Intro to FAFSA

What is FAFSA?

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Basically, FAFSA is a free application for federal aid for college, career schools, or graduate schools.

Federal Student Aid is a part of the U.S. Department of Education and is the largest provider of financial aid in the nation. Applicants can receive grants, loans, and work-study funds — though Pell Grants are some of the most popular.

Where Can I Fill Out the FAFSA?

You can submit your FAFSA by visiting the Federal Student Aid website here. 

Keep in mind: The FAFSA form is FREE, so if a website asks you to pay to fill it out, you’re not dealing with the official FAFSA site. Remember, this is a government application, so it’s on a ".gov" site. If you need help filling out the FAFSA, there are lots of free resources you can use!

Which FAFSA Should I Fill Out? 

To learn more about when to apply for aid and which academic year to submit for, click here!

Do I Have To Fill It Out? What If My Company Is Funding My Education?

No matter who is paying for your education, we require that everyone fill out FAFSA. Think of it this way: even if your company is paying for your education, there’s a good chance that you’re eligible for federal aid. Because of this, your employer wants to make sure you could take advantage of that.

Remember, FAFSA is free to fill out, and applying won’t affect your credit. 

If your program and/or employer requires you to fill out the FAFSA, then it will be a required part of the application process. Note that you do not have to be eligible for federal aid in order to fill out the FAFSA. 

Do I Have to Accept Federal Aid?

While your employer may require you to accept grant aid, you will not be required to accept loans. You can check your employer’s financial aid policy for more details or talk to your Guild coach.

What If I Can’t Complete the Form?

Until the age of 24, applicants must include specific information about their parents. If you can’t provide that information for any reason, you can still fill out the FAFSA, but you should be able to skip certain sections. If you skip sections, you most likely won’t be eligible for federal aid, but you may still be eligible for other types of aid through your state or college. 

What If I’m Not a U.S. Citizen?

Many non-U.S. citizens qualify for federal student aid. Don’t assume you can’t get aid just because you’re not a citizen! The most common category of eligible noncitizens is that of a permanent resident (someone with a “green card”), but there are other categories as well. Check here to see if you can get aid!

What If I’m a DACA Student?

DACA students can still fill out FAFSA! If you don’t have a social security number, you can typically just use all zeros (0's) instead. Though you likely won’t be eligible for federal student aid, you may still be eligible for state or college aid, in addition to private scholarships.

Still Have Questions?

If you have more questions regarding FAFSA, check out the Federal Student Aid website!