While you have the option to download a PDF or request a paper version of the 2016-17 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), submitting it online at FAFSA.gov is the recommended method for many reasons.
Benefit #1: Accuracy
The FAFSA online includes guides and alerts that help ensure you’ve entered information correctly. If you make a mistake on a paper application, it won’t be caught until your application is reviewed several weeks later.
Benefit #2: Simplification
The online FAFSA includes a skip-logic feature that, depending on your answers as you complete the form, will automatically skip questions that aren’t relevant to your situation–which simplifies the process and makes completion that much quicker.
Benefit #3: Speed
By completing online, you also have the option to transfer your required tax information directly from the IRS, reducing the chance of entering an incorrect amount in a data field. And best of all, you’re information is saved, making next year’s application process faster.
Benefit #4: Safety
If the security of your information is a concern, rest assured that the online application is very well protected and domestic Web browsers are highly encrypted.
So what are you waiting for? Apply for financial aid online today at FAFSA.gov.