Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

FASFA is the form you need to fill out to get any financial aid from the federal government to help pay for college. Each year, over 13 million students who file the FAFSA get more than $120 billion in grants, work-study, and low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Education.

Lots of states and colleges also use the FAFSA to determine which students get financial aid—and how much they’ll get.

The FAFSA asks for information about you and your family’s finances, including tax returns, so you’ll need your parents’ help to complete it.

Reasons to Submit Your FAFSA

  • The FAFSA will be required by every college when applying for financial aid.
  • Many colleges will require the FAFSA to be submitted in order for the student to be considered for merit-based scholarships. Some other college requires the FAFSA and CSS Profile in order to be considered for any merit-based scholarships.
  • If your family has a change in circumstances during any of the student’s college years, many colleges, will not consider the family for financial aid unless the FAFSA was submitted for the student’s freshman year.
  • The FAFSA will be required in order to receive loans, even for colleges that do not offer need-based or merit-based grants and scholarships.
  • Many third-party scholarship organizations will require the FAFSA to be submitted as part of their application process.
  • Your family may qualify for financial aid regardless of what you have been told by friends and family.  Every family’s financial situation is different!

Download the “myStudentAid” App

Other FAFSA and Financial Aid Resources