Counselors and Mentors Handbook on 

Federal Student Aid

A Guide for Those Advising Students About 

Financial Aid for Higher Education

Important note: The information in this publication was compiled in summer and fall 2019. For the 

latest changes to the federal student aid programs, consult the “Announcements” section at 

FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov. 
i 

U.S. Department of Education 

Betsy DeVos

Secretary

Federal Student Aid

Mark Anthony Brown 

Chief Operating Officer

Customer Experience Office

Chris Greene

Chief Customer Experience Officer

Originally published December 2019; latest minor updates March 2020 

Except as otherwise noted, the content of this publication is not protected by copyright. Authorization 

to reproduce it in whole or in part is granted. While permission to reproduce this publication is not 

necessary, the citation should be: U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, Customer 

Experience Office, Counselors and Mentors Handbook on Federal Student Aid—A Guide for Those 

Advising Students About Financial Aid for Higher Education, Washington, D.C., 2020. 

Cover photo: U.S. Department of Education 

This guide is available online at FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/handbook.

On request, this publication is available in alternate formats, such as Braille, large print, or computer 

diskette. For more information, contact the Department’s Alternate Format Center at 202-260-0852 or 

202-260-0818. 

Some of the web addresses in this publication are for sites created and maintained by organizations 

other than the U.S. Department of Education. They are provided for the reader's convenience. The U.S. 

Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or 

completeness of this outside information. Further, the inclusion of particular web addresses is not 

intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed or products or 

services offered on these outside sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.

If you have difficulty understanding English, you may request language assistance services for U.S. 

Department of Education information that is available to the public. These language assistance services 

are available free of charge.

If you need more information about interpretation or translation services, please call 1-800-USALEARN (1-800-872-5327) (TTY for the deaf or hard of hearing 1-800-877-8339), or email us at 

ed.language.assistance@ed.gov, or write to

U.S. Department of Education 

Information Resource Center 

LBJ Education Building 

400 Maryland Ave., SW 

Washington, DC 20202 

View federal student aid publications and resources in Spanish at StudentAid.gov/recursos. 
ii

Important Resources

Websites

For You 

• Financial Aid Toolkit—resources to help you help your students: FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov

o Information about free training for you 

o Financial aid PowerPoint presentations and scripts 

o Searchable library of fact sheets, videos, infographics, and other resources 

o Tips on outreach to students and parents 

For Your Students 

• StudentAid.gov—planning for college or career school, paying for college or career school, and 

repaying federal student loans: StudentAid.gov

• College Preparation Checklist—a student’s or parent’s first stop for information on academic 

and financial preparation: StudentAid.gov/resources#checklist

• Federal Student Aid at a Glance—quick glimpse outlining the federal student aid programs, 

eligibility criteria, and application tips: StudentAid.gov/glance

• Avoiding Scams—finding financial aid without being a victim of fraud or identity theft: 

StudentAid.gov/scams

• Fact sheets, videos, and infographics on various financial aid topics: 

StudentAid.gov/resources

• Online FAFSA® form and federal school codes: fafsa.gov

• FAFSA® help: StudentAid.gov/fafsahelp

• FSA ID (account username and password) registration: StudentAid.gov/fsa-id/createaccount/account-info

• FAFSA4caster—early estimate of aid eligibility: StudentAid.gov/understand-aid/estimate

• Federal Student Aid’s Twitter feed: Twitter.com/FAFSA

• Federal Student Aid’s YouTube site: YouTube.com/FederalStudentAid

• Federal Student Aid’s Facebook page: Facebook.com/FederalStudentAid

Contacts

For You and Your Students

Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC)

• Email: studentaid@ed.gov

• Chat: studentaidhelp.ed.gov/app/chat/chat_launch/chat_data

• Toll-free number for questions about federal student aid: 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) 

• TTY for the deaf or hard of hearing: 1-800-730-8913 

• Toll number: 334-523-2691 

Inspector General Hotline

• Reporting student aid fraud (including identity theft), waste, or abuse of U.S. Department of 

Education funds: 1-800-MIS-USED (1-800-647-8733) 

• Website: oighotline.ed.gov
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Table of Contents

Important Resources ................................................................................................................................. ii

Websites .................................................................................................................................................... ii

For You ............................................................................................................................................. ii

For Your Students ............................................................................................................................. ii

Contacts ................................................................................................................................................ ii

For You and Your Students .............................................................................................................. ii

Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) ....................................................................... ii

Inspector General Hotline ............................................................................................................. ii

Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................................... iii

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1

What’s New in This Year’s Handbook? ............................................................................................... 1

Help Us Improve the Handbook ........................................................................................................... 1

Part 1: The Federal Student Aid Programs ............................................................................................... 2

What Is Student Aid? ............................................................................................................................ 2

The Major Federal Student Aid Programs ........................................................................................ 2

Federal Student Grants: Pell, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity, Teacher 

Education Assistance for College and Higher Education, and Iraq and Afghanistan Service 

Grants............................................................................................................................................ 2

Federal Work-Study ...................................................................................................................... 2

Federal Student Loans: Subsidized and Unsubsidized, PLUS, and Consolidation ...................... 3

Responsible Borrowing ............................................................................................................ 3

Other U.S. Department of Education (ED) Programs ...................................................................... 4

Vocational Rehabilitation Programs............................................................................................. 4

Other Federal Programs.................................................................................................................... 4

Federal Income Tax Credits.......................................................................................................... 4

National and Community Service ................................................................................................. 4

Health Professions ........................................................................................................................ 4

Veterans Benefits.......................................................................................................................... 4

Other Assistance From the Military and for Military Families.................................................... 5

ROTC Scholarships .................................................................................................................. 5

Assistance in Return for Active Duty ....................................................................................... 5

Assistance for Military Families............................................................................................... 5
iv

Nonfederal Sources: State, School, and Private ............................................................................... 5

State Aid ....................................................................................................................................... 5

Prepaid Tuition and College Savings Plans.............................................................................. 5

School Aid .................................................................................................................................... 5

Private Scholarships...................................................................................................................... 6

Private Aid Consultants............................................................................................................ 6

Avoiding Scholarship Scams.................................................................................................... 6

Who Can Get Federal Student Aid? ..................................................................................................... 6

General Eligibility Requirements..................................................................................................... 6

Selective Service Registration ...................................................................................................... 7

Drug-related Convictions.............................................................................................................. 7

Eligibility Requirements for Specific Programs............................................................................... 8

TEACH Grants ............................................................................................................................. 8

Federal Pell Grants and Involuntary Civil Commitment for Sexual Offenses............................. 9

Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and Federal WorkStudy............................................................................................................................................. 9

Students With Intellectual Disabilities ..................................................................................... 9

Students With a Parent or Guardian Who Died as a Result of Military Service in Iraq or

Afghanistan or in the Line of Duty as a Public Safety Officer................................................. 9

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants............................................................................................ 9

How Is Financial Need Determined?................................................................................................ 9

Need Analysis............................................................................................................................. 10

Calculating the EFC.................................................................................................................... 10

Cost of Attendance ..................................................................................................................... 10

The Financial Aid Package............................................................................................................. 11

How Much Federal Pell Grant Funding Can a Student Get?...................................................... 11

How Much TEACH Grant Funding Can a Student Get? ........................................................... 12

How Much Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant Funding Can a Student Get? .......................... 12

How Much Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal WorkStudy, and Subsidized Loan Money Can a Student Get? ........................................................... 12

How Much Can a Student Get in Direct Unsubsidized Loans?.................................................. 12

Part 2: Application Process for Federal Student Aid.............................................................................. 14

Early Eligibility Indicator: FAFSA4caster ......................................................................................... 14

What Is the Purpose of FAFSA4caster? ......................................................................................... 14
v

Who Should Use FAFSA4caster?................................................................................................... 14

How Do You Use FAFSA4caster? ................................................................................................. 14

What Information Does FAFSA4caster Provide?........................................................................... 15

Before Applying ................................................................................................................................. 15

Helping Students Learn About the FAFSA® Process..................................................................... 15

FAFSA® Demonstration Site ...................................................................................................... 15

FAFSA® Screen Shots................................................................................................................ 15

Financial Aid PowerPoint Presentation...................................................................................... 15

Getting an FSA ID.......................................................................................................................... 16

Why Does a Student Need an FSA ID?...................................................................................... 16

Why Would a Parent Need an FSA ID? ..................................................................................... 16

How Do You Create an FSA ID? ............................................................................................... 17

What if the Student Forgets the FSA ID or Has Other Difficulties Using It? ............................ 18

What About FSA ID Security? ................................................................................................... 18

Gathering Documents for the FAFSA® Form ................................................................................ 18

FAFSA on the Web Worksheet .................................................................................................. 18

When to Apply.................................................................................................................................... 19

How to Apply ..................................................................................................................................... 19

Electronic Application Methods..................................................................................................... 19

fafsa.gov...................................................................................................................................... 19

Filling Out a Simplified FAFSA® Form................................................................................. 20

Automatically Retrieving Income and Tax Data .................................................................... 20

Filling Out the FAFSA® Form Without Access to Parent Information.................................. 21

Filling Out the FAFSA® Form When Parents Refuse to Provide Information....................... 21

Saving the FAFSA® Form or Sharing It With a Parent Using the Save Key ......................... 22

Signing the Application With an FSA ID or Signature Page ................................................. 22

Submitting the FAFSA® Form and Getting an Estimated EFC.............................................. 23

myStudentAid Mobile App’s myFAFSA Component ............................................................... 23

Applying Through the School .................................................................................................... 24

PDF Application Method................................................................................................................ 24

How the FAFSA® Form Is Processed................................................................................................. 25

Data Matches.................................................................................................................................. 25

Social Security Administration (SSA) Matches......................................................................... 25
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Department of Homeland Security Match.................................................................................. 26

National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS®) Match ............................................................. 26

Other Matches............................................................................................................................. 26

What to Expect After Applying.......................................................................................................... 26

Checking the Status of a FAFSA® Form........................................................................................ 26

Where the Processor Sends the FAFSA® Information ................................................................... 27

What the Student Receives After Applying.................................................................................... 27

Reviewing the SAR and SAR Acknowledgement.......................................................................... 28

SAR............................................................................................................................................. 29

Viewing SAR Information Online.......................................................................................... 29

Paper SAR .............................................................................................................................. 29

SAR Acknowledgement ............................................................................................................. 29

Rejected SAR.............................................................................................................................. 30

Verification..................................................................................................................................... 30

Making Changes............................................................................................................................. 30

Corrections and Updating........................................................................................................... 30

What Information May (and May Not) Be Changed.............................................................. 30

How to Make Changes............................................................................................................ 31

Adding a School ......................................................................................................................... 32

Dependency Status and Overrides.............................................................................................. 32

Adjustments Due to Unusual Financial Circumstances.............................................................. 33

2020–21 Deadlines ............................................................................................................................. 33

Part 3: Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Form............................. 35

Pointers for Completing the FAFSA® Form....................................................................................... 35

General Student Information .......................................................................................................... 35

Student Income and Tax Information ............................................................................................. 36

Student Dependency Status ............................................................................................................ 36

Parent Information.......................................................................................................................... 36

Colleges to Receive Information .................................................................................................... 36

Appendix A: Sources of Additional Information ................................................................................... 38

Useful Websites.................................................................................................................................. 38

Sites for Students............................................................................................................................ 38

StudentAid.gov ........................................................................................................................... 38
vii

Other Student Sites..................................................................................................................... 38

Sites for Counselors and Mentors................................................................................................... 39

Sites for Parents.............................................................................................................................. 39

Free Informational Materials.............................................................................................................. 40

One-on-One Help: The Federal Student Aid Information Center ...................................................... 40

Appendix B: Abbreviations.................................................................................................................... 40
1 

Introduction 

The Counselors and Mentors Handbook on Federal Student Aid provides useful information to help 

high school counselors, TRIO and GEAR UP staff, and other mentors advise students about financial 

aid for postsecondary education. This book focuses on the federal student aid programs administered 

by the U.S. Department of Education. 

What’s New in This Year’s Handbook?

We have updated the handbook in the following ways: 

• We updated financial aid program maximum award amounts and other items as needed. 

• We added information about Federal Pell Grants and students with a parent or guardian who 

died in the line of duty as a public safety officer. 

• We pointed out changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) process, 

including key features of the myStudentAid mobile app’s myFAFSA component. 

• We added an important note about financial aid and undocumented students.

• In winter 2020, we changed a few URLs and page descriptions of StudentAid.gov to match the 

new design of the site. 

