Federal and State Aid
The first step is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can complete this form anytime after January 1 of the year you will attend and every year thereafter. Complete this form every year by the priority filing date of March 1 to ensure that you will receive all the aid for which you are eligible.
There are two ways to complete this form. The preferred method is to complete the form online. This is the quickest way to get your results (usually 3-5 days from start to finish) and provides instant feedback if any part appears incomplete or incorrect. If you choose this method, you must first obtain a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for the student and a separate PIN for one parent. This PIN allows you to electronically sign the form. You may obtain each PIN by going to www.pin.ed.gov. After completing the online application, you will receive your PIN in 1-2 days through the e-mail address you provided. Once you have your PIN, you are ready to complete the FAFSA on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. After completing this online application, you will receive your results (called a Student Aid Report or SAR) in 2-3 days through the e-mail address you provided.
The second way to file is to complete a paper version of the FAFSA. You may obtain this form through your high school guidance office, a local college financial aid office, or by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID. This method usually takes 3-6 weeks to receive results.
