General Information
What is the FAFSA?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the primary financial aid application form. As its name suggests, the FAFSA is first and foremost the application used to determine your eligibility for federal financial aid.
Is the FAFSA used by schools or states to award aid?
Yes. Many colleges and states use the FAFSA to determine your eligibility for financial aid.
Do all colleges require the FAFSA?
Yes, it is required by all schools, for all students (excluding foreign students), who apply for need-based financial aid.
Is there a fee for filing the FAFSA?
No. There is no fee for using the FAFSA.
Where do I find the FAFSA?
Most families complete the FAFSA online.
Why should I complete the FAFSA online?
The online version of the FAFSA contains skip logic that saves you time by eliminating irrelevant questions and logic that prevents you from making many common mistakes. The results from the online FAFSA are sent to your schools in a few days rather than a few weeks if you choose to complete and mail in the PDF or paper version of the FAFSA.
Where do I find the printed version of the FAFSA if I really need one?
The paper version of the FAFSA can be downloaded from the Options Link on the FAFSA homepage. Or, you can request up to three copies of the paper FAFSA by calling at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or 319-337-5665.
What information does the FAFSA collect?
The FAFSA collects information about citizenship status, dependency status, income, assets, family size, and number in college.
Do I have to be a U.S. Citizen to complete the FAFSA?
No. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to complete the FAFSA, but you do have to be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen in order to be eligible for federal financial aid and most other financial aid programs.