Help Us Improve the Handbook

We welcome any comments or suggestions on ways to make this handbook more useful in future 

editions. Please send your comments to ask.aidawareness@ed.gov. 

Please note that we provide the ask.aidawareness email address for counselors and mentors to send us 

feedback or questions about our products and services for them. If your students have questions about 

federal student aid, give them the contact information for the Federal Student Aid Information Center 

on page ii of this book. 
2 

Part 1: The Federal Student Aid Programs

Many students are unaware that they might be eligible for financial aid to attend college or career 

school. High school, TRIO, and GEAR UP counselors are an important source of information about 

financial aid from private, school, state, and federal student aid programs. 

For information about free resources you can use to help students learn about federal and other student 

aid, see Appendix A. 

What Is Student Aid?

Student aid is money provided by the federal government or another entity, such as a school or a state 

government, to help students pay for college or career school. The U.S. Department of Education’s 

federal student aid programs deliver billions of dollars to students each year, representing a substantial 

federal commitment to provide financial assistance for postsecondary students. In 2018, Federal 

Student Aid delivered more than $122.4 billion in federal grants, loans, and work-study funds to 

approximately 12.7 million students attending nearly 6,000 participating schools. 

The Major Federal Student Aid Programs 

In this section, we will present a brief introduction to the federal student aid programs. For more 

detailed information, you and your students may visit StudentAid.gov/types. For fact sheets, 

infographics, and videos about types of federal student aid, counselors may visit

FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/resources and select “Types of Aid” from the “Topic” dropdown box, 

then select “Done Selecting” (or just click or tap outside the dropdown box) and “Get Resources.” 

Your students can browse resources about types of aid at StudentAid.gov/resources. 

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) offers three major types of aid: grants, work-study funds, and 

loans. Grants are gift aid, and generally do not have to be repaid, except under certain circumstances. 

Federal Work-Study provides income from a part-time job. Loans must be repaid with interest. 

A student who is eligible for federal student aid can use the aid at an eligible participating 

postsecondary school (college or career/vocational/trade school). An eligible participating school is a 

school that ED has determined is able to administer federal student aid funds for its students. The 

eligible participating school that the student attends will disburse (pay out) the student’s financial aid, 

often applying the funds to the student’s tuition and fees first, and then paying any leftover amount to 

the student to be used for other expenses. 

Information about eligibility for federal student aid in general, and for certain programs in particular, is 

on pages 6–9 of this handbook. 

Federal Student Grants: Pell, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity, Teacher 

Education Assistance for College and Higher Education, and Iraq and Afghanistan Service 

Grants

The above-mentioned grants are awarded according to rules set by Congress in the Higher Education 

Act. In all cases, grant payments may not exceed the student’s cost of attendance at the school; and 

payments are adjusted if the student is enrolled less than full-time. In the case of the Federal 

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Program, funds are limited and priority is 

given to exceptionally needy students. Note: Not all schools participate in the FSEOG program. 

Federal Work-Study

The Federal Work-Study Program provides the student a part-time job at or near the school. 
3 

Federal Work-Study income does not count in the assessment of the student’s financial need when he 

or she submits a FAFSA® form the following year. When filing an IRS income tax return, the student 

includes income earned from Federal Work-Study on the tax return. However, when the student 

completes the FAFSA form, the amount of Federal Work-Study earned should be excluded (or 

removed) by reporting that amount in FAFSA question 43c.

Because funds are limited, the earlier an eligible student applies, the more likely he or she is to receive 

aid from the Federal Work-Study Program. Note: Not all schools participate in the Federal WorkStudy Program. 

Federal Student Loans: Subsidized and Unsubsidized, PLUS, and Consolidation 

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program enables eligible students and parents 

to borrow from ED at a low interest rate and offers a range of repayment plans among which students 

can choose. 

There are four types of Direct Loans: 

• Direct Subsidized Loans (for undergraduate students) 

• Direct Unsubsidized Loans (for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students) 

• Direct PLUS Loans (for parents of dependent undergraduates; and for graduate or professional 

students) 

• Direct Consolidation Loans (for student or parent borrowers to combine federal education loan 

debts) 

Direct Subsidized Loans are available to undergraduate students on the basis of financial need. The 

federal government generally pays the borrower’s accrued interest while the student is in school and 

during certain other periods, thereby “subsidizing” these loans. 

Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Direct PLUS Loans are not need-based loans; the borrower is 

responsible for accrued interest throughout the life of the loan. 

Responsible Borrowing 

Even after signing a promissory note (a contract promising to repay a loan with interest), many 

students are only vaguely aware of their responsibility to repay the loan funds. Defaulting on a student 

loan (failing to repay the loan according to the terms of the promissory note) will affect a borrower’s 

credit rating and could result in withholding of federal income tax refunds and denial of further federal 

student aid. 

At StudentAid.gov/resources#loans, we have provided a brief overview of a borrower’s 

responsibilities in Federal Student Loans: Basics for Students. On that same page, we also offer short 

videos about loans, for those who prefer something more lively than a written publication. And for an 

in-depth look at student loans, repayment options, and the consequences of default, we recommend 

StudentAid.gov/loans and StudentAid.gov/repay. 

DID YOU KNOW

There is a glossary of financial aid terms at StudentAid.gov/glossary. 
4 

Other U.S. Department of Education (ED) Programs 

Vocational Rehabilitation Programs 

ED’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) provides grants to state vocational rehabilitation 

agencies to help individuals with disabilities train for employment, obtain employment, and live more 

independently. RSA also provides grants to postsecondary schools for scholarships to students 

interested in pursuing careers in rehabilitation. RSA’s website is at rsa.ed.gov. 

For more information about disability programs and services in communities nationwide, visit 

disability.gov. 

Other Federal Programs 

This section lists several federal programs that provide financial assistance for postsecondary 

education. For links to a variety of government programs, visit StudentAid.gov/types#federal-aid. 

Federal Income Tax Credits 

Two federal income tax credits are available for higher education expenses:

• The American Opportunity Credit is a tax credit worth up to $2,500 per student for education 

expenses during the first four years of postsecondary education. The student must be enrolled at 

least half-time in a program leading to a degree or other recognized education credential. 

• The Lifetime Learning Credit is a tax credit worth up to $2,000 per tax return for virtually any 

postsecondary education and training, including undergraduate years, graduate and professional 

schools, and even less-than-half-time study. 

The tax credits described above may not be claimed at the same time for the same student.

For details about these income tax credits and other education benefits, read Publication 970, Tax 

Benefits for Education, at irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf. 

National and Community Service 

AmeriCorps, a program of national and community service, provides funding for education in 

exchange for service. A participant can earn up to two education awards, each for an amount 

equivalent to the maximum value of the Pell Grant for the award year in which the term of AmeriCorps 

service was funded. Individuals can use the funds either to pay current or future education expenses or 

to repay federal student loans. Participants must be at least 18 and be U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful 

permanent residents. For more information, call 1-800-942-2677, visit americorps.gov, or ask a 

question at questions.nationalservice.gov. 

Health Professions

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) administers a number of financial aid 

programs for students interested in health profession careers. For more information on education and 

training programs administered by HHS, visit hhs.gov/programs/education-and-training. For 

information about aid from HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration, students may visit 

bhw.hrsa.gov/loansscholarships. 

Veterans Benefits

For information about U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education programs, visit 

gibill.va.gov or call 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551). Each of the major benefits programs is 
5 

described in detail on its own section of the VA’s site. See Appendix A of this handbook for a list of 

URLs to visit for military education benefit information.

Other Assistance From the Military and for Military Families 

ROTC Scholarships 

Reserve officer training scholarships are available through the Army, Air Force, and Navy. Military 

scholarship recipients will have a service obligation in either the reserves or active duty after 

graduating from college. Information for high school students about ROTC scholarships and other free 

money for those associated with the military can be found at StudentAid.gov/military. 

Assistance in Return for Active Duty

Active duty military service also offers numerous programs to help students earn or pay for a college 

degree. For further information about these programs, students should contact a local U.S. armed 

forces recruiter or visit militaryonesource.mil/education-and-employment. 

Assistance for Military Families

Visit StudentAid.gov/military for general information about scholarships and other financial aid for 

military families.

Nonfederal Sources: State, School, and Private 

State Aid

Each state administers its own student aid programs, which might include scholarships, loans, 

fellowships for graduate school, or other types of aid. Students can contact their state education agency 

for more information; telephone numbers and web addresses are listed at www.ed.gov/sgt. 

Prepaid Tuition and College Savings Plans 

There are two types of tuition savings plans known as 529 plans (after the section of the Internal 

Revenue Code in which they are described). 

1. The typical 529 prepaid tuition plan allows families to purchase future tuition by paying a 

predetermined monthly amount into the program. The savings cover full tuition at a public state 

school or a specified amount toward tuition at a private or out-of-state school.

2. A 529 college savings plan is essentially an investment account created to save for a specific 

child’s college expenses. 

For more information on 529 plans, as well as other ways to save for college, visit the Financial 

Industry Regulatory Authority’s site at finra.org/investors/saving-college. 

School Aid 

Many postsecondary schools offer aid from their institutional funds. Some require that the student 

submit an application in addition to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form to be 

considered for institutional aid. Some require a FAFSA form before considering a student for merit 

aid; so encourage your students to complete the FAFSA form even if they think they won’t qualify for 

need-based aid. The best sources of information on aid available at a school are the school’s financial 

aid office and its website. 
6 

Private Scholarships

A student also might qualify for a private grant or scholarship for academic achievement, religious 

affiliation, ethnic or racial heritage, community activities, athletic ability, or hobbies and special 

interests. Our web page about scholarships at StudentAid.gov/scholarships links to the U.S. 

Department of Labor’s free scholarship search based on these and other criteria.

Private Aid Consultants 

There are many privately operated scholarship search and financial aid advice services. Such services 

tend to be relatively expensive, so a student or parent should think carefully before committing to such 

a service. Most financial aid comes from federal and state programs that students can easily find out 

about through StudentAid.gov and other free websites. A large portion of the remaining 

nongovernment aid comes in the form of institutional grants; so it’s important for a student to check 

with his or her college to find out what it offers from its own funds. 

Despite the numerous free sources of information about money for college, some students and parents 

still prefer to hire a private advisor. A student considering using a for-fee service can find information 

about it by contacting several sources. Most of these sources will be able to tell the student whether 

complaints have been lodged against the service. However, keep in mind that a few complaints do not 

necessarily mean a company is not reliable or legitimate. Rather, the student should use careful 

judgment and weigh all available information about the number and nature of complaints before 

making a decision. 

The student might obtain information from, or register a complaint with, the following entities: 

• The Better Business Bureau provides business ratings, reports, and a complaint form at 

bbb.org. 

• The U.S. Postal Inspection Service Fraud Complaint Unit offers a toll-free number, 

1-877-876-2455. Alternatively, the student may access an online complaint form at 

postalinspectors.uspis.gov. 

• State attorneys general are listed at naag.org. 

Avoiding Scholarship Scams 

Students and parents do not always receive the information they expect from a financial aid advice 

service. You can help raise awareness of financial aid scams and the availability of free advice by

• mentioning the issue at financial aid information sessions,

• telling students and parents about the StudentAid.gov/scams web page, and 

• distributing the Don’t Get Scammed fact sheet available at 

StudentAid.gov/resources#consumer-protection-financial-literacy. 

Although ED doesn’t evaluate private financial aid search and advice services, StudentAid.gov/scams

does provide some helpful guidelines for students considering using such a service. 

Who Can Get Federal Student Aid?

General Eligibility Requirements 

To meet the general eligibility requirements for federal student aid, a student must 

• demonstrate financial need (for most programs); 

• show that he or she is qualified to obtain a college or career school education by 
7 

o having a high school diploma or a state-recognized equivalent such as a General 

Educational Development (GED) or HiSET certificate; 

o having been homeschooled and either (1) have a secondary school completion 

credential for homeschools as provided for under state law, or (2) if the state does not 

require the credential described above, have completed a secondary school education in 

a homeschool setting that qualifies as an exemption from the compulsory attendance 

requirements under state law; or 

o enrolling in an eligible career pathway program and meeting one of the “ability-tobenefit” alternatives described at StudentAid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility/basiccriteria#ability-to-benefit; 

• be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate 

program; 

• be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen; 

• have a valid Social Security number (with the exception of students from the Republic of the 

Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau); 

• make satisfactory academic progress in college or career school; 

• sign certifying statements on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form 

such as agreeing to use federal student aid funds only for education expenses; and

• be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for Direct Loan Program funds. 

