APPLY

Apply for a federal student loan by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^SM).* The FAFSA also determines eligibility for federal grants, work-study, state and institutional aid. A separate loan application isn't required.

• Collect the documents needed to apply.



• Your Social Security number. Be sure it's correct!



• Your driver's license (if any)



• Your W-2 forms and other records of money earned



• Your (and your spouse's, if you are married) Federal Income Tax Return


• IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ



• Foreign Tax Return, or



• Tax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federal States of Micronesia, or Palau



• Your parents' Federal Income Tax return (if you are a dependent student)



• Your untaxed income records



• Your current bank statements



• Your current business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond and other investment records



• Your alien registration or permanent resident card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

Although not all aid is need based, you'll need to include information from your (and your parents', if applicable) income tax returns and W-2 forms (and other records of income) to help determine what type of aid you may receive. Tax return not completed at the time you apply? Estimate the tax information, apply, and correct the information later.

• Complete the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov on or after Jan. 1 of the year you expect to start college.
  
  A useful tool in preparing to complete the online application is the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet (available in English or Spanish). The worksheet, designed for applicants who prefer to fill something out in writing before applying online, lists the FAFSA questions and provides boxes for students' (and parents') answers. The order of questions on the worksheet follows that of FAFSA on the Web, which differs from the paper FAFSA. You can view and download the worksheet in PDF at www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/worksheet.



• Review the Student Aid Report (SAR)*—The U.S. Department of Education will send you a SAR, a summary of the FAFSA data you submitted. Review your SAR and, if needed, make changes or corrections and submit for reprocessing. Your complete, correct SAR will contain your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)*—the number used to determine your federal student aid eligibility.

The U.S. Department of Education also sends your FAFSA results to the schools you included on the FAFSA. The schools then develop your award packages. This process is covered in the next section.