FAFSA
College funding form
FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a form that U.S. students complete to determine eligibility for financial aid—grants, loans, and work-study programs.
Filing the FAFSA is essentially mandatory for college-bound students seeking any federal or institutional assistance: Have you filled out your FAFSA yet?
The form collects income and asset information to calculate expected family contribution.
Yielding to another's will
- deadlineTime limit for completion
- verificationProving something accurate
- eligibilityState of meeting criteria
- dependentRequiring outside support
independent · renewal · corrections · signature · PIN · worksheet · estimator · SAR
Higher education institution
- universityHigher education institution
- undergraduateDegree-seeking college student
- graduateOne who earned degree
- enrollmentAct of registering officially
tuition · fees · bursar · registrar · semester · cost · books · supplies
Regular monetary receipts
- assetsOwned items of value
- taxesMandatory government payments
- savingsAccumulated money kept
- W-2Employer-issued tax form
untaxed · household · dependency · divorced · separated · bank · investments · real-estate
Divided governmental authority
- need-basedDetermined by circumstances
- subsidizedOffset by external funding
- unsubsidizedNot financially supported
- StaffordEnglish county town
work-study · grant · loan · package · award · letter · disbursement · refund
submission
Yielding to another's will
- deadlineTime limit for completion
- verificationProving something accurate
- eligibilityState of meeting criteria
dependent · independent · renewal · corrections · signature · PIN · worksheet · estimator · SAR · questions
college
Higher education institution
- universityHigher education institution
- undergraduateDegree-seeking college student
- graduateOne who earned degree
enrollment · tuition · fees · bursar · registrar · semester · cost · books · supplies · accredited
income
Regular monetary receipts
W-2 · untaxed · household · dependency · divorced · separated · bank · investments · real-estate · business
federal
Divided governmental authority
- need-basedDetermined by circumstances
- subsidizedOffset by external funding
- unsubsidizedNot financially supported
Stafford · work-study · grant · loan · package · award · letter · disbursement · refund · gap
- collegecampus, courses, application, dorms, dorm room
- paperworkinvoice, permit, documents, license, filing
- school coststuition fees, student loans, financial aid, fees, school fees
- school paperworkreport cards, report card, newsletter, permission slips, permission slip
- Application Materialsessays, transcripts, letters of recommendation, recommendation letters, GPA
- college accessadmissions, college prep, college readiness, financial aid, first-generation students
FAFSAself-funding
Paying one's own way
merit scholarship · athletic scholarship · academic scholarship · family wealth · trust fund
FAFSAPell Grant
Federal undergraduate financial assistance
scholarship · grant · tuition waiver · award letter · aid package