Note: This is not a comprehensive list of eligibility requirements. The U.S. Department of Education 

provides detailed information on this topic in the Student Eligibility volume of the Federal Student Aid 

Handbook in the “Publications” section of ifap.ed.gov. 

Important Note

Undocumented students, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students, aren’t 

eligible for federal student aid. However, undocumented students might be eligible for state or school 

financial aid, in addition to private scholarships. For answers to frequently asked questions about 

financial aid for undocumented students and DACA students, see the Financial Aid and 

Undocumented Students fact sheet at StudentAid.gov/resources#undocumented. 

Selective Service Registration

Most male students must be registered with the Selective Service System to receive federal student aid. 

Students can call Selective Service at 1-888-655-1825 for general information about registering, or 

they can register online at sss.gov or via the FAFSA form. If a student needs to check his registration 

status, he can do so at sss.gov. 

Drug-related Convictions

A student convicted of the sale or possession of illegal drugs might have his or her federal student aid 

eligibility suspended if the offense occurred while the student was receiving federal student aid. When 

the student completes the FAFSA form, the student will be asked whether he or she has a drug 

conviction for an offense that occurred while he or she was receiving federal student aid. If the answer 

is yes, the student will be provided a worksheet to help him or her determine whether his or her 

conviction affects his or her eligibility for federal student aid. Alternatively, if a student has a 

conviction or convictions for these offenses and wants to determine his or her eligibility before filling 

out a FAFSA form, he or she may call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 
8 

1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243; TTY for the deaf or hard of hearing 1-800-730-8933) to find out 

how the law applies to the student and to seek assistance in determining the period of ineligibility. 

An affected student can regain eligibility early by successfully completing an approved drug 

rehabilitation program or by passing two unannounced drug tests conducted by an approved drug 

rehabilitation program. 

Information for students with drug or other convictions is available at StudentAid.gov/understandaid/eligibility/requirements/criminal-convictions. 

Eligibility Requirements for Specific Programs 

Some federal student aid programs have their own eligibility criteria in addition to the general 

requirements listed on pages 6–7. 

TEACH Grants 

To receive a Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant, a 

student must meet the following criteria:

• Be enrolled as an undergraduate, postbaccalaureate, or graduate student in a postsecondary 

educational institution that participates in the TEACH Grant Program. 

• Be enrolled in a TEACH-Grant-eligible program (course work that is designed to prepare the 

student to teach as a highly qualified teacher in a high-need field). 

• Meet certain academic achievement requirements (generally, scoring above the 75th percentile 

on one or more portions of a college admissions test or maintaining a cumulative GPA of at 

least 3.25). 

• Receive TEACH Grant counseling that explains the terms and conditions of the TEACH Grant 

service obligation. The student must complete counseling each year he or she receives a 

TEACH Grant.

• Sign, each year he or she receives TEACH funding, a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve,

indicating that he or she will 

o serve as a full-time, highly qualified teacher in a high-need field in a public or private 

elementary or secondary school or educational service agency that serves low-income 

students; 

o teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing—or 

otherwise ceasing to be enrolled in—the program of study for which he or she received 

a TEACH Grant; and

o repay the grant as a Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest charged from the date the 

grant funds were disbursed, if he or she fails to meet the requirements in the Agreement

to Serve. 

For more information about high-need fields, schools, or educational service agencies serving lowincome students, and the definition of “highly qualified teacher,” students may visit 

StudentAid.gov/teach or speak to a financial aid administrator.

Note: It is crucial that students understand that if they don’t fulfill the teaching service agreement, all 

TEACH Grant funds they received will be converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan and must be 

repaid according to the terms of the Direct Unsubsidized Loan. 
9 

Federal Pell Grants and Involuntary Civil Commitment for Sexual Offenses

A student subject to an involuntary civil commitment after completing a period of incarceration for a 

forcible or nonforcible sexual offense is ineligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant.

Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and Federal WorkStudy

In addition to the students who qualify for these programs through the general eligibility and financial 

need requirements, certain other students may qualify as well. 

Students With Intellectual Disabilities

Students with intellectual disabilities may receive funding under these programs if they

• are enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible comprehensive transition and 

postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities at an institution of higher 

education that participates in the federal student aid programs; 

• are maintaining satisfactory academic progress for their program; and

• meet the general federal student aid eligibility requirements, except that the student is not 

required to have a high school diploma or equivalent certificate and is not required to be 

pursuing a degree or certificate. 

You can find a list of schools with eligible comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs at 

StudentAid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements/intellectual-disabilities. 

Students With a Parent or Guardian Who Died as a Result of Military Service in Iraq or Afghanistan 

or in the Line of Duty as a Public Safety Officer

A Pell-eligible student whose parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or 

Afghanistan after the events of 9/11 or during active service in the line of duty as a public safety 

officer may be eligible for additional Federal Pell Grant funds if, at the time of the parent’s or 

guardian’s death, the student was less than 24 years old and/or was enrolled at least part-time at an 

institution of higher education. The student’s eligibility for all federal student aid will be calculated by 

his or her school as if his or her Expected Family Contribution (see “How Is Financial Need 

Determined?” [on pages 9–10] for a discussion of the EFC) were zero. Payments are adjusted if the 

student is enrolled less than full-time.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants 

A student whose parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after the 

events of 9/11 may receive an Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant if

• the student is not eligible for a Pell Grant based on his or her Expected Family Contribution 

(see pages 9–10), and 

• at the time of the parent’s or guardian’s death, the student was less than 24 years old and/or was 

enrolled at least part-time at an institution of higher education. 

Send your students to StudentAid.gov/iraq-afghanistan for information about the grants. 

How Is Financial Need Determined? 

Eligibility for most federal student aid programs is based on financial need. A student must complete 

and file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form to have his or her financial need 

determined. At its simplest level, a student’s financial need is the difference between the student’s cost 
10 

of attendance at the school and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is an index number 

the school uses to determine how much aid the student can receive. 

Need Analysis 

The process of analyzing a student’s financial need, known as need analysis, focuses on determining 

how much the family reasonably can be expected to contribute toward the student’s education. An 

applicant’s need is calculated by collecting information about the family’s income, assets, and living 

expenses. For the federal student aid programs, the law specifies a need analysis formula that produces 

the EFC. The EFC and the school’s cost of attendance (see below) are used by the postsecondary 

school to establish the student’s need as well as to award federal student aid. (The school might ask the 

student to complete other paperwork to determine the student’s need for nonfederal aid.) 

Calculating the EFC 

For an EFC calculation, a student must complete and file the FAFSA form. The fastest and easiest way 

to do so is to apply online at fafsa.gov or through the myStudentAid mobile app. Unlike college 

admissions applications, the FAFSA form is sent to a U.S. Department of Education (ED) processing 

center, rather than directly to a college or career school. The student’s information is entered into ED’s 

computer system, which then calculates the student’s official EFC using such information as income, 

family size, number of family members in college or career school, the value of certain assets, and 

more. For a detailed breakdown of the EFC formula, go to StudentAid.gov/resources#efc and 

download the EFC formula worksheets. 

The overall application process for financial aid is described in Part 2 of this handbook, while 

completing specific questions on the FAFSA form is discussed in Part 3. 

DID YOU KNOW

There is a list of abbreviations used in this book in Appendix B. 

Cost of Attendance

Once the school knows the student’s EFC, the next step is to subtract it from the student’s cost of 

attendance (COA) at that school. The result is the student’s financial need. 

For the federal student aid programs, the financial aid administrator must use the definition of “cost of 

attendance” given in the law to determine what education-related expenses may be considered. The law 

specifies that the COA includes tuition and fees and an allowance for living expenses, such as room 

and board, books and supplies, miscellaneous personal expenses (including a reasonable allowance for 

renting or purchasing a personal computer), and transportation costs. The law also provides limited 

allowances for loan fees, dependent-care costs, and expenses for disabled students. 

Note: Many high school students (and their parents) don’t immediately understand that the definition 

of “cost of attendance” includes more than just tuition. You can point them to the definition at 

StudentAid.gov/complete-aid-process/how-calculated#cost-of-attendance. 

The financial aid administrator at a school usually develops different COAs for different categories of 

students. For instance, some programs of study might have lab fees or higher charges for books and 

supplies than other programs; and students living off campus might have slightly higher allowable 

costs for room and board and transportation expenses than students living on campus. 
11 

The Financial Aid Package 

Using all available federal and nonfederal aid, the financial aid administrator constructs a financial aid 

package that comes as close as possible to meeting the student’s demonstrated financial need; 

however, because funds for certain programs are limited, the amount offered can be less than the 

amount for which the student is eligible. For example, consider a full-time student with an EFC of 

1000 who enrolled in a program that cost $9,000 for the 2020–21 year: 

Steps in Determining Financial Need Calculations

The student then needed $8,000 in financial aid to go to 

school. 

 $9,000 cost of attendance

– EFC of 1000 

= $8,000 financial need

However, when the student received a $5,395 Federal 

Pell Grant and a $1,000 outside scholarship, the 

student’s need was reduced by $6,395. 

 $5,395 Federal Pell Grant

+ $1,000 scholarship 

= $6,395 grant and scholarship aid applied 

toward student’s need

Therefore, the financial aid administrator could award 

up to $1,605 (the remaining need) in the form of 

campus-based aid and a Direct Subsidized Loan. 

 $8,000 financial need

– $6,395 grant and scholarship 

= $1,605 remaining need

The financial aid package often is presented to the student in an aid offer, whether by postal mail or in 

an electronic format. The package might include a combination of federal, state, and institutional aid. 

To ensure the aid package is as complete and accurate as possible, the student should inform the 

financial aid office of any private scholarships that he or she has been awarded. 

The student may accept or decline any of the financial aid offered. Students often have questions about 

the aid offer; these questions are best handled by the financial aid office at the postsecondary school. 

While the U.S. Department of Education (ED) does not regulate how a postsecondary school packages 

aid, we do require that the institution inform all students about all federal, state, local, private, and 

institutional student financial assistance available at that school. In addition, ED requires that 

participating institutions describe the procedures and forms for application; the student eligibility 

requirements; the selection criteria; and the criteria for determining the amount of an aid offer. 

A number of schools use the College Financing Plan, a sort of “cover letter” for the aid offer from the 

school. The College Financing Plan presents the aid offer in a way that clearly distinguishes free 

money from money that must be repaid and sets out the net cost to the student. Learn more about the 

College Financing Plan, and other tools to help students compare schools, at collegecost.ed.gov. 

How Much Federal Pell Grant Funding Can a Student Get?

To determine the amount of a student’s Federal Pell Grant, the financial aid administrator consults a 

table that indicates Pell awards based on the cost of attendance, the Expected Family Contribution 

(EFC), and other factors. 

The lower the EFC is (the less money the family is assumed able to pay for school), the higher the 

grant award may be; a student with a zero EFC—no family contribution is expected—has the most 

need and may be eligible to receive the maximum Federal Pell Grant award. 

For the 2019–20 award year (July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020), the maximum Federal Pell Grant award

is $6,195, and the maximum Pell-eligible EFC is 5576. For the 2020–21 award year (July 1, 2020, to 

June 30, 2021), maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $6,345, and the maximum Pell-eligible EFC is 

5711.. 
12 

Note: A student who is attending two postsecondary schools during the same enrollment period must 

notify the financial aid administrators at both schools. The student may not receive Pell Grants at both 

schools during the same enrollment period. 

How Much TEACH Grant Funding Can a Student Get?

For any 2019–20 TEACH Grant first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2019, the maximum TEACH Grant 

award is $3,764. The 2020–21 maximum TEACH Grant award will be published in 2020. The amount 

could be reduced if the student attends less than full-time or if the award causes the student’s total 

financial aid offer package to exceed his or her financial need. 

How Much Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant Funding Can a Student Get?

For any 2019–20 Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2019, and 

before Oct. 1, 2020, the maximum award is $5,829.50. The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

amount could be adjusted if the student if the student attends less than full-time.

DID YOU KNOW

The Direct Loan, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, and TEACH Grant programs are affected by the 

automatic federal budget cuts known as the “sequester.” Find the latest information about how grant 

and loan amounts are affected by sequestration at StudentAid.gov/sub-unsub, StudentAid.gov/iraqafghanistan, and StudentAid.gov/teach. 

How Much Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal WorkStudy, and Subsidized Loan Money Can a Student Get?

When awarding the programs listed above, the financial aid administrator must consider other aid 

available to the student in addition to the EFC. For FSEOG, a student can receive up to $4,00 a year. 

