – CREATE YOUR FSA ID

• Students and parents are required to use a FSA ID to sign their FAFSA form online and to access information about their financial aid on U.S. Department of Education websites.
• Creating a FSA ID is easy and this video will help walk you through each step.
• Students should never create an FSA ID for their parent or guardian. Their FSA ID may be needed for other siblings or needed if they chose to go back to college themselves.
• Your FSA ID is used to confirm your identity and electronically sign your federal student aid documents.
• Your FSA ID has the same legal status as a written signature.
• Don’t give your FSA ID to anyone or allow anyone to create an FSA ID for you.
• To create an FSA ID, click here and create an account.

STEP 3 – APPLY FOR FAFSA

• Go to FAFSA.GOV to apply or click here!
• After you apply, you’ll receive a Student Aid Report, or SAR.
• Your SAR contains the information reported on your FAFSA form and usually includes your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
• The EFC is a number (not a dollar amount) used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid. Review your SAR information to make sure it’s correct.
• The school(s) you list on your FAFSA form will get your SAR data electronically.
• Need more help? This video is a complete walkthrough of every page and tab of the FAFSA application.

STEP 4 – GET TO KNOW YOUR COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID COUNSELOR

• Contact the school(s) you might attend. Make sure the financial aid office at each school you’re interested in has all the information needed to determine your eligibility.
• If you’re eligible, each school’s financial aid office will send you an aid offer showing the amount and types of aid (from all sources) the school will offer you.
• You can compare the aid offers you received and see which school offers you the most affordable option once financial aid is considered.