The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is one of the most important forms of financial aid available to American students. The FAFSA is a form filled out by students at the time of school. Students seeking scholarships and grants must complete the forms and send them in when applying for financial aid for college. The FAFSA is filled out by students based on the information they submit on their official tax returns.
Most students are eligible for financial aid from the federal government to help pay for college or career school. Your age, race, or field of study will not affect your eligibility for federal student aid. Although your income is counted, it does not automatically prevent you from getting federal student aid.
To receive federal student aid, you will need…
- Be eligible for a college or career school education, either by having a high school diploma or its equivalent, or by completing a high school education in a home study program approved by state law.
- Be enroll or have been accept for enrollment as a regular student in an approve program of study leading to a degree or certificate.
- Have a valid Social Security number unless you are from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau.
Be a citizen or national person
You are a US citizen if you were born in the United States or certain US territories, were born abroad to US citizen parents, or became a citizen through naturalization. If you were born in American Samoa or Swain Island, you are a US citizen.
Have a permanent resident card
You are eligible if you have a Form I-551, I-151, or I-551C, also known as a green card, showing that you are a permanent resident of the US.
Have a record or arrival and departure
Your U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services arrival-departure record (I-94) must demonstrate one of the following designations:
- Refugee
- With asylum granted
- Cuban or Haitian immigrant (pending situation)
- Conditional Immigrant (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)
- Person admitted on probation
- Have a battered immigration status
You are designate as a “battered alien qualified alien”. If you are the victim of abuse by your citizen or permanent resident spouse. If you are the child of a person designated as such under the violence against women act.
Have a T-VISA
You qualify if you have a T-Visa or a parent with a T-1 Visa. Sign the certification statements on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form indicating that you have not defaulted on a federal student loan or owe a refund on a federal grant. That it will only use federal student aid for educational purposes. Maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school. Start filling out the FAFSA form at fafsa.gov.
The US Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid awards more than $120 billion each year in scholarships and grants, loans. Work-Study funds to help pay for college or career school. Visit StudentAid.gov today to learn how to pay for college or career school.
Importance of FAFSA
In order for you to attend any college, it’s important that you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to the government. Failure to do so can result in having your scholarship reduce or revoke. An additional concern is that your FAFSA is due under the age of 24. Which means that you’re likely to lose your federal student aid status if you wait too long and miss deadline. A student applying for student loans (aka monthly installment of bank-debt) must file an FAFSA every year, unless they are exempt from having to do so.
For those who care about education, it is important that they have a good idea of what is require for them to be eligible for financial aid. For those who are just starting out, or just want to reframe the way they think about financial aid. Having a good understanding of the FAFSA is a good way to start.