For Federal Work-Study, a student’s total work-study award depends in when he or she applies, his or 

her level or financial need, and his or her school’s funding level. For maximum loan amounts, see the 

table on page 2 of Federal Student Aid at a Glance, at StudentAid.gov/glance. For details about 

annual loan limits for Direct Subsidized Loans (the maximum loan amount that a student may receive 

for an academic year), see StudentAid.gov/sub-unsub#how-much. 

How Much Can a Student Get in Direct Unsubsidized Loans?

The table at StudentAid.gov/sub-unsub#how-much lists annual loan limits (the maximum loan 

amount that a student may receive for an academic year) for these loans. A first-year undergraduate 

dependent student may receive a maximum of $5,500 in Direct Unsubsidized Loans; the maximum 

amount rises as the student progresses through school. 

DID YOU KNOW

There’s a maximum amount that a student can receive in Direct Subsidized Loan or Direct 

Unsubsidized Loan funds. The amount that the student is eligible to receive in one loan type will limit 

eligibility for the other loan type, but the student’s total eligibility for Direct Subsidized Loans and 

Direct Unsubsidized Loans is set by law and is based on the student’s dependency status and grade 

level.
13 

Because Direct Unsubsidized Loans are not need based, the financial aid administrator applies the 

following principles to determine a student’s eligibility:

• The amount of the loan may not exceed the difference between the student’s cost of attendance 

and all other aid the student is receiving, including aid from private and other nonfederal 

sources. 

• The school must consider the student’s eligibility for other aid before determining a loan 

amount. For instance, if a full-time student in his or her first year of study in 2019–20 had a 

cost of attendance of $11,000 and was eligible for a maximum Federal Pell Grant of $6,195 and 

a maximum Direct Subsidized Loan of $3,500, the aid administrator could approve the student 

for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan of up to $1,305 ($11,000 – $6,195 – $3,500 = $1,305).
14 

Part 2: Application Process for Federal Student Aid 

Federal law requires the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to allow students to apply for federal 

student aid without paying a fee. To be considered for most of the federal student aid programs, a 

student must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. This 

application (available in English and Spanish) collects financial and other information used to calculate 

the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which postsecondary schools use to determine the student’s 

eligibility for aid. (See pages 9–10 for a discussion of the EFC.) 

States and many schools also use FAFSA information in offering funds from their own financial aid 

programs. To be considered for state or institutional aid, a student might be required to complete 

additional questions on a separate nonfederal form, and a fee might be charged for processing that 

additional information. Students should check with the schools to which they plan to apply and with 

their state agencies to find out whether additional forms are required. 

A student needs to complete the FAFSA form once each year. After the first year, a FAFSA Renewal 

option is available for subsequent years, allowing demographic data (such as name and address) from 

the student’s previous FAFSA form to be prepopulated in the subsequent year’s application. 

DID YOU KNOW

To access a selection of informational resources that you can use as you advise students and parents 

about the FAFSA process, visit FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/resources and choose “FAFSA” in the 

“Topic” dropdown in the search tool. 

Remember: The Financial Aid Toolkit site is designed for your use; StudentAid.gov is the site for 

students and parents. 

Early Eligibility Indicator: FAFSA4caster 

What Is the Purpose of FAFSA4caster? 

FAFSA4caster is a free online tool to provide students with early estimates of their eligibility for 

federal student aid. The tool instantly calculates an estimated award amount for the Federal Pell Grant 

program. Having such information—even though it’s an estimate and not an official offer of aid—

helps families plan ahead for college or career school. 

Who Should Use FAFSA4caster? 

FAFSA4caster is for anyone who is not yet ready to file a FAFSA form. We recommend the tool for 

high school juniors, and even as early as middle school, as well as for adults considering returning to 

school and wanting an aid estimate. 

How Do You Use FAFSA4caster? 

A student can access FAFSA4caster at StudentAid.gov/understand-aid/estimate.

In FAFSA4caster, the student answers financial and other questions that are used to determine federal 

student aid eligibility. 

Note that although FAFSA4caster has a “Submit” button, the tool is just a calculator, not an application

for aid. 
15 

What Information Does FAFSA4caster Provide? 

When the student selects the “Submit” button, the student is invited to enter his or her chosen school’s 

cost of attendance. There is a link to College Navigator in case the student needs to look up the cost. 

There are fields where the student can fill in the amounts of state and institutional aid and private 

scholarships he or she expects (or hopes) to receive. FAFSA4caster indicates estimations for the 

student’s Federal Pell Grant amount (if any), Federal Work-Study amount (based on the national 

average), and maximum Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan eligibility. 

The student then selects “Calculate” to see a summary of the cost of attendance, the total financial aid, 

and the difference (the remaining amount the student would have to contribute). The student’s 

estimated EFC also appears. Above that is a section headed “Additional resources you should 

consider,” in which the student can enter an expected amount of parent PLUS loan funding as well as 

how much in savings the student has available to contribute toward the cost of attendance. When the 

student selects “Recalculate,” a revised summary appears. 

The student can compare schools by changing cost of attendance, deleting state aid if he or she will be 

an out-of-state student at a particular school, changing the amount of aid available from the school, and 

so on. The student can print the worksheet or copy and paste it into a document to save on his or her 

computer for future reference. 

Note: It’s important that students understand that the EFC and federal aid amounts provided by 

FAFSA4caster are estimates and that the student will not receive any aid without submitting a FAFSA 

form and meeting the eligibility criteria. FAFSA4caster does not save or submit the information the 

student enters. 

Before Applying

Helping Students Learn About the FAFSA® Process 

FAFSA® Demonstration Site

A demonstration site is available so you can increase your own understanding of the FAFSA® site and 

show it to students and parents before they apply. At the demo site, you can complete a sample FAFSA

form, make corrections, or check the status of the application. However, when you choose “submit,” 

the information is not actually submitted. The site is purely a learning tool. To access the demo site, go 

to fafsademo.test.ed.gov. 

Note: Keep personally identifiable information safe! Be sure not to enter information from a real 

person into the demo site. 

FAFSA® Screen Shots

If you’re preparing a presentation about financial aid and want to show students what fafsa.gov and the 

myStudentAid mobile app’s myFAFSA component look like, you can download PowerPoint slides 

with images (or “screen shots”) of FAFSA screens at our Financial Aid Toolkit site at 

FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/fafsa-updates. 

Financial Aid PowerPoint Presentation

Also on the Toolkit, there are some presentations (many with speaker notes) about federal student aid, 

along with information about planning a financial aid workshop at your school. You’ll find 

presentations at FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/resources and event planning tips at 

FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/host-event. 
16 

Getting an FSA ID 

A student should create an account username and password called an FSA ID before the student 

applies for aid. Similarly, one of the dependent student’s parents whose information will be listed on 

the FAFSA form also should create his or her own FSA ID. 

Note that individuals without Social Security numbers won’t be able to create FSA IDs but will still be 

able to fill out and manually sign FAFSA forms and complete other processes related to their federal 

student aid. 

Although the student and parent will be offered the opportunity to create their FSA IDs as they fill out 

the FAFSA form online, we strongly recommend they create them ahead of time to make the 

application process more efficient. Two examples of why this is a good idea: 

1. When you create your FSA ID, you provide your name, date of birth, and Social Security 

number. That information is then sent to the Social Security Administration (SSA) for 

confirmation. The confirmation process takes about one to three days. If the information 

doesn’t match the SSA’s records, the discrepancies will have to be resolved, possibly delaying 

the financial aid application and awarding process. Therefore, if the student or parent thinks the 

SSA might have the wrong name or date of birth for him or her in its records, he or she should 

go—well ahead of applying for aid—to ssa.gov to find out how to correct any errors. The 

information must be correct before the FSA ID can be used for most of its purposes. 

2. When the student goes to fafsa.gov to log in and selects “START HERE” and then the “I am 

the student” option, the student can enter his or her FSA ID username and password. If the 

student already has an FSA ID and enters it at this point, the student’s information from the 

FSA ID account will be automatically filled in on the FAFSA form, preventing any errors or 

inconsistencies that could occur if the student manually entered his or her information. 

Share information about the FSA ID with your students by distributing the fact sheet Creating and 

Using the FSA ID. It can be found at StudentAid.gov/resources#fsaid. 

Why Does a Student Need an FSA ID? 

The FSA ID can be used for the following purposes (among others): 

• Applicant’s electronic signature on the FAFSA form and certain student loan contracts 

• Fill out the FAFSA form on the myStudentAid mobile app 

• Access to applicant’s information on fafsa.gov and myStudentAid mobile app, to view FAFSA 

processing results, to make corrections, or to renew a FAFSA form based on data the student 

filed previously 

• Access to online information about federal student aid the student has received 

Why Would a Parent Need an FSA ID? 

There are two common reasons a parent would need an FSA ID: 

1. To sign the student’s FAFSA form. 
17 

2. To sign the Master Promissory Note for a Direct PLUS Loan (see page 3 for information about 

PLUS loans). 

At least one parent of a dependent student must sign that student’s FAFSA form. (To determine a 

student’s dependency status, see the Am I Dependent or Independent? fact sheet at 

StudentAid.gov/resources#dependent.) The FSA ID is the most efficient way to sign the FAFSA

form. Because each person signing a FAFSA form electronically needs his or her own FSA ID, a 

dependent student’s parent should get an FSA ID. The parent’s FSA ID can be used to provide that 

parent’s signature on FAFSA forms for all of that parent’s children and for the parent’s own form as 

applicable. Remember that the parent must have a Social Security number to create an FSA ID.

DID YOU KNOW

In many cases, when someone contacts the Federal Student Aid Information Center to report problems 

using his or her FSA ID, those problems arose because someone else created the FSA ID for that 

person. If someone creates your FSA ID for you, you are much less likely to know your username, 

password, and/or answers to the challenge questions that help you retrieve your FSA ID if you forget 

it. We recommend you create your own FSA ID because an FSA ID is a signature and must be kept 

private. 

How Do You Create an FSA ID? 

As mentioned above, the student can create an FSA ID while completing the FAFSA form but might 

wish to obtain one ahead of time. There is information about the FSA ID, and a link to create the FSA 

ID, at StudentAid.gov/help-center/answers/article/how-to-create-fsa-id-username-password. 

To create an FSA ID, the student will need to complete the following main steps: 

1. Access the "Create Account" page at StudentAid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/account-info. 

2. Provide his or her name, date of birth, and Social Security number. 

3. Provide a unique username. 

4. Enter his or her email address.

5. Provide a unique password. 

6. Provide his or her mailing address. 

7. Provide his or her mobile phone number. Select the box if the student would like to register his 

or her mobile phone to receive one-time secure codes if he or she forgets his or her username or 

password. (The student will be required to either provide his or her email address or mobile 

phone number and opt-in to messaging before he or she can proceed.)

8. Provide his or her communication preferences.

9. Select a language preference. 

10. For security purposes, complete the challenge questions and answers. 
18 

11. Confirm and verify the information.

The FSA ID can be used immediately to sign an original (first-time) FAFSA form. Then, within one to 

three days, the FSA ID applicant’s name, date of birth, and SSN are verified with the Social Security 

Administration (SSA). If the SSA confirms the FSA ID applicant’s information, the FSA ID is then 

valid for all its uses. If there is a problem with the SSA match, the FSA ID applicant will be notified 

via email if he or she provided a valid email address when creating the FSA ID. 

Important Note

Please stress to students and parents that they should enter their information carefully when creating an 

FSA ID. If an individual makes a typo when entering (for instance) his or her Social Security number 

or email address, the activation of the FSA ID or the processing of the student’s FAFSA form could be 

delayed. 

What if the Student Forgets the FSA ID or Has Other Difficulties Using It? 

Instructions for several scenarios are described at StudentAid.gov/helpcenter/answers/topic/managing_your_account/article/why-wont-my-fsa-id-username-andpassword-work. Here are a couple of solutions in brief: 

• If the student is trying to log in to a page that requires the FSA ID and has forgotten his or her 

FSA ID, he or she will find links that offer the option of retrieving the username or password 

through the student’s verified email address or mobile phone number or by successfully 

answering the challenge questions. 

• If the student gets a message saying his or her FSA ID is locked, he or she can either have a 

secure code sent via email or text message or can answer his or her challenge questions to 

unlock the FSA ID. 

What About FSA ID Security?

The student should keep his or her FSA ID in a safe place and never share it with anyone, even if that 

person is helping the student fill out the FAFSA form. Revealing the FSA ID could make the student 

susceptible to identity theft. 

