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    FAFSA

    Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 

    FAFSA (Free Application Federal Student Aid) Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, ensures that all eligible individuals can benefit from federally funded or federally guaranteed financial assistance for education beyond high school. We consistently champion the promise of post secondary education to all Americans—and its value to our society.

    Federal Student Aid plays a central and essential role in supporting post secondary education by providing money for college to eligible students and families. We partner with post secondary schools, financial institutions and other participants in the Title IV student financial assistance programs to deliver services that help students and families who are paying for college.www.fafsa.ed.gov

    • FAFSA forms are also available in the Career Resource Center.
    • Many Pennsylvania high school seniors who otherwise would have been eligible for a state grant of $3,300 did not receive one because they did not file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on time. File your FAFSA form as soon as possible.
    • You can call 1-800-4-FED-AID  to speak to a customer service representative. An Internet search of the word FAFSA may direct users to many for-profit web sites offering to complete the FAFSA form for a hefty fee. Free help completing the FAFSA is available by calling 1-800-FED-AID or visit FAFSA
    • You must complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for federal student aid for college or career school and for most state and institutional aid. The quickest way to apply is online using FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Financial aid office use information from the FAFSA to determine if you are eligible to receive federal student aid from grants, loans, and work-study programs. For Toll-free help between the hours of 8 a.m. and midnight Eastern time, call 800-433-3243. For more funding information, www.studentaid.ed.gov/guide
    • Federal Student Aid Publications: www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov
    • Student gateway to the U.S. Government: www.student.gov

    Get Your PIN Number

    It's free! It's fast! It's easy! It's secure!

    You will need a PIN to electronically sign your FAFSA. To apply for your PIN online, visit Department of Education 

    You and the FAFSA®

    Paying for college is a family responsibility that requires family input. If your child is still a dependent, you should take the necessary actions to ensure that he or she has access to as much student aid as possible. In part, this means providing your financial information on student aid forms, including the FAFSA® (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

    The purpose of the FAFSA is to gather information on a family's income, assets, and other resources to determine a student's eligibility for student aid. Since many types of student aid are "need based," eligibility is often based on the family's financial picture. Colleges therefore need the FAFSA to assess a family's finances and award need-based dollars.

    Without the required parent data, the FAFSA is incomplete, and student aid cannot be awarded.

    To Pay or Not to Pay

    One of the basic principles of student aid in the United States is that families are expected to pay for college costs to the best of their ability. This is true even if parents are unwilling or unable to contribute to college costs.

    Providing your financial information on the FAFSA does not mean you will be forced to pay for your child's college costs. It is your choice if you want your child to pay for his or her own education. But if you don't provide your financial information on the FAFSA, you will also be denying your child access to most student aid programs.

    Don't let this happen.

     

    To qualify for student aid in the United States, you must complete the FAFSA® (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

    The U.S. Department of Education uses the FAFSA to determine your eligibility for federal student aid, including low-cost loans, grants, and work-study. The FAFSA may also determine your eligibility for state and school aid as well.

    Eligibility: Anyone who plans to attend college should submit the FAFSA.

    Many students believe they are not eligible for student aid and do not submit a FAFSA. This is a mistake. Here are some reasons why:

    • The FAFSA is free and costs nothing to complete.
    • The FAFSA is necessary for most forms of student aid.
    • If your family's financial circumstances suddenly change, you'll already have a FAFSA on file.
    • Nearly everyone who applies receives student aid of some sort, regardless of their credit history.

    1. Create an FSA ID (Federal Student Aid ID) with the U.S. Department of Education.

      Create Now

    2. Complete the FAFSA.

      Go to the FAFSA

     

    SOURCE: http://www.educationplanner.org/students/paying-for-school/student-aid-101/importance-of-fafsa.shtml