FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
The FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the form filled out by students to gain access to federal grants and loans and possible college/university grants and scholarships.
Visit your College and Career Center (CACC) for help with filling out and submitting your FAFSA. Need general help with the FAFSA? Fill out our general FAFSA help form, and a CACC advisor will reach out to help you.
Here are a few facts about FAFSA and links to help you get started on the road to receiving financial aid.
- To fill out the FAFSA and successfully submit it, you will need the following:
- Your Social Security Number
- Your Green Card (if you are not a U.S. citizen — you be required to provide a copy of your Green Card to the college upon acceptance as proof of permanent residency)
- Your federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned
Note: You will be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA. - Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
- Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
- An FSA ID to sign electronically (student and parents will need one)
- You must fill out a FAFSA every year that you are in school. It is not a one-time form that you fill out only your first year of college.
- A student needs a Social Security Number to fill out the FAFSA; however, a student's parents do not need one for the student to fill out the FAFSA.
- After you submit your FAFSA, all other communication about your financial aid will come from the schools you sent the FAFSA to.
- Check out the FAFSA Next Steps.
FAFSA Verification
Your FAFSA may be flagged and put into a process called verification. This is a completely normal process that happens to students every year. Below are links to help you through the process of verification.