Note: Students can learn to avoid identity theft by reading Federal Student Aid and Identity Theft at 

StudentAid.gov/resources#id-theft. 

Gathering Documents for the FAFSA® Form 

To complete the FAFSA form, students (and their parents, if applicable) need their Social Security 

numbers; driver’s licenses (optional); federal income tax returns (see page 20 to learn about 

automatically importing tax information into the FAFSA form); Form(s) W-2; current bank statements; 

and records of any stocks, bonds, and other investments and assets. 

You can find a list of items needed to complete the FAFSA form at

StudentAid.gov/fillingout#document. 

FAFSA on the Web Worksheet

A tool to help prepare the student to complete the online application is the FAFSA on the Web 

Worksheet (available in English and Spanish). The worksheet, designed to give applicants an idea of 
19 

the questions they will be asked when applying online, lists many of the FAFSA questions and 

provides boxes for students’ (and parents’) answers. 

You can download the worksheet in PDF at StudentAid.gov/resources#worksheet. 

Note: The worksheet is not an application and cannot be submitted to the Central Processing System. 

A student without access to the internet should call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 

1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243; TTY for the deaf and hard of hearing 1-800-730-8913) to request 

a print-out of the FAFSA PDF. 

When to Apply

The FAFSA processing cycle lasts 21 months. For the 2020–21 award year (July 1, 2020, through June 

30, 2021), applications may be completed on or after Oct. 1, 2019. Processing begins Oct. 2, 2019. 

FAFSA forms for that award year will be accepted until June 30, 2021. 

Note that most states have application deadlines within the first three to six months of 2020 for 

students who want to be considered for state aid. Some states’ deadlines are even earlier, indicated as 

“as soon as possible after October 1 [2019].” You can check state deadlines at fafsa.gov. 

Additionally, some schools have limited institutional funds that are awarded on a “first come, first

served” basis to eligible students. Students should fill out the FAFSA form as early as possible to 

maximize chances of being awarded first-come, first-served aid. 

How to Apply

Electronic Application Methods 

fafsa.gov 

The online FAFSA form—available in both English and Spanish—offers detailed online help for each 

question as well as live online one-on-one communication with a customer service representative. 

Students can find information about filling out the FAFSA form at StudentAid.gov/fillingout. Note: 

There are websites at which students can pay a fee to get help filing the FAFSA form. These sites are 

not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education (ED). We urge you to advise your 

students not to pay these sites for assistance that is provided for free at ED’s website. 

Here’s how a student gets started, depending on whether he or she completed a FAFSA form the 

previous year: 

• A new applicant begins by selecting the “START HERE” button and then “I am the student” on 

the “Login” page, and then providing either his or her FSA ID (strongly recommended) or his 

or her name, date of birth, and Social Security number (SSN). At the next step, the site allows 

the applicant to select the award year (e.g., 2020–21) for which he or she wishes to submit a 

FAFSA form. 

• If the student completed a FAFSA form the previous year, he or she should select the “LOG 

IN” button on the home page, choose the “I am the student” option, and use his or her FSA ID

to sign in. Then the site will present a “FAFSA Renewal” option, which will have certain data 

filled in, based on the student’s existing file. 
20 

If a parent wants to start his or her dependent child’s FAFSA form or renewal, the parent should select 

“I am a parent, preparer, or student from a Freely Associated State” on the “Login” page. This 

separation between student and parent is intended to ease the confusion around whose FSA ID to use 

when starting the FAFSA form. 

The online FAFSA form contains informational text to assist the student in completing the form. “Skip 

logic” automatically omits questions that don’t apply to the student, based on how the student 

answered previous questions. (For example, if an applicant indicates that she is female, she won’t be 

asked whether she wants to register with Selective Service.) Built-in edits help students detect and 

correct errors before submitting the application to the Central Processing System (CPS); this feature 

significantly reduces the number of applications rejected by the CPS. 

Filling Out a Simplified FAFSA® Form

Certain FAFSA questions determine whether the student is eligible for the automatic assignment of an 

Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of zero. Based on their answers to those questions, applicants 

might be able to skip certain questions about income and assets. 

Additionally, the Simplified Needs Test allows some students to have assets excluded from 

consideration in calculating the EFC. Based on their answers to certain questions on fafsa.gov, 

applicants might be able to skip the questions about assets. 

However, for purposes of determining eligibility for state financial aid, some states require asset and 

income information. Students who are residents of such states will be asked those questions regardless 

of their eligibility for the federal Simplified Needs Test formula or for an automatic-zero EFC. 

Students who are not residents of such states will be asked whether they want to skip the optional 

questions. Some schools, too, require the student to complete those questions to determine eligibility 

for institutional aid, so the student should check with the schools to which he or she is applying before 

deciding to skip those questions. (Providing all income and asset information will not negate the 

student’s eligibility for the Simplified Needs Test formula or for the automatic-zero EFC.)

Automatically Retrieving Income and Tax Data 

Applicants who fill out the FAFSA form online may be able to automatically transfer their income and 

tax data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) into the FAFSA form via the IRS Data Retrieval 

Tool (IRS DRT). The tax information the individual transfers from the IRS into the FAFSA form 

won’t be displayed. Instead, the label “Transferred from the IRS” will show in the appropriate fields on 

fafsa.gov, the IRS DRT web page, and on the Student Aid Report. Not displaying the tax information 

prevents potential identity thieves from accessing it.

DID YOU KNOW

A surprisingly common problem FAFSA® applicants have arises from entering the wrong person’s 

information on the form. For instance, a parent might provide the student’s FSA ID instead of the 

parent’s own when he or she is trying to retrieve parent tax information using the IRS DRT. Please 

remind students and parents to read all questions and instructions and enter information carefully. 
21 

Filling Out the FAFSA® Form Without Access to Parent Information 

Dependent students are asked for information about their parents when filling out a FAFSA form. (For 

details about what determines dependency status, visit StudentAid.gov/dependency.) The online 

FAFSA form asks whether the dependent student is able to provide information about his or her 

parents. If not, and if the student indicates that he or she has special circumstances such as having left 

home due to an abusive situation, having incarcerated parents, or being homeless but not meeting the 

FAFSA definition of homeless youth, fafsa.gov allows the student to submit the application without 

entering data about the parents. 

It is important for the student to understand that although the application will be submitted, the student 

will not receive an EFC and must contact the financial aid administrator at the school he or she plans to 

attend. The financial aid administrator will ask for additional information to determine whether the 

student can be considered independent and have an EFC calculated without parent data. For more 

information about dependency status and dependency overrides, see pages 32–33. 

Details about reporting parent information on the FAFSA form are at StudentAid.gov/fafsa-parent. 

Note

We encourage you to connect homeless students with agencies that can provide an official 

determination of homelessness. An official determination will ease the path for the student, who’ll be 

able to indicate his or her status on the FAFSA® form and be considered an independent student. 

Dependency status is discussed on pages 32–33 of this handbook. 

Filling Out the FAFSA® Form When Parents Refuse to Provide Information 

In situations in which the parent refuses to provide information on the FAFSA form and no longer 

supports the student, federal law allows the student to submit the application without parent 

information and—after review by the financial aid administrator at the student’s chosen school—

potentially to receive only a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. The student indicates on the FAFSA form that 

he or she wishes to apply only for the unsubsidized loan. The form is then submitted without parent 

information; and the student must follow up with the financial aid administrator to find out what to do 

next to receive the loan. 

If the financial aid administrator chooses, he or she may use “professional judgment authority” to 

allow the student to receive the loan. The financial aid administrator will ask for a written statement 

from the parents, indicating that they refuse to provide their information on the FAFSA form and that 

they no longer support the student. Forms of support include allowing the student to live in the parent’s 

home, including the student on the parent’s auto or health insurance, providing a car to drive on 

anything other than an occasional basis, and payment of the student’s tuition or fees (including via a 

PLUS loan or college savings or prepaid tuition plan). 

Note: Although this flexibility will make an important difference in some students’ ability to attend 

postsecondary school, we encourage you to advise your students to think carefully before attempting to 

take advantage of it. A dependent student whose FAFSA form is submitted without parent information 

will not receive an EFC. Remember that some nonfederal aid programs look at the EFC in order to 

determine a student’s eligibility for their funds; therefore, a student without an EFC cannot be 

considered for those aid programs. Similarly, some nonfederal scholarship programs require that a 

student be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant in order to qualify; a student without an EFC cannot have 

Pell eligibility determined and therefore cannot receive funds from those programs. Please stress to 
22 

students and parents that if a dependent student does not provide parent information on the FAFSA 

form, he or she is giving up a chance at many sources of aid. 

Saving the FAFSA® Form or Sharing It With a Parent Using the Save Key

Students do not have to complete the FAFSA form in one sitting. At the beginning of the process, the 

student is asked to supply a password called a “save key.” If the student is interrupted or needs to leave 

the application before completing it, or if the site automatically logs the student off due to 15 minutes 

of inactivity, the information will be saved and will remain available via the save key for 45 days. The 

student should keep the save key in a safe place. If the student forgets the save key, he or she may 

return to fafsa.gov to reset it. 

A common use of the save key is the sharing of the FAFSA form between the student and parent. If the 

student and parent are in different locations and unable to complete the FAFSA form together, the 

student should start the form, put in his or her information, select the “Save” button, and exit; and then 

the parent can log in at fafsa.gov by entering the student’s information (NOT the student’s FSA ID) 

and the save key, and picking up where the student left off. 

The save key is different from the password for the student’s FSA ID: the FSA ID allows the student to 

sign the FAFSA form or to access processed FAFSA data, whereas the save key is created solely to 

access the incomplete application at a later time. It’s okay for the student to share the save key with the 

parent. 

Signing the Application With an FSA ID or Signature Page 

At the end of the FAFSA form, the student (and the dependent student’s parent) signs electronically 

using his or her FSA ID. 

The student and parent don’t have to sign during the same session. For instance, if the student fills out 

the FAFSA form at school, at a Form Your Future event (formyourfuture.org), or at another 

mentoring event at which the parent isn’t present, he or she may sign and then has a couple of options: 

1. (Recommended process) After the student signs, he or she saves the FAFSA form. Later, the 

parent goes to fafsa.gov and enters the student’s identifiers (the student’s name, date of birth, 

and Social Security number). The parent also must enter the student’s save key (not the FSA 

ID; see above for information about the save key). The FAFSA form then displays the “Sign 

and Submit” page, where the parent enters his or her own FSA ID to sign. 

2. (Alternate process) After the student signs, he or she indicates that the parent will sign later, 

and the student submits the FAFSA form. The parent then has 14 days in which to sign. He or 

she goes to fafsa.gov, enters the student’s identifiers and save key, accesses the “Sign and 

Submit” page, and enters his or her FSA ID to sign. 

A student or parent without an FSA ID has the option to apply for an FSA ID, receive it instantly, and 

immediately use it to sign a first-time (original) FAFSA form. If the student or parent is unable to 

create an FSA ID due to not having an SSN, and therefore cannot use an FSA ID to sign, he or she 

should print, sign, and mail a signature page to the CPS. The student should be sure to submit the 

FAFSA form after printing the signature page. If the student does not sign (either electronically or with 

a signature page) within 14 days of submitting the application, or if the student indicates on the 

FAFSA form that he or she will not sign via FSA ID or signature page, he or she will receive a Student 
23 

Aid Report (SAR) in the mail requesting the appropriate signatures. The student (and parent, if 

appropriate) must sign the SAR and return it to the CPS before an EFC can be calculated. 

Note: See pages 24–25, under “PDF Application Method,” for information about using a high school 

counselor’s or financial aid administrator’s signature instead of a parent’s. 

Submitting the FAFSA® Form and Getting an Estimated EFC 

When the student submits his or her information at fafsa.gov, a confirmation page appears. The 

confirmation page verifies that the application was submitted successfully, displays an estimated EFC

(unless the student is dependent and is submitting the FAFSA form without parent information), and 

indicates estimated amounts of Pell Grant funds and other federal aid for which the student might be 

eligible. The confirmation page also includes graduation, retention, and transfer rates for the schools 

the student listed on the FAFSA form. 

From the confirmation page, the student can link to an application for aid from his or her state (if that 

state has made such a link available). There also is a link for the parent to begin a FAFSA form for 

another of that parent’s children; the parent’s information will be prepopulated in the new FAFSA 

form. Note that the link to prepopulate the additional application with the parent’s information is 

available only once, at the time the confirmation page appears. If the additional student is not able to 

complete his or her FAFSA form at that time, he or she can enter enough information to get it started, 

create a save key to access it later, and save it. 

