While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
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We are not affiliated with the government in any way. We are a private company that engaged writers to research the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process. We are not providing legal or financial advice. If you need such advice please contact an attorney or a financial advisor.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a federal document that must be completed by college students and their families to apply for any type of financial aid. The FAFSA helps the Department of Education, state colleges, career schools, and private organizations determine the types and amounts of financial aid that a student is eligible to receive.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Learn more about the FAFSA on the Federal Student Aid website here.
There are several types of financial aid available to qualifying students, including:
Grants are a form of financial aid that, in most cases, does not need to be repaid. There are various types of grants available to students, and each grant has its own eligibility requirements.
For example, Federal Pell Grants are based on financial need and only awarded to undergraduate students. While grants do not generally need to be repaid, you may be required to repay part or all of a federal grant if:
You can learn more about grants here.
Scholarships are another type of student financial aid that does not generally need to be repaid. Scholarships are provided by private organizations, nonprofits, and schools to qualifying students. Eligibility requirements for scholarships vary by the scholarship program but may be based upon financial need, talent, a specific field of study, or academic merit. Other scholarships are awarded to specific groups of people, such as women, single mothers, or graduate students.
When applying for a scholarship, it is important to verify that a scholarship is legitimate. You do not need to pay to apply for a scholarship or other forms of financial aid.
You can learn more about scholarship opportunities from resources such as:
Learn more about scholarships here.
Student loans are money that must be repaid with interest. You can take out a loan with the federal government or other institutions such as banks and other financial organizations. Loan terms, including repayment plans, interest rates, and the maximum amount you can borrow, vary. Applying for a loan through a private institution may require a credit check or may have a higher interest rate compared to a loan borrowed from the federal government. If you choose to borrow from the federal government, certain careers have paths towards loan forgiveness.
Learn more about student loans here.
The Federal Work-Study Program lets students earn money to pay for school by working part-time while attending school. This program is available to both part-time and full-time students who have a financial need. The program is administered by schools that participate in the Federal Work-Study Program. The amount that you can earn through the Federal Work-Study Program is, at minimum, the amount of the current federal minimum wage.
Depending on the type of work you perform and the skills required for the position, you may be able to earn more. Your total award amount can also depend on:
Learn more about the Federal Work-Study Program here.
Aid for military families includes special programs that are offered to qualifying military service personnel or the children or spouse of a veteran. Available aid includes scholarships, grants, special loan programs, and other forms of financial aid.
You can learn more about financial aid for military families here.
Aid for international study is available for certain students that wish to study at an international school through a study-abroad program. Study-abroad programs are available through participating U.S. schools. To obtain financial aid for one of these programs, your school must participate in the program. The study-abroad programs' applications can be lengthier, so it is important to apply as soon as possible.
You can learn more about aid for international study here.
The information you must provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid will determine the amount and type of financial aid you can receive. The amount of assistance you can receive is primarily determined by your cost of attendance (COA) and your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Your cost of attendance is the -amount it will cost you to attend school for the year or semester. If you are enrolled at least half-time, your cost of attendance estimate will include:
Your Expected Family Contribution is based on the income, assets, and benefits that you and your family receive. The EFC also considers your household size and the number of family members that intend to attend college during the applicable year.
Once your COA and EFC have been calculated, your financial need is determined by subtracting your EFC from your COA. You cannot receive more financial aid than your FAFSA determines financial need. Financial aid programs that are considered need-based include:
You can learn more about how the amount of federal student aid you can receive is calculated here.
To qualify for federal student aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before each school year and meet basic eligibility requirements. To qualify for federal student aid, you must:
Students who are not U.S. citizens, who have criminal convictions, or have intellectual disabilities must meet additional eligibility requirements.
Learn more about federal student aid eligibility requirements here.
To apply for federal student aid, complete the following three steps:
1. Review the application requirements and gather documentation necessary to complete your FAFSA application.
Learn what documents you need here.
2. Choose how you are going to apply, whether online, by mail, or in person.
To apply for federal financial aid online, click here to begin the online FAFSA form.
To apply for federal financial aid by mail, complete the FAFSA form here and mail your completed form to:
Federal Student Aid Programs
PO Box 7654
London, KY 40742-7654
To apply for federal financial aid in person, visit the financial aid office at the school or college you will be attending.
3. Submit your application.
If you have any questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1 (800) 433-3243. You can also email or chat online with the FSAIC here. Or, contact your school's financial aid office for assistance.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is available before the start of each school year. The form is usually available starting October 1st. However, it is important to complete your FAFSA as soon as possible because some schools and states have limited funds and run out of financial aid early. The sooner you can apply for federal student aid, the better.
Click here to learn more about FAFSA deadlines.
After you complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid, your school's financial aid office will send you a letter that includes the financial aid that is available to you. It's important to carefully review your financial aid options so that you can make an informed decision about the type of aid that's best for you.
When deciding the type of financial aid to accept, it's generally best to first accept any free money, such as grants or scholarships. Borrowed money, such as federal student loans, should be your final consideration as this is money that you will need to repay with interest. Should you choose to borrow student loans, you will need to sign a promissory note that specifies your loan terms and conditions.
Your student aid offer will include additional directions on how to accept your financial aid.
You can renew your FAFSA by completing the same steps that you did when applying for federal student aid for the first time. To renew your FAFSA form, complete the following three steps:
1. Review the application requirements and gather documentation necessary to complete your FAFSA application.
Learn what documents you need here.
2. Choose how you are going to apply, whether online, by mail, or in person.
To apply for federal financial aid online, click here to begin the online FAFSA form.
To apply for federal financial aid by mail, complete the FAFSA form here and mail your completed form to:
Federal Student Aid Programs
PO Box 7654
London, KY 40742-7654
To apply for federal financial aid in person, visit the financial aid office at the school or college that you will be attending.
3. Submit your application.
If you have any questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1 (800) 433-3243. You can also email or chat online with the FSAIC here. Or, contact your school's financial aid office for assistance.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and compiled a guide that we believe is simple to use and easy to understand. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free FAFSA Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply for Federal Student Aid, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with offices. You can view our free guide here.