FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form completed by current and prospective U.S. college students to determine their eligibility for financial aid.

How to Fill Out the FAFSA
Federal Student Aid
FAFSA Aid Application Process
FSA ID
Federal Direct Loans

 

FAFSA Deadlines to Apply

  • March 1st 2022 = State Lottery deadline for spring and summer terms
  • June 30th 2022 = Federal Student Aid deadline

Questions?

Other

IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT)

The “Link to IRS” option is available in the FAFSA for tax filers, to ensure that accurate information from the correct tax year is transferred into the federal aid application. Both students and a parent/step-parent/guardian can use the DRT, but you must have an FSA ID and password. Selecting this option will take you out of the FAFSA and to the IRS website, where you can try and locate your return from the correct tax year, then choose “transfer now” to import that information into the FAFSA. This can aid greatly in processing of your financial aid.

  • If the student/parent is married and filed as “Married Filing Separately*,” you will not be able to use the DRT
  • If the student/parent is married and filed as “Head of Household*,” you will not be able to use the DRT
  • If the parents’ marital status is “unmarried but living together*,” you will not be able to use the DRT
  • If the student/parent filed a Puerto Rican or foreign tax return, you will not be able to use the DRT
  • If the student/parent filed an amended return, they may not be able to use the DRT

*The marital status for the student or parent/step-parent/guardian is as of the time you complete the FAFSA.

Previous FAFSA Dates

2019-2020 FAFSA

  • WHEN: fall 2019 (August – December), spring 2020 (January – April), summer 2020 (May – July)
  • WHAT: use 2017 tax and income information for you and your parent, step-parent, or guardian
  • WHO: the student and spouse for independent filers, or the student and parent(s), step-parent(s), or guardian(s) for dependent filers (remember: marital status is as of when you complete the FAFSA)
  • HOW: select the “Link to IRS” option to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (must have FSA ID)

2018-2019 FAFSA

  • WHEN: fall 2018 (August – December), spring 2019 (January – April), summer 2019 (May – July)
  • WHAT: use 2016 tax and income information for you and your parent, step-parent, or guardian
  • WHO: the student and spouse for independent filers, or the student and parent(s), step-parent(s), or guardian(s) for dependent filers (remember: marital status is as of when you complete the FAFSA)
  • HOW: select the “Link to IRS” option to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (must have FSA ID)