FAFSA
| Student loans in the U.S. |
| Regulatory framework |
|---|
| Higher Education Act of 1965 U.S. Dept. of Education FAFSA · Cost of attendance |
| Distribution channels |
| Federal Direct Student Loan Program Federal Family Education Loan Program |
| Loan products |
| Perkins · Stafford PLUS · Consolidation Loans |
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (known as the FAFSA) is a form that can be prepared annually by current and prospective college students (undergraduate and graduate) in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid (including the Pell Grant, Federal student loans and Federal Work-Study).[1]
Despite its name, the application is not for a single federal program, being rather the gateway of consideration for:
- the nine federal student-aid programs
- the 605 state aid programs
- most of the institutional aid available
The U.S. Department of Education begins accepting the application beginning January 1 of each year for the upcoming academic year. Each application period is 18 months; most federal, state, and institutional aid is provided on a first come, first served basis. There are six (6) states — Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vermont that award state grants on a first-come, first-served basis until the money runs out. [2] Students are advised to submit a FAFSA as early as possible for consideration for maximum financial assistance.
The Department of Education advises students to utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT), which is made available on the FAFSA. This tool will retrieve most of the student's tax information, excluding wages, directly from the IRS and automatically input the information on his or her application. The DRT may be used for both students and parents alike.
Applicants who have completed a FAFSA in previous years may submit a renewal FAFSA. Any information that has changed must be updated annually. The FAFSA consists of numerous questions (at least 130 for the 2010–2011 academic year) regarding a student's (and his or her family's) assets, income, and dependency. These are entered into a formula that determines the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). A number of factors are used in determining the EFC including the household size, income, number of students from household in college and assets (not including retirement and 401(k) funds). This information is required because of the expectation that parents will contribute to their child's education, whether that is true or not.
The FAFSA does not have questions related to student or family race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, or religion.
A Student Aid Report (SAR), which is a summary of the FAFSA responses, is forwarded to the student. The student should review the SAR carefully for errors and make any corrections. An electronic version of the SAR (called an ISIR) is made available to the colleges/universities the student selects on the FAFSA. The ISIR is also sent to state agencies that award need-based aid.
Some colleges also require the CSS Profile to be filled out as early as the same deadline as an early admissions or early decision application deadline. The CSS is a fee-based product of the College Board and usually concerns funds disbursed by a college rather than federal funds.
Contents |
Eligibility [edit]
Nearly every student is eligible for some form of financial aid. Students who may not be eligible for need-based aid may still be eligible for an unsubsidized Stafford Loan regardless of income or circumstances.
A student who can meet all of the following criteria may be eligible for aid:
- MALES ONLY[3][4] be registered with the Selective Service System (for Conscription in the United States) between the ages of 18 and 25
- is a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or an eligible non-citizen;
- has a valid Social Security number;
- has a high school diploma or GED;
- completes a FAFSA promising to use any federal aid for education purposes;
- does not owe refunds on any federal student grants;
- is not in default on any student loans; and
- has not been found guilty of the sale or possession of illegal drugs while federal aid was being received.
Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) changes the criteria for suspension of eligibility for drug-related offenses. Previously, students could lose eligibility for either the possession or sale of a controlled substance during the period of enrollment. SAFRA drops the penalties for possession of a controlled substance but retains the penalties for sale of a controlled substance. SAFRA increases the suspension to two years for a first offense and indefinite for a second offense.
Students who are military veterans and active duty service members may apply for financial aid by filing a FAFSA even if they also apply for education and housing benefits offered by the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill and its accompanying Yellow Ribbon program. The amount of military aid a student receives for a college education does not defer eligibility or reduce the amount of student aid that student could receive from the four federal grant programs – Pell, SMART, FSEOG, and TEACH – and many of the state student aid programs.
Types of financial aid [edit]
FAFSA has several different types of financial aid. The four most common types of aid:
- Pell Grant – A grant of up to $5,550 for students with low EFCs.
- Stafford Loan – If unsubsidized, the interest is 6.8% and accumulates onto the outstanding balance. If subsidized, the interest is lower (3.5%) and is paid by the government while the student is enrolled at least half time.
- Federal Perkins Loan – A loan that is like the Stafford but is lent directly by schools that are Title IV-eligible. Interest rate 5%.
- The Federal Work-Study Program – A program where students can get part-time work, up to a certain amount. The federal government pays the school based on the hours worked, and the school in turn pays the student's salary.
Filing options [edit]
Students have three options when preparing their annual federal student aid application: file the form on the U.S. Department of Education's website, complete and mail a paper copy of the form, or get help from a professional fee-based preparer. The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 authorized fee-based FAFSA preparation. (The options are much like those for taxpayers who may either prepare their own income tax forms or get assistance from professional tax-preparation services or software.)[5] Fee-based preparation of the aid form had been allowed as early as 1995. HEOA formalized the option in 2008.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid
- ^ About FAFSA
- ^ FAFSA.ed.gov: Most male students must register with Selective Service to receive federal student aid
- ^ FAFSA.ed.gov: Am I eligible for student aid?: If you are a male between the ages of 18 and 25, you must register or already be registered with Selective Service. If you are a citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands or the Republic of Palau you are exempt from registering.
- ^ Higher Education Act of 2008 PUBLIC LAW 110–315—AUG. 14, 2008 122 STAT. 3279-80
