FAFSA<\/strong> is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a form you fill out with the federal government that takes your family\u2019s financial information and determines what kind of financial aid you qualify for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You must fill out the FAFSA every year<\/strong> that you are in school. You will always fill out the FAFSA one year in advance (ex. you will fill it out your senior year of high school for your freshman year of college).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if you don\u2019t think you\u2019ll qualify for aid, still apply! Some scholarships require FAFSA completion (like the Opportunity Scholarship).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get started by checking out this\u00a0step-by-step FAFSA guide (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n A contributor is a parent who will fill out a portion of your FAFSA form. In some cases, both parents are required to be a contributor. If you do not have a parent(s) and you only have a guardian, you do not need a contributor on your FAFSA form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Find out which parent will be your contributor.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n Both you and a contributor will need a FAFSA account, also known as an FSA ID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To create an FSA ID, students must have a Social Security Number or an A Number (Green Card #). Parents without Social Security Numbers can still create an FSA ID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Create an FSA ID<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n Also known as a 1040<\/strong>, parents will need a federal tax return from two years prior (ex. if you are filing the 26-27 FAFSA, you will need your 2024 taxes).<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you cannot find your taxes from two years prior, use the IRS retrieval tool.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Most likely, your taxes will be automatically imported from the IRS. However, it is always good to have your tax return on hand as a back up.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n The FAFSA form will ask you and your contributors questions about your assets and investments, so make sure you have those records on hand. This includes the current balances of your cash, checking, and savings accounts; the current net worth of your businesses and\/or income-producing farms; and the current net worth of your investments. Note: Your cash, checking, and savings accounts are considered assets, not investments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FAFSA form will ask you what schools you are interested in attending. Be sure to add any colleges, universities, or technical colleges you\u2019re considering, even if you haven\u2019t applied or been accepted yet. You can list up to 20 schools <\/strong>on the online FAFSA form.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n The students will start the FAFSA form every time. To start, students will simply login using their FSA ID information and start a new form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the student has completed their section, they will then invite their contributor. This is done by inputting the email that matches their contributor\u2019s FSA ID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you start the form, you have 45 days to complete the form before the form deletes itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get started by checking out this\u00a0step-by-step FAFSA guide (PDF)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Access the FAFSA form through\u00a0StudentAid.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Need it in another language? See\u00a0multi-lingual FAFSA resources (Google Spreadsheet)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Students that do not have Social Security Numbers are unable to file FAFSA unless they meet eligible non-citizen requirements.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you cannot file FAFSA due to documentation status, check out our\u00a0DACA\/undocumented resources (Google Document).<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The CSS Profile<\/em> is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The only Utah school that participates in this is Westminster University. Their CSS Code is 4948.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get started by checking out the\u00a0CSS Profile Guide<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0CSS Profile Checklist<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Access the CSS Profile through\u00a0CollegeBoard.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nItems Needed To Complete The FAFSA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A contributor<\/summary>\n
FSA ID<\/summary>\n
Federal Tax Return<\/summary>\n
Record of Your Assets<\/summary>\n
Government Identification<\/summary>\n
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List of Schools You\u2019re Interested in Attending<\/summary>\n
\n\n\n\nHow To Start The FAFSA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat If I\u2019m Unable To File FAFSA?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCSS Profile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n