It is important to note that the EFC on the confirmation page is only an estimate; the official EFC will 

appear on the SAR. Once the student’s FAFSA form has been processed, the student may view the 

official EFC results at fafsa.gov. (The student must log in using his or her FSA ID to access the 

results.) 

Note: The confirmation page is automatically emailed to the student for his or her records (if the 

student provided a valid email address on the FAFSA form). 

Note

For technical assistance with the FAFSA site, students can access live online customer service at the 

site by selecting the “Help” icon and then selecting the “Federal Student Aid Information Center” link 

at the bottom of the page, or they can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FEDAID (1-800-433-3243; TTY for the deaf or hard of hearing 1-800-730-8913). 

myStudentAid Mobile App’s myFAFSA Component 

Students and parents can complete the 2020–21 FAFSA form using the myStudentAid mobile app. 

Students and parents can download the myStudentAid mobile app in the Apple App Store (iOS) at 

apps.apple.com/us/app/mystudentaid/id1414539145 or Google Play (Android) at 

play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fsa.mystudentaid. The myFAFSA component—which 

is used to complete the FAFSA form—is the app’s featured function. 

The following are key features of myFAFSA: 

• Students and parents may begin, complete, and submit a new or renewal FAFSA form for both 

the 2020–21 and the 2019–20 FAFSA processing cycles. 

• Users are offered a customized experience based on their role (student, parent, or preparer). The

mobile app provides guidance on how to complete the FAFSA questions. 
24 

• Users have a secure experience with the same data protections as completing the FAFSA form 

through fafsa.gov. 

• Students and parents may use the IRS DRT to electronically transfer federal tax return 

information into a FAFSA form. 

• Parents can automatically transfer their information from a completed FAFSA form for one of 

their children into a new FAFSA form for another child. 

• Students and parents may be eligible to transfer their FAFSA information into their state aid 

application. Participating states include Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, 

Pennsylvania, and Vermont. 

• Students are able to view additional information about the schools they selected on their 

FAFSA form for easy comparison of schools. 

• Students can view their Student Aid Report. 

In addition to the features provided by myFAFSA, the myStudentAid mobile app provides links to the 

following services: 

• Profile: manage account username and password (FSA ID)

• myChecklist: use a financial planning tool that offers next step information for users at all 

stages of the federal student aid process

• myFederalLoans: view federal student aid history 

• myCollegeScorecard: view and compare information about schools 

• Contact Us: get in touch with Federal Student Aid contact centers to have questions answered

• StudentAid.gov: access Federal Student Aid's key source of information about the federal 

student aid programs, application process, and loan repayment options 

DID YOU KNOW

Counselors and advisors can use the mobile app as well. If you're helping a student fill out the FAFSA 

form, you can select the "I am a Preparer" option, where you'll be asked to enter your FSA ID. (You 

must have an FSA ID to use the mobile app.) Let us know what you think of the app by leaving a 

comment at the Apple App Store or the Google Play store. 

Applying Through the School

Students also may file the FAFSA form at some postsecondary schools. The student provides the 

necessary information, and the school enters the information electronically and sends it electronically 

to the CPS. The student should contact the financial aid administrator at the school he or she plans to 

attend to ask whether this option is available at that school. 

PDF Application Method 

Students may print out and complete a FAFSA PDF (available at StudentAid.gov/resources#fafsa for 

download; also available pre-printed, in English, Spanish, or Braille, from the Federal Student Aid 

Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID [1-800-433-3243; TTY for the deaf or hard of hearing 

1-800-730-8913]) and submit it for processing. The PDF lists an address to which the student should 

send the completed application. Be sure your students do not submit FAFSA PDFs marked “DRAFT.” 

Emailed or faxed copies of the FAFSA form will not be accepted, nor will the FAFSA on the Web 

Worksheet. Students should keep a photocopy of the completed form for their own records. 

Note: Applicants should send only the application itself (pages 3–8) to the processor. They shouldn’t 

send copies of their tax returns or any other documentation. 
25 

A high school counselor or a postsecondary school’s financial aid administrator may sign the FAFSA 

PDF in place of parents when

• the parent(s) are not currently in the United States and cannot be contacted by normal means; 

• the current address of the parent(s) is not known; or 

• the parent(s) have been determined physically or mentally incapable of providing a signature. 

Substituting the signature of a counselor or financial aid administrator is a way to move the application

through the processing system. The counselor or financial aid administrator must provide his or her 

title in parentheses next to his or her signature and briefly state the reason he or she is signing for the 

parent(s). 

By signing in place of a parent, the counselor or financial aid administrator is assuring a minimum 

level of credibility for the data submitted. However, the counselor or financial aid administrator does 

not assume any responsibility or liability in this process. 

How the FAFSA® Form Is Processed

FAFSA data is transmitted to Federal Student Aid’s Central Processing System (CPS). The CPS uses 

this information to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The student will receive an 

email or a printed output document (either a Student Aid Report [SAR] or a SAR Acknowledgement) 

from the CPS within a few days to three weeks of submitting the FAFSA form, depending on a variety

of factors (see table on page 28). Descriptions of the SAR and SAR Acknowledgement are on pages 27–

30. Because the two documents serve almost the same purpose, for simplicity’s sake we refer to “the 

SAR” to mean “one of these two output documents” throughout most of this chapter. 

When processing the application, the CPS uses a series of edits to check the consistency of FAFSA 

information. For instance, it would be inconsistent for an independent student to report that he or she is 

single and has no dependents but then to report a household size of two or more people. If the FAFSA 

responses are inconsistent, the CPS might be unable to calculate the EFC or might calculate an EFC 

based on assumptions. If assumptions have been used, they are indicated on the student’s SAR; the 

student must make sure the assumptions are correct. The SAR includes instructions for making 

corrections. 

Data Matches 

In addition to checking the FAFSA data against predetermined edits, the CPS also performs several 

database matches. If discrepancies arise, the student’s record is flagged and the student might not be 

eligible to receive federal student aid until the discrepancy is resolved. Resolving such a discrepancy 

usually requires the student to submit additional documentation to the school to which he or she is 

applying. The SAR includes the appropriate instructions for the student. 

Social Security Administration (SSA) Matches

The CPS matches FAFSA data against SSA records to check the validity of a student’s Social Security 

number (SSN). If the SSN is invalid, the student will receive a SAR with a comment instructing him or 

her to review the SSN and explaining how to resolve the discrepancy. The student also will receive a 

SAR comment if the SSN is a valid number but the name or date of birth reported on the FAFSA form 

doesn’t match the SSA’s records. The student must resolve the discrepancy before he or she can 

receive federal student aid. Resolution can be achieved by correcting the information if it is incorrect 

or reentering the information if it is correct. The student also might receive a SAR with similar 

comments if some or all of the parent’s information doesn’t match the SSA’s database. For advice 
26 

about the best course of action in his or her circumstances, a student should follow the guidance on the 

SAR or contact the financial aid administrator at the school he or she plans to attend. 

If the student indicates on the FAFSA form that he or she is a U.S. citizen, ED also conducts a match 

with the SSA to verify U.S. citizenship status. The results of the citizenship match appear on the 

student’s SAR. When a student’s reported data conflict with the SSA’s database—or when no 

citizenship match can be performed—the SAR will indicate that there is a conflict. The student must 

then provide the school with documentation confirming his or her U.S. citizenship status. 

The SSA database match also checks whether the SSA has a date of death listed for the person with 

that SSN. The match is intended to detect when someone might be fraudulently attempting to receive 

federal student aid.

Department of Homeland Security Match

The CPS also matches FAFSA records against citizenship records maintained by the U.S. Department 

of Homeland Security (DHS). If the student reports on the FAFSA form that he or she is an eligible 

noncitizen (and, therefore, could be eligible for federal student aid) and reports an Alien Registration 

number, that information is checked against the database maintained by the DHS. If the match does not 

confirm the student is an eligible noncitizen, he or she will receive a comment on the SAR and will 

have to submit his or her immigration documentation to the school. A student is not eligible for federal 

student aid until his or her status as an eligible noncitizen is resolved. 

Note

Only the student’s information is matched with DHS records. The parents’ citizenship status is not 

taken into account on the student’s FAFSA form. 

National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS®) Match

The CPS also matches FAFSA data with the NSLDS® database, which identifies students who have 

defaulted on any federal student loans. If a student is found to be in default and hasn’t made 

satisfactory arrangements to repay, he or she will receive a comment on the SAR. A student isn’t

eligible for federal student aid until the default status is resolved. The NSLDS match also reveals 

whether a student owes a refund due to overpayment of a federal student grant, as well as simply 

reporting a history of any federal student aid received by the student in the past. 

Other Matches

The CPS also performs matches against registration status information maintained by the Selective 

Service System and against veteran status information maintained by the U.S. Department of Veterans 

Affairs (for students who say they are veterans). There also is a match against a Department of Defense 

database to identify students who might be eligible either for a maximum Pell Grant or for an award 

under the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant Program (see page 9). Finally, students who have been 

convicted of drug offenses in U.S. courts and sentenced to debarment of federal funds are identified by 

matches with Department of Justice records. 

What to Expect After Applying

Checking the Status of a FAFSA® Form 

After filing (either electronically or on paper), a student can check the processing status of his or her 

FAFSA form or any corrections he or she has made at fafsa.gov by logging in. 
27 

A student without access to the internet can check the status of the FAFSA form by calling 

1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) and answering questions asked by an automated system. TTY 

users (who call 1-800-730-8913) will be connected to an operator rather than to an automated system. 

Students without access to the toll-free number can call 334-523-2691. 

Where the Processor Sends the FAFSA® Information 

Within 72 hours after the Central Processing System (CPS) receives a completed application and 

signature, schools listed on the student’s FAFSA form have access to the student’s information. The 

schools download the processed FAFSA data in electronic form on a report called an Institutional 

Student Information Record. 

The CPS also sends the student’s information to the state agency (or agencies) in the student’s state of 

legal residence and to the state agencies of the states in which the schools listed on the FAFSA form

are located. This maximizes the student’s chances of receiving state-based and school-based financial 

aid.

DID YOU KNOW

The Institutional Student Information Record does not show a school which other schools the student 

listed on his or her FAFSA form. 

State agencies do see the full list of schools the student entered. 

What the Student Receives After Applying 

Each applicant receives an output document—either a Student Aid Report (SAR) (paper or electronic) 

or SAR Acknowledgement. 

• If the student’s information isn’t confirmed by the SSA, he or she will receive a SAR. 

• To determine which document the student will receive if his or her information is confirmed, 

consult the table below. 

• If an email to the student is returned as undeliverable, a paper output document will be sent. 

• If the student fills out a Spanish FAFSA form, the output document also will be in Spanish. 

Note: Most students will receive an email from noreply@FAFSA.gov with instructions on how to 

access an online copy of their SAR. 
28 

Type of FAFSA 

form submitted

Email 

supplied? 

Type of SAR received When SAR arrives (at latest)*

Yes Email link to SAR 

information online 

If FAFSA form signed with FSA 

ID(s): 3–5 days; if signature page 

used: 2 weeks 

FAFSA form

submitted at 

fafsa.gov or the 

myStudentAid 

mobile app

FAFSA submitted No Paper SAR Acknowledgement If FAFSA form signed with FSA 

ID(s): 7–10 days; if signature 

page used: 2 weeks 

FAFSA form

submitted by 

school 

Yes Email link to online SAR 3–5 days 

FAFSA submitted 

by school

No Paper SAR Acknowledgement 7–10 days 

FAFSA PDF Yes Email link to online SAR 2 weeks

Paper FAFSA No Paper SAR 3 weeks

Corrections at 

fafsa.gov 

Yes Email link to online SAR 1–5 days (If changes don’t require 

data match, updated SAR 

immediately available at 

fafsa.gov) 

No Paper SAR Acknowledgement 7–10 days (If changes don’t

require data match, updated SAR 

immediately available at 

fafsa.gov) 

*The time frames in this table indicate how long it takes for the SAR to arrive after the FAFSA form is

submitted.

See Part 1 of this handbook (“How Is Financial Need Determined?” on pages 9–10) for a description 

of the procedure a school’s financial aid office uses to determine the offer of aid for a student. Most 

schools won’t send the student an aid offer until the student has applied for admission and been 

accepted.

