How to Apply for Federal Student Aid (and Get Approved)

A good college education is a worthy investment for the future, but not all students have the financial resources to pay for tuition and other expenses. Financing your dream college can sometimes feel like shooting for the moon! While there’s a lot to be said about college prices, at least the US federal government offers financial aid to students through the Federal Student Aid (FSA).

FSA could be the key to reaching your dream, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is how to get it. The FAFSA is the form you need to submit to apply for financial aid as a student. This form is important because it will contain the information to decide exactly how much aid the federal government will give you.

Of course, applying for financial aid may seem like a confusing and tricky process. Follow our steps below to find out exactly what to expect, and learn how to submit a hassle-free application!

Am I Eligible for Federal Student Aid?

Before you make the effort of applying for Federal Student Aid, it’s vital to check if you qualify. Here are a few questions to answer:

Are you a US citizen?

Because we’re talking about federal loans, it makes sense that being a US citizen is normally a requirement. However, if you’re not, don’t despair — non-US citizens may be considered under certain conditions.

Did you graduate high school or obtain an equivalent?

To get Federal Student Aid, you also need to be a student qualified to undertake a degree or certificate program. For this, you have to present your high school diploma or an equivalent like the General Educational Development (GED) certificate.

Can you confirm the following?

Finally, you need to certify that:

• you are not in default status on a federal student loan
• you do not owe any money toward a federal student grant
• you will use Federal Student Aid only for educational purposes

If you’ve met all of these conditions, congratulations! Now you know that you’re eligible for Federal Student Aid, let’s look at how you can apply and get approved.

How Do I Apply for Federal Student Aid? Six Simple Steps

1. Prepare to Apply

Even before filling out the FAFSA, it is best to take some preliminary steps. The FAFSA has some required documents, so here’s what you can prepare in advance:

• Personal documents: social security numbers for you and your parents, a driver’s license number (if applicable)
• Federal tax information: W-2 form, proof of untaxed income (such as allowances, benefits, and child support)
• Financial documents: recent tax returns, other tax documents, investment records, bank statements

Once you have your documents in order, you need to create a Federal Student Aid account at the Federal Student Aid website. Make sure to do this in advance because it takes three days for your account to be verified.

You’ll also receive your FSA ID during this step. This ID will speed up the federal aid application process by allowing you to access and amend your information online. 

NOTE: If you are a dependent and a first-generation student, your parents must create an FSA account as well. They’ll need to electronically sign your application, and they cannot do that without their own FSA ID.

2. Fill in the FAFSA Form

After you’ve checked your eligibility and gathered your information, you’ve arrived at the most important step: filling out the FAFSA with your personal and family details. 

This isn’t difficult, especially if you have your documents prepared already, but you do need to be careful with the details. Even if you feel like you know your Social Security Number like the back of your hand, take care to double-check every detail — the information you submit has to be 100 percent accurate.

The main requirement for Federal Student Aid is your or your parents’ income tax return. To make the transfer of information easy, the FAFSA has an IRS Retrieval Tool. If you or your parents have filed your latest income tax return online more than two weeks or sent through the mail more than eight weeks prior to completing the FAFSA, then you can use the IRS Retrieval Tool to easily transfer details from your tax return to the FAFSA. 

If you didn’t file before these time frames then you can use estimated tax information in the meantime. You should still correct the information once you file your actual tax returns. 

3. Receive and Double-Check Your Student Aid Report

Upon submitting the FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). If you submitted your FAFSA electronically, you’re likely to receive a link to your SAR via email within a few days. If you mailed your FAFSA, your SAR should be mailed to you in three to four weeks. 

When you receive the link, you can view your SAR online to see the status of your application. Some items might be tagged for verification, more information may be requested, or you may be lucky enough to have your application marked complete! Make sure you review your data one last time in this section.

When you have your SAR, the most important figure is your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is the estimated amount the government expects you or your family to be able to contribute to your college education. This is calculated based on the information you provided about personal and family income, assets, and investments. The lower your EFC, the more financial aid you can expect.

The formula that is used to calculate your financial need is:

4. Consider Your Student Aid Options

Your Federal Student Aid may cover all, or part, of the financial need — but it’s unlikely to be offered as cold, hard cash. Instead, your Federal Student Aid can come in many different forms: grants, scholarships, a Work-Study Program, or as federal student loans. 

If you are offered a grant or scholarship, these are typically the best option because they don’t need to be paid back. Grants are need-based, and they usually do not have conditions to comply with. Scholarships can be need-based or merit-based, so some of them have certain conditions.

Another potential offer you may receive is a Work-Study Program. This option offers part-time jobs that will allow students to earn money for their educational needs. The jobs involve community service or work that is related to your chosen course.

Finally, you may also be offered federal student loans. You will be charged interest on these loans, but these loans typically come with a better (lower) interest rate than private lender education loans.

5. Receive Your Student Aid

The date and manner in which you’ll receive your student aid are dependent on what kind of aid you will receive.

Grant or loan money is usually given in two disbursements. Your school will deposit your grant or loan money at least once per semester or at least twice in an academic year (start and middle of the year). The grant or loan amount will automatically be applied to your tuition and/or room and board if applicable.

If you undergo a Work-Study Program, you will get your salary once a month, usually credited to your bank account. You can then pay your tuition and expenses from it.

6. Renew Your FAFSA Each Year

You need to renew your FAFSA for every year that you attend college, or at least for every year that you intend to seek financial aid.

You can use your FSA ID to start a Renewal FAFSA application and generate all the information from the previous application. You just need to update the information and the documents (for example, your tax return).

Important Dates for FAFSA

You need to remember these important dates for your Federal Student Aid application:

October 1: applications open for the following school year.

June 30: the federal deadline for filing the FAFSA for the current academic year. 

Upcoming FAFSA Deadlines

Common Questions About Applying for Student Aid

Securing your Federal Student Aid for college may seem like a mammoth task, but it’s surprisingly simple if you take it step-by-step! Take your time to submit now, and reap the benefits of funding throughout your college journey. Good luck!