FAFSA: Understanding the Process of how to apply for Financial Aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is one of the primary, and most important, parts of applying for Financial Aid. That said, it can be a difficult process to figure out on your own. If you need help learning what you need in order to properly apply for the FAFSA and try to get the aid you need, keep reading:

Create An Account

To start off, you’ll need an account with the FAFSA website https://studentaid.gov/. This will give you an FSA ID to fill out your application. This website also features plenty of information about the application process, so if you have more questions it can be a great resource.

Making your ID is easy, you’ll just need:

• First, Middle, & Last name
• Date of Birth
• Social Security Number

Afterwards, you’ll be ready to start applying! Please note that if you’re a dependent student, your parent will likely need to make an FSA ID for themselves as well.

Gather Pertinent Info

The next part of the process is gathering the information you’ll need to fill out the FAFSA. You’ll need information like:

• Family & Tax Information
• Personal Income
• Social Security Number
• Driver’s License Number

These make up the main part of the information the FAFSA needs to determine how much aid you’re eligible for, and will make the application process a breeze.

Filling Out the FAFSA

Now, you’re ready to fill out your FAFSA! With things like the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, this part of the process has become easier than ever. That said, you’ll need all the information listed above (and possibly more) to be able to complete it properly. You can complete the FAFSA on the Federal Student Aid website, which we’ve linked here.

Afterwards, you’ll be able to list the Colleges and Schools you’re interested in sending your information to for scholarship and grant opportunities. From there, you can sign and submit online to be on your way to a new career!