Reviewing the SAR and SAR Acknowledgement 

A student can review his or her SAR at fafsa.gov or can request a paper copy of the SAR by calling the 

Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243; TTY for the 

deaf or hard of hearing 1-800-730-8913). 
29 

The student doesn’t need to take or send the SAR to a school that has already received the student’s 

Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and FAFSA information electronically on the Institutional 

Student Information Record. If a student wants an additional school to receive the information, the 

student can add that school to the list (see page 32) or give the school permission to add itself. The 

school must receive the student’s information through one of the above methods before the student 

may receive federal student aid at that school. 

SAR

Viewing SAR Information Online 

Once the FAFSA form is processed, a link to the electronic SAR is sent to the student if he or she 

supplied a valid email address on the FAFSA form. Applicants with FSA IDs can log in at fafsa.gov to 

view SAR information. The SAR is available via the “My FAFSA” page, after logging in to the 

FAFSA site, whether the student applied electronically or not and whether he or she provided an email

address or not. 

The student can view the SAR by clicking on the “View or Print Your Student Aid Report (SAR)” 

button on the “My FAFSA” page the student sees upon logging on to the FAFSA site. The SAR will be 

in HTML but will provide an option to view it in PDF. The following description refers to the PDF 

version. 

Unless the student’s SAR is identified as needing corrections or additional information, the EFC 

appears on the front page at the upper right. The SAR tells the student whether he or she is eligible for 

a Pell Grant and explains that the financial aid office at his or her school will determine the student’s 

eligibility for other aid. 

The Data Release Number (DRN) also is found at the upper right of the SAR. The student will need 

the DRN if he or she wants to add a school to his or her record by having a school add itself 

electronically or by calling the FSAIC. When the student provides the DRN to the financial aid 

administrator or the FSAIC, the student is providing permission for the financial aid administrator or 

the FSAIC to access his or her application record. Alternatively, as noted on page 32, the student can 

use his or her FSA ID to log in and add schools at fafsa.gov. 

The SAR provides a summary showing the information the student supplied on the FAFSA form (with 

the exception of any tax return information imported via the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT); see 

page 20). The SAR instructs the student to enter any necessary corrections in the fields provided in the 

“Make FAFSA Corrections” section of fafsa.gov (see pages 30–33). 

Finally, the SAR displays a section of data from the National Student Loan Data System, listing any 

federal student aid the student previously received. 

Paper SAR 

The paper SAR is laid out similarly to the electronic SAR, with the EFC and DRN at the top and the 

bulk of the document taken up by the summary of FAFSA data. Any data elements questioned by the 

CPS are highlighted in bold type, and there is space for the student to correct the information (with the 

exception of tax return information imported via the IRS DRT) if necessary. The student then must 

mail the SAR to the CPS for processing. 

SAR Acknowledgement 

A paper acknowledgement is sent when the student applies electronically but doesn’t supply a valid 

email address. The SAR Acknowledgement allows the student to review the processed FAFSA 
30 

information and results. If changes or corrections are needed, they must be made at fafsa.gov (using 

the FSA ID to access the student’s data) or through the school, or the student may request a paper SAR 

to make a correction. 

Rejected SAR

If a student receives a rejected SAR, the form (or the “My FAFSA” page on the FAFSA site) will 

specify information the applicant must provide before the CPS can determine his or her eligibility. A 

rejected SAR doesn’t include an EFC. A rejected SAR is sent when an application (a) has inconsistent 

or insufficient data to calculate an EFC, (b) lacks required signatures, or (c) has an invalid student SSN 

or—in the case of a dependent student—lacks a valid SSN for at least one parent.

Note: If you want to ensure your students receive the aid for which they are eligible, we suggest that 

you urge them to read all directions carefully and ask for help if they need it. They must complete the 

FAFSA process before they can receive aid. You should particularly stress the errors listed above that 

will cause a rejected SAR. 

Verification 

The effectiveness of the federal student aid programs depends on the accuracy of the data reported by 

applicants, directly affecting the eligibility of millions of students. Because of this, the CPS follows 

procedures established by federal regulations to select students for a process called verification.

The CPS places an asterisk next to the EFC on the SAR to identify students who have been selected for 

verification. Additionally, a comment on the first page of the SAR informs the student that he or she 

has been selected. A code also is provided on the information sent to schools. If the student is selected 

for verification, a school’s financial aid administrator will check the information the student reported 

on the FAFSA form, usually by requesting documentation that confirms the FAFSA data. Many 

schools also select applications to be verified in addition to those selected by the CPS. 

If a student is selected for verification, the school will contact him or her to indicate what 

documentation the student must submit to the school and by what date. The student should be sure to 

provide all documentation promptly. It’s unlikely that the school will process financial aid for the 

student until the required documentation is received. 

If a student uses the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT), he or she might not have to verify that 

information. If the student doesn’t use the IRS DRT and is selected for verification, he or she will have 

to submit a tax transcript. Information about obtaining tax transcripts is at irs.gov/transcript. 

Making Changes

There are situations in which the student will have to change information that was reported on the 

application. This might involve correcting errors or updating certain information. 

Corrections and Updating 

Errors may occur if the student enters incorrect information on the FAFSA form. The student must 

correct this information so it’s accurate as of the day the FAFSA form was originally signed. 

What Information May (and May Not) Be Changed 

The student must update 

• a change in dependency status (see discussion on pages 32–33); 
31 

• a change in the number of family members in the household (must be updated only if the 

student is selected for verification); and 

• a change in the number of family members enrolled in postsecondary schools (must be updated 

only if the student is selected for verification). 

Note: If the student’s dependency status changes as a result of a change in his or her marital status, the 

student must speak to the financial aid office to determine whether he or she may update the FAFSA 

form. 

The student may not update income or asset information to reflect changes to the family’s financial 

situation that took place after the FAFSA form was filed. For example, if the student’s family spent 

some of their savings after filing the FAFSA form, the student may not update his or her information to 

show a change in the family’s assets.

The student should speak to the school’s financial aid office directly if there will be a significant 

change in the family’s income for the present year or if the family has other special circumstances that 

can’t be reported on the FAFSA form. (See page 33.) 

How to Make Changes 

The student can quickly and easily correct or update information by logging in at fafsa.gov. Any 

student with an FSA ID can access his or her data online, whether the student applied electronically or 

on paper. 

DID YOU KNOW

The FAFSA site allows the student to change all data elements except the Social Security number and 

any tax information transferred using the Internal Revenue Service Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT). 

Tax information transferred via the IRS DRT can’t be corrected except by the financial aid office at a 

college or career school. 

The FSA ID the student uses to access the data acts as an electronic signature. If a dependent student 

changes information about his or her parent(s), one of those parents must sign electronically using the 

parent’s own FSA ID or must sign a signature page. 

A student who didn’t provide an email address on the FAFSA form will be able to add it on the site 

and will then receive any emails relevant to his or her account. 

If a student makes changes that don’t require the CPS to perform a data match, the changes will be 

made immediately, and the student can view the online SAR information immediately. If a data match 

is required, the student’s SAR will be available once the match is complete and the changes are 

processed. 

A student without internet access can make corrections using a paper SAR or can ask the school to 

transmit corrections electronically using its access to the CPS. Even if the student didn’t originally 

apply through the school, a school may still be able to make the corrections electronically if the student 

takes the corrected information to the school. 

The student’s corrections will be made available automatically to the schools listed on the FAFSA

form. 
32 

Adding a School 

If a student wants to make his or her FAFSA information available to an additional school after filing 

the FAFSA form, the student can log in using his or her FSA ID at fafsa.gov to add the school code, or 

he or she can use the paper SAR to add the new school. 

Alternatively, the student may call the FSAIC to add the school or may give the school permission to 

add itself. In these cases, the student will need to provide his or her DRN from the SAR. 

Note: No more than 10 schools can be listed on the student’s FAFSA form at one time. (The FAFSA

PDF has space for only four schools, while fafsa.gov allows 10 to be listed.) When a student adds an 

eleventh school, the new school code overwrites a previous school code. The student can choose which 

school to remove; on the FAFSA site, the student inserts the new school code in the field where the 

code of the school to be removed appears, thus deleting the old code. On the paper SAR, the student 

crosses out the old school code and writes in the new one. The school removed from the list won’t 

have automatic access to any new information. 

Dependency Status and Overrides 

Most students entering a postsecondary school straight from high school are considered financially 

dependent on their parents. This means their parents must provide information on the FAFSA form. 

(Pages 21–22 of this handbook explain how a student without access to parent information can fill out 

the FAFSA form.) 

Dependency status is determined by criteria specified in the law. To help students understand 

dependency status and whose information to report on the FAFSA, give them copies of Am I 

Dependent or Independent? (available at StudentAid.gov/resources#dependent) and Who Is My 

“Parent” When I Fill Out the FAFSA Form? (available at StudentAid.gov/resources#fafsa-parent).

In special circumstances, a financial aid administrator can override the student’s dependency status on 

the FAFSA form. 

A student can’t be determined to be independent just because 

• the parents don’t want to provide information on the FAFSA form due to privacy concerns; 

• the parents don’t feel it’s their responsibility to provide financial assistance for college or 

career school; 

• the parents no longer claim the student as a dependent on their taxes; or 

• the student no longer lives at home. 

The student should contact the financial aid administrator at his or her college or career school to 

discuss dependency status if he or she 

• has no contact with the parents and doesn’t know where they are (and the student hasn’t been 

adopted by someone else); 

• has left home due to an abusive situation; or 

• is older than 21 but not yet 24, is unaccompanied (not in the physical custody of a parent or 

guardian), and is either homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless. 

The lists above are examples and are not to be taken as complete and definitive. A financial aid 

administrator is required to assess situations on a case-by-case basis and then make any adjustments to 

the FAFSA form based upon special circumstances that the student can appropriately document. 
33 

The best thing you can do to help a student who believes he or she should be considered independent is 

to encourage the student to gather as much written evidence as possible and to provide it to the 

financial aid office at the school he or she plans to attend. Documentation to support a request for 

independent status could include a letter from a third party (such as a social worker or a member of the 

clergy) who knows the student’s situation. 

Note: Students should be aware that the school isn’t required to perform dependency overrides, and if 

the financial aid administrator determines that an override isn’t appropriate, the decision cannot be 

appealed to the U.S. Department of Education. 

Adjustments Due to Unusual Financial Circumstances

In some circumstances, the financial aid administrator may choose to make adjustments to certain 

items on the FAFSA form to account for financial difficulties. The student should contact the financial 

aid administrator at his or her college or career school to discuss his or her situation if

• the family has unusually large medical bills or nursing home expenses that are not covered by 

insurance, 

• the family is paying unusually high elementary or secondary school tuition or dependent care 

expenses, or 

• the student or a parent has recently lost his or her job. 

As with the examples in our discussion of dependency overrides, the list above is not to be taken as 

complete and definitive. A financial aid administrator is required to assess situations on a case-by-case 

basis and then make any adjustments to the FAFSA form based upon special circumstances that the 

student can appropriately document. 

A student who has unusual financial circumstances should gather as much written evidence as possible 

and provide it to the financial aid office at the school he or she plans to attend. Unusual financial 

circumstances might be demonstrated with items such as medical or childcare bills or with proof of the 

loss of employment of a family member.

Please make it clear to students that the financial aid administrator isn’t required to adjust financial 

elements on the FAFSA form. The financial aid administrator’s decision is final and cannot be 

appealed to the U.S. Department of Education. 

2020–21 Deadlines 

Here are some important deadlines and timeframes for the 2020–21 application cycle for students and 

schools. A 2020–21 FAFSA form must be submitted to the application processor no earlier than Oct. 1, 

2019, and received no later than June 30, 2021. 

Note: State-imposed deadlines for state-funded aid appear on both the FAFSA site and the FAFSA 

PDF. Schools often have their own deadlines for federal campus-based and school financial aid. 

The following actions are expected to have a deadline in mid-September 2021: 

• corrections made and received by the Central Processing System (CPS)

• signature pages signed and received by the CPS

• duplicate Student Aid Reports (SARs) requested

The following actions are expected to have deadlines in late September 2021: 
34 

• the school receives the SAR or Institutional Student Information Record (deadline is the late 

September date or the date the student is no longer enrolled for that award year, whichever is 

earlier)

• verification of the student’s information is completed (deadline is the late September date, or 

120 days after the student’s last day of enrollment, or the deadline the school sets, whichever is 

earliest) 

Verification is considered complete for Federal Pell Grants when the school receives a valid SAR, SAR 

Acknowledgement, or Institutional Student Information Record on which all information used to 

calculate the EFC is correct. Therefore, although a student has 120 days or until the September 2021 

deadline to provide documentation, the student also must have any corrections processed by this 

deadline. Note that the disbursement of funds from certain other programs might be restricted to 

shorter periods. 
35 

Part 3: Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid

(FAFSA®) Form

As mentioned in Part 2 of this handbook, if a student wishes to receive federal student aid to attend a 

postsecondary school, he or she must complete the FAFSA® form. Many states and schools also rely 

on FAFSA information to award their state and institutional student aid funds. 

