The FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the form that determines your eligibility for federal college aid. Grants, work-study, and federal loans all start here. Many states and schools use it for their own aid too. File it every year you need aid.
Deadlines come in three layers, and they change each year. The federal deadline is the last possible date, but state deadlines are often months earlier, and each school sets its own. Missing a state or school deadline can cost you grants even if you meet the federal one. Check all three dates for the current aid year and file as early as you can.
The form asks about income and assets for you and, usually, your parents. The government uses this to calculate how much your family can contribute. You do not need to understand the formula; just answer accurately and meet the deadlines.
After filing, you get an aid offer from each school. Compare them carefully. Grants and scholarships do not need repayment. Work-study is earned through a campus job. Loans must be repaid with interest. A bigger total is not always better if it is mostly loans.
File even if you think you will not qualify. Many families are surprised. And some aid, like certain state grants, runs out, so early filers get more. For more help, see maximizing your financial aid, financial aid for online degrees, scholarships for online master’s degrees, and scholarship opportunities.
