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Applying for Financial Assistance

Complete the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA)

The first step in any financial aid search is to complete a FAFSA, which determines eligibility for all federal and some state grants and loans. In the case of unemployment, you should also fill out a Special Circumstances form (available in the financial aid office at the college or university you plan to attend), which allows you to provide a more accurate picture of your current financial situation.

You can complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Some key pages include:

FAFSA Overview - Includes a list of documents you will need plus eligibility information.
Application Deadlines - The deadline to receive federal aid (June 30, 2010) differs from the deadline to receive state aid (October 1, 2009). January 1 is the first date that you are eligible to file the FAFSA. Try to submit the form as close as possible to this date since school, state and private aid deadlines may be earlier than federal deadlines.

A few other notes:

You only need to submit the FAFSA once per academic year.
If you plan to enroll in the Fall of 2009 or Spring of 2010 and you wish to receive financial assistance, you must complete the 2009-2010 FAFSA.
Students who start classes before filing may have to pay out-of-pocket while their FAFSA is being processed. Typically, they will then be reimbursed for the amount they are qualified to receive.

Financial Assistance Checklist for New and Transfer Students

New Students are students who have not attended another college or university.

Transfer Students are students who have attended another college of university.

Complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov at least eight (8) weeks prior to the beginning of the semester for which you plan to enroll.
Submit an application for admission to the college you plan to attend. Contact the school's admissions office directly for application deadlines and required documents.
Request an official high school transcript or an official GED transcript be sent to the college you plan to attend. Contact your high school or GED testing center directly for transcript request procedures.
Submit official academic transcripts from all colleges/universities you've attended to the college you plan to attend. Contact your college admissions office or registrar's office directly for transcript request procedures.
Declare a major course of study that you plan to pursue for your degree or certificate program on the admissions application or in the admissions office at the college you plan to attend.
Complete the Special Circumstances Form in the financial aid office at the college you plan to attend. You may want to submit this form if your current financial situation is different from your tax information from the previous year, such as loss of employment.
Review the Student Aid Report (SAR) that you will receive from the U.S. Department of Education once your FAFSA has been processed.
Stay in communication with the financial aid office at the college you plan to attend to be sure all paperwork and required information has been noted on your account.