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6) Financial Aid (FAFSA, PELL Grant, & appeals)

What is FAFSA?

FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid Links to an external site..

FAFSA DO's and DON'T's: Download FAFSA-Dos-and-Donts.pdf

  

The FAFSA is a loan that will help you pay for college. Whether you qualify for FAFSA, and the amount given in the FAFSA loan, is based on your family's income from the 2023 tax year.

The FAFSA portal for the 2025-2026 school year (when you'd be attending college if you start next fall) opens on DECEMBER 1, 2024. The sooner you apply for FAFSA, the better. Learn more about the FAFSA application timeline here Links to an external site.. 

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How do I Apply for Financial Aid?

There are two steps to creating your FAFSA account.

    1. Create your FSA ID Links to an external site.-- your FSA ID is how you will create a FAFSA account.
      You will need the following information to create a FSA ID:
      --Full name
      --Social Security Number (SSN)
      --Date of birth

    2. Log-in to your FAFSA account Links to an external site.-- this is where you will put in the information that will be submitted to your colleges.
      You will need the following information to submit your FAFSA Links to an external site.:
      --Social Security Number (SSN)
      --Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
      --Your federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
      --Your family's federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
      --Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
      --Your family's bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
      --Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
      --Your family's records of untaxed income (if applicable)

Who is my parent on the FAFSA® form?

If you need to report parent information on the FAFSA form, here are some guidelines to help you:

  • If your parents are married (not separated), both of your parents’ information must be included on the FAFSA form, regardless of whether your parents are of the same or opposite sex. If your parents didn’t file taxes jointly, then both of your parents are contributors. If your parents filed taxes jointly, only one parent is required to be a contributor and will report information for both parents.
  • If your parents are not married to each other and live together, both of your parents are contributors and their information must be included on the FAFSA form, regardless of whether your parents are of the same or opposite sex.
  • If your parents are divorced, separated, or never married, and don’t live together, the parent who provided more financial support during the last 12 months is the contributor and must provide their information. If both parents provided an equal amount of financial support or if they don’t support you financially, the parent with the greater income and assets is the contributor and must provide their information.
  • If your parent is widowed, that parent is the contributor and must provide their information.

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Please click the link here Links to an external site. for information on other parental circumstances, such as:

      • Divorced parents who live together
      • Divorced parents who do not live together
      • Step-parents (current and widowed)
      • Parents in a same-sex marriage
      • Someone in the household other than a parent
      • Parents who are non-citizens

What if my parents are unwilling to provide their information on my FAFSA form?

  • You can’t be considered independent of your parents just because they refuse to help you with the FAFSA form. Still, we do understand that in some cases, the parents are not supporting the dependent student at all and refuse to provide their information on the student’s application (FAFSA, 2020). For more information, click here Links to an external site..
How do I apply to more than 20 schools on my online FAFSA application?
  • You can list up to 20 colleges or career schools on your FAFSA form. Once you receive the FAFSA Submission Summary, you can make your information available to more schools through one of three options. Each option will allow the school to receive an electronic copy of your FAFSA Submission Summary, and you’ll also receive an updated copy.
  • To apply to more than 10 schools on your online FAFSA application, please click on this link Links to an external site. for step-by-step directions.

    What is the Student Aid Index (SAI)?

    Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is a formula-based index number ranging from –1500 to 999999. Where your SAI falls within the SAI range helps your school determine how much financial support you may need. 

    A negative SAI indicates you have a higher financial need. For example, if you have an SAI of –1500, you’ll qualify for a maximum Pell Grant award assuming you have not exhausted your lifetime amounts and meet all student eligibility requirements. Learn how the SAI is calculated Links to an external site.. Your SAI is not

    • a dollar amount of aid you’ll receive,
    • what your family is expected to provide, or
    • your final financial aid offer. 

    Your SAI is an index number used by financial aid professionals when creating an aid offer. Your SAI is calculated using information that you (and other contributors, if required) provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. During your aid process, you will see the following:

    • an estimated SAI on the confirmation page of your FAFSA form
    • an official SAI within your FAFSA Submission Summary (after your FAFSA form is processed)

    Follow these steps to find your SAI:

    1. Log in to StudentAid.gov Links to an external site. using your account username and password.
    2. Select your processed FAFSA submission.
    3. Select “View FAFSA Submission Summary.”
    4. Select the “Eligibility Overview” tab.

    What is the PELL Grant?

    Federal Pell Grants usually are awarded only to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree. (In some cases, however, a student enrolled in a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Federal Pell Grant.) You are not eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant if you are incarcerated Links to an external site. in a federal or state penal institution or are subject to an involuntary civil commitment upon completion of a period of incarceration for a forcible or nonforcible sexual offense (Federal Student Aid, 2020 Links to an external site.).

    Public and Private Loans:

Need help with FAFSA? We've got you covered!
Here are some resources to help you with the FAFSA/CSS process:

 

Citizens Bank is here to help!

 

Meet uAspire!

We are a virtual help desk (created in partnership with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) where students can text us and receive support with the FAFSA. The best way to receive support is to have students text "Hello" to (508) 257-7528. Once they text in, a uAspire Advisor will text back within 24 hrs Monday - Friday. We will provide FAFSA completion support and answer questions via text or elevate the conversations to a Zoom or phone call. I've attached flyers in both English and Spanish to advertise the services. If you need additional info or would like to discuss further, let me know, and we can set up a time.

https://vimeo.com/641152093/151c48b356 Links to an external site.
https://vimeo.com/641152011/afb97a98e8 Links to an external site. 
https://vimeo.com/640495388/f1bcadb1a2 Links to an external site. 
MEFA Podcasts
Welcome to MEFA's podcast series. Here you'll find conversations with our experts about every step of planning, saving, and paying for college. You can listen to each podcast right on this page, or through the podcast app on your iPhone or Android. Be sure to subscribe to our series below to find out about new episodes.