College is an important financial investment in the future of any student. When considering things like tuition costs, savings plans and textbooks, it’s exciting to come across something completely free. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is one step in the college financial process that won’t cost you a cent. The FAFSA is the application that helps determine your eligibility for financial aid. The official application can be found at StudentAid.gov. Other websites may offer to process the application for a fee, but these sites are scams and are not the official free FAFSA application.
When filling out the FAFSA, you’ll start with an FSA ID (Federal Student Aid ID) to create your account. The FSA ID is a username and password that you’ll use to log in to your FAFSA application. It also serves as your electronic signature. Create your FSA ID and save your information on our FSA ID Worksheet. We highly encourage you to keep and remember this login as it will ensure the application process flows smoothly.
Once you create an FSA ID, you’re ready to complete the free application. After your FAFSA is complete, the colleges you’ve applied to will send a financial aid offer via email and/or snail mail. This offer will list the amount and types of federal, state and institutional aid for which you are eligible. Remember, the official application can be found on StudentAid.gov and the FAFSA is always free!