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Enhancements to FAFSA4caster

Since introducing FAFSA4caster in April 2007, we’ve made some significant enhancements to this federal student financial aid estimator online tool. These upgrades make the tool even more useful for students and their families to plan how to pay for college.

FAFSA4caster Features and Benefits are:

  1. Students instantly receive their estimated Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
  2. NEW - Students receive customized federal student aid award estimates. Aid award estimates list the federal student aid programs and estimated award amounts a student may be eligible to receive. The federal student aid programs that may be awarded are the Federal Pell Grant, the Academic Competitiveness Grant, the National SMART Grant, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work-Study, Federal Stafford Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized), and the Federal Perkins Loan.
  3. NEW - The federal student aid award estimate can be calculated for 12 different school scenarios. Options include 4-year or 2-year schools, public or private schools, in-state or out-of state residency, and on-campus or off-campus housing.
  4. NEW - Automatically generates a Federal Student Aid PIN to electronically sign the FAFSA.
  5. NEW - Students who have a Student Aid on the Web - MyFSA account can choose to transfer their demographic information to FAFSA4caster.
  6. FAFSA4caster pre-fills a number of the questions on the FAFSA; significantly reducing the time it takes to complete the form.
  7. NEW - Sends reminder notices to students in early January to complete the FAFSA.
  8. Provides guidance on next steps to apply for college admission, apply for federal student aid, and ways to pay for college.

Students and their families interested in assessing their eligibility for federal student financial assistance can access FAFSA4caster by visiting www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov. The FAFSA4caster is available in English and Spanish.

Federal Student Aid is excited to provide this tool to help students and their families evaluate their options for planning and paying for education beyond high school.

Last updated/reviewed October 3, 2007

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