Financial Aid Starts with the 2009-10 FAFSA
Are you looking for financial aid during the 2009-2010 academic year? Start your search by completing the 2009-2010 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Simply go to FAFSA on the Web to complete the information online in a secure environment. The FAFSA is available in both English and Spanish.
When Should I File?
The 2009-10 FAFSA is available after January 1, 2009. The earlier you file the FAFSA, the better your chances are to receive financial aid. You’ll need to know the preferred FAFSA filing deadline date for your school and file before this date. If you are considering multiple schools, file the FAFSA using the earliest deadline date. You can list up to 10 schools on the FAFSA and your information will be sent to each school. Using the earliest deadline date will ensure that you file on time with each school.
What Will I Need to Complete the FAFSA?
Is this your first time filing the FAFSA? A helpful tool to use is the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet. This Worksheet includes detailed instructions and all of the questions to answer before filing the information online. Having the answers on this Worksheet by your side will make completing the FAFSA a breeze and will likely reduce the potential for entry errors.
Here is a checklist of information you will need to have on hand when filling out the FAFSA.
- Social security number*
- Driver's license number (if any)
- 2008 W-2 Forms and other records of money earned*
- 2008 income tax return or information*
- 2008 untaxed income records*
- Current balances of bank accounts, investments, etc.*
- Most recent business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond, and other investment records*
- Alien registration number or permanent residence card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)*
- Federal Student Aid PIN*
* If the student is dependent, this information is needed for both the student and parent(s).
The student (and parent, if applicable) uses his/her individual PIN to electronically sign the FAFSA. If you need a PIN, apply at www.pin.ed.gov and you will instantly receive your PIN. Do you already have a PIN but forgot it? At www.pin.ed.gov you can also re-establish an inactive PIN or retrieve a duplicate copy of your PIN.
Note: If you previously completed the FAFSA4Caster at www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov some data on your 2009-2020 FAFSA may be pre-filled in. Be sure to review this information carefully and make any changes as needed. The FAFSA4caster is an optional tool to help families understand the financial aid process. You are not required to complete the FAFSA4caster.
Did You File the FAFSA Last Year?
If you filed a 2008-2009 FAFSA, you can apply for 2009-2010 using the online Renewal FAFSA. You will be sent information from the U.S. Department of Education on how to access your Renewal FAFSA online. Information is pre-populated on the Renewal FAFSA and you will be asked to verify that this information is correct or it can be updated.
- A FAFSA is required for each student applying for financial aid. Parents with more than one student in college can use their same information and PIN. However, the student and school information will be unique to each student.
- Depending on when you file, there may be multiple versions of the FAFSA available. Be sure to complete the FAFSA for the academic year you are requesting financial aid.
- Carefully check the social security number you enter. Errors can be corrected but it is time consuming.
- Write down the password you designate for the FAFSA. An incomplete FAFSA can be saved to the server up to 45 days. The password is used to retrieve the incomplete FAFSA and cues up the question where you left off. This password cannot be resent to you and is case-sensitive. If it is forgotten, you will have to start the FAFSA over from the beginning.
- As you fill in the FAFSA, save your data when prompted to do so and then continue filling in the data.
- Try to complete the FAFSA online during off-peak hours. If the server is slow, save the completed portion and return to it later. Remember, there are millions of families filing the FAFSA during the same time period so the server may respond slower during peak hours of the day.
- Take extra time to review your data before submitting it. You can easily go back and make corrections.
- Complete the FAFSA in its entirety. You will know that it is complete when a confirmation page appears with a date and time stamp. Print this page and keep it with your financial aid documents.
- Watch for your copy of the Student Aid Report (SAR). It will arrive either by e-mail (if an e-mail address is provided) or by mail. Look over the SAR for any error messages and review the data that will be sent to your school(s). Follow the instructions provided to make any corrections.
- Watch for your copy of the Student Aid Report (SAR). It will arrive either by e-mail (if an e-mail address is provided) or by mail. Look over the SAR for any error messages and review the data that will be sent to your school(s). Follow the instructions provided to make any corrections.
- Check with the financial aid office to learn of any other forms that must be completed.
- Your data will be sent to the school(s) you designate on the FAFSA. Watch for information coming from the school financial aid office as they determine your financial aid package.
- You may be asked by the school for documentation to support the information provided on the FAFSA. If so requested, read the instructions carefully and send the information immediately. Be sure to sign any forms or copies of documents as required.
- After you are admitted to the school and you have a completed all of the financial aid information, the school will send you an award letter detailing the cost to attend the school and the types and amounts of financial aid you are being offered. The award letter may come from the school by mail or electronically. Follow the instructions on how to accept or decline your financial aid and the deadline by which to do so.
- Looking for assistance to attend summer school? Check with the Financial Aid Office about what programs are available, how to apply and the deadline to request aid for summer school. The filing for summer aid is often a separate process and usually runs concurrent with the filing of financial aid for the next academic year.
The FAFSA is required to be completed each academic year. File on time and keep good records.
View Your Account
Login Setup
Log In to create your User Name and Password.
Create User Name
Create Password
Forgot User Name or Password?