Please be sure your students understand that a student shouldn’t pay to have the FAFSA form

completed or processed. If the student is asked to pay a fee for help with the application, he or she 

should remember that free advice on student aid is widely available and should consider what services 

are being offered by the company charging the fee. Encourage students to consult a high school or 

TRIO counselor, a college financial aid administrator, or the Federal Student Aid Information Center 

(FSAIC) (see page ii of this handbook) before paying for advice or an application service. 

A student can complete and submit the FAFSA form electronically (see Part 2 of this handbook) at 

fafsa.gov or in the myStudentAid mobile app. 

A student also can submit the FAFSA form electronically by asking the financial aid administrator at 

the school to transmit the information on his or her behalf. Not all schools have this capability. 

If neither of these options is available, a student can print out and complete a FAFSA PDF (see pages 

24–25) and mail it to the address specified on that version of the FAFSA. The FAFSA PDF is available

at StudentAid.gov/resources#fafsa-application. 

Pointers for Completing the FAFSA® Form

The FAFSA PDF for 2020–21 is on white paper with orange and purple highlights. Orange sections 

are for students to complete; purple sections are for parents to complete. 

The FAFSA on the Web Worksheet is available for applicants who want to fill out the FAFSA form

online but prefer to jot down their answers on paper first. The worksheet lists only the questions that 

the greatest majority of applicants will need to prepare in order to fill out the online FAFSA form. You 

can find the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet in PDF at StudentAid.gov/resources#worksheet. If you 

want to see every FAFSA question, download a FAFSA PDF at StudentAid.gov/resources#fafsaapplication. 

To avoid mistakes and delays in processing, it’s crucial that students and parents carefully read and 

follow all directions on the FAFSA form. Help with the application is available via a live, one-on-one 

online “chat” with a customer service representative as the student completes the FAFSA form at 

fafsa.gov. To access this feature, the student should select the “Help” icon and then select the “Federal 

Student Aid Information Center” link at the bottom of the page. Students who fill out the PDF form 

may call the Federal Student Aid Information Center for help at 1-800-4-FED-AID (TTY for the deaf 

or hard of hearing 1-800-730-8913). 

General Student Information

Purpose: This section of the FAFSA form collects information used to track and identify a student 

(name, Social Security number [SSN], and so on) as well as other information that affects a student’s 

basic eligibility for federal (or state and some institutional) student aid. For instance, a student must 

report citizenship status in Question 14 because he or she must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen 

to receive federal student aid. 
36 

Student Income and Tax Information 

The income and tax items collect information on the “base year.” The base year for applicants for 

2020–21 is the 2018 calendar year. Line references to the 2018 federal tax forms from the Internal 

Revenue Service (IRS) are provided. 

Student Dependency Status

Purpose: The items in this step determine whether a student is a dependent student or an independent 

student for purposes of calculating the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). If the student indicates 

that one or more of these criteria apply to him or her, he or she is classified as an independent student, 

even if the student is still living with his or her parents. If the student isn’t living with his or her parents 

but doesn’t meet any of the criteria, the student is dependent and must include his or her parents’ 

information on the FAFSA form. See pages 21–22 if you’re working with a student who has no access 

to his or her parents or whose parents refuse to provide their information on the FAFSA form. 

A school’s financial aid administrator has the authority to override a student’s dependency status on 

the initial application or by correcting the Student Aid Report if the financial aid administrator decides 

that a dependent student should be considered an independent student. The financial aid 

administrator’s decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education. For more 

information regarding dependency overrides, see pages 32–33. 

Parent Information 

Purpose: These items collect information about the student’s parents, their income and taxes, and their 

household. 

Note: A portion—and only a portion—of the parents’ income and assets is included in the Expected 

Family Contribution as being available for the student’s education costs. 

Before completing the “Parent Information” section, the student should understand who is considered a 

parent for purposes of the FAFSA form. For your convenience, we have provided a fact sheet titled 

Who Is My “Parent” When I Fill Out the FAFSA Form? at StudentAid.gov/resources#fafsa-parent. 

We encourage you to use it as a reference and to distribute it to students. 

Many students have questions about the parent information section of the FAFSA form because they 

do not consider their parent(s) to be their primary source of support. Perhaps the student lives with 

another relative and is no longer in touch with his or her parents, or perhaps he or she left home due to 

an abusive situation and has been self-supporting for years. In cases such as these, the student should 

contact the financial aid administrator at the school he or she plans to attend. If the student reports a 

(nonparent) relative’s information or simply leaves this section blank, processing of his or her student 

aid could be delayed. Please remind the student that any decision made by the financial aid 

administrator regarding dependency status is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of 

Education (ED). (See pages 32–33 and 21–22 for more information about dependency status, special 

circumstances, and submitting the FAFSA form without parent information.) 

Colleges to Receive Information 

Purpose: These questions collect information about which postsecondary schools the student is 

interested in attending. The Central Processing System (CPS) will send the student’s information 

(except for the list of schools) to each school listed. 
37 

Note: The CPS will send data to no more than 10 schools at a time for one student. For example, if a 

student originally listed 10 schools on the application, then replaced some or all 10 schools with new 

schools, then updated or corrected information on the Student Aid Report, fafsa.gov, or the 

myStudentAid mobile app, only the remaining set of schools would automatically receive the updated 

or corrected data.
38 

Appendix A: Sources of Additional Information

Useful Websites

Sites for Students

StudentAid.gov

Our StudentAid.gov website offers students and their families free information on choosing a career, 

selecting a school, identifying resources to pay for school, and repaying federal student loans. Simply 

worded explanations are supplemented by videos and infographics to clearly present important topics. 

Other Student Sites

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) site—The official online application is at 

fafsa.gov. 

• Link for creating an FSA ID—Students can create an FSA ID by starting at 

StudentAid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/account-info. 

• Federal school codes (to be entered on the FAFSA form) can be found at fafsa.gov. 

• College Navigator allows the student to search a database of more than 7,000 colleges and 

universities by name, location, program, degree offerings, or a combination of criteria. It is at 

nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator. 

• Education and training for individuals with disabilities—try these sites:

o Vocational rehabilitation state agency list at rsa.ed.gov

o Information about disability programs and services nationwide at disability.gov

• Tax Information for Students—Has federal income tax credit information and other useful 

information for students at irs.gov/individuals/students. 

• AmeriCorps—Details about a variety of national service options and how students can earn 

financial awards to be used for education are at americorps.gov. 

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services financial aid for college or professional school 

is described at hhs.gov/programs/education-and-training. 

• GI Bill benefits—The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers extensive information 

about education benefits for veterans and their families at gibill.va.gov. Benefits detailed at the 

VA’s site include these programs: 

o Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty 

o Montgomery GI Bill–Selected Reserve 

o Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA) 

o Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) 

o Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) 

o Post-9/11 GI Bill 

• U.S. Army assistance in return for active duty—Visit goarmy.com/benefits/education.jsp. 

• Navy education programs—Visit navy.com/benefits/education. 

• Air Force education programs—Visit airforce.com/education. 

• Marine Corps education programs—Visit marines.com/search.html?q=education. 

• State grant agencies—A list is at ed.gov/sgt. 

• Scholarship scam avoidance—A student considering using a for-fee scholarship advice service 

can research the company on the Better Business Bureau website at bbb.org. 

• Scholarship scam complaints—A student who has been a victim of financial aid fraud should 

complain to all of the following entities:
39 

o The Better Business Bureau at bbb.org

o The Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/scholarshipscams

o The U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General at oighotline.ed.gov

o The U.S. Postal Inspection Service Fraud Complaint Unit (if the company’s offer 

arrived by mail) at postalinspectors.uspis.gov

o A state attorney general’s office, which will be listed at naag.org

• Selective Service System—Draft registration and information about Selective Service is 

available at sss.gov. 

• Occupational Outlook Handbook—An encyclopedia of careers describing a range of 

occupations. Students can learn what to expect from a job, including the nature of the work, 

training needed, and earnings. A free search is at www.bls.gov/ooh. 

Sites for Counselors and Mentors 

• Financial Aid Toolkit—Provides federal student aid information especially for high school 

counselors and other college access mentors. Offers access to publications, training 

information, announcements, PowerPoint presentations, and ways to promote federal student 

aid and college access. Visit the site at FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov. 

• FAFSA demonstration site—Allows counselors to increase their own understanding of the 

FAFSA site and to show it to students and parents before they apply. To access the demo site, 

go to fafsademo.test.ed.gov. 

• College Affordability and Transparency Center—Includes statistics on schools with the highest 

and lowest costs, state appropriations for higher education, and for-profit schools receiving 

more than 90 percent of their revenue from federal student aid. Find this information at 

collegecost.ed.gov. 

• FSA COACH is a comprehensive introductory web-based course that teaches the concepts and 

procedures involved in managing the federal student aid programs. To access FSA COACH, go 

to ifap.ed.gov/fsa-coach. 

• TRIO program information—The TRIO programs help prepare disadvantaged students for 

successful entry into, retention in, and completion of postsecondary education. TRIO 

information is at www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio. 

• GEAR UP information—Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs 

(GEAR UP) is an early-intervention initiative designed to encourage low-income students to 

have high expectations, stay in school, study hard, and take the right courses to prepare for 

college. Learn more about GEAR UP at www.ed.gov/gearup. 

• Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP)—A library of federal student aid 

information, geared toward college financial aid administrators. High school, TRIO, and GEAR 

UP counselors who regularly help students apply for aid might find the Federal Student Aid 

Handbook particularly useful, especially in finding detailed information about student 

eligibility criteria. IFAP is at ifap.ed.gov. 

Sites for Parents 

• The “Parents of Students” page at StudentAid.gov links to information on saving for college or 

career school, borrowing for college, and tax benefits for education. The page is at 

StudentAid.gov/parent. 

• The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority provides information on 529 plans and other ways 

to save for college at finra.org/investors/saving-college. 
40 

Free Informational Materials

A number of publications about federal student aid are available for counselors and mentors on the 

Financial Aid Toolkit website. The topics listed below (among others) are covered in such formats as

fact sheets, videos, infographics, booklets, PowerPoint presentations, sample tweets and/or Facebook 

posts, and more, in a searchable library at FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov/resources. (Note that students 

should visit StudentAid.gov/resources to access materials appropriate for them.)

• Why go to college or career school

• Preparing for college or career school

• Myths about financial aid

• Information needed for the FAFSA form

• Dependency status for the FAFSA form

• Who counts as the dependent FAFSA applicant’s parent (and therefore who should provide

information on the FAFSA form) in cases of divorce, remarriage, absent parents, etc.

• Responsible borrowing

• Federal student loan repayment plans

One-on-One Help: The Federal Student Aid Information Center

For information on any federal student aid program discussed in this handbook, you or your students 

may email or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC): 

• Email: studentaid@ed.gov

• Chat: studentaidhelp.ed.gov/app/chat/chat_launch/chat_data

• Toll-free number for questions about federal student aid: 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)

• To334-523-2691—for those (e.g., international callers) without access to the toll-free number

• TTY for the deaf or hard of hearing: 1-800-730-8913

The FSAIC helps callers by 

• helping complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form;

• explaining the Student Aid Report (SAR) produced from the FAFSA form and how to make

corrections;

• checking on the processing status of the FAFSA form;

• changing the student’s address or the schools that receive the student’s information (the student

will need the Data Release Number [DRN] from his or her SAR or SAR Acknowledgement);

• explaining who is eligible for federal student aid;

• explaining how federal student aid is awarded and paid; and

• mailing a printed-out copy of the FAFSA PDF in English, Spanish, or Braille.

The FSAIC is NOT able to

• make policy,

• expedite the federal student aid application process,

• discuss a student’s federal student aid file with an unauthorized person, or

• influence an individual school’s financial aid policies.

Appendix B: Abbreviations 

COA cost of attendance
41 

CPS Central Processing System

DHS U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

DRN Data Release Number

ED U.S. Department of Education 

EFC Expected Family Contribution 

FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid

FSAIC Federal Student Aid Information Center 

FSEOG Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant 

GEAR UP Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs 

GED General Educational Development [certificate]

HHS U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

IFAP Information for Financial Aid Professionals [website]

IRS Internal Revenue Service

IRS DRT Internal Revenue Service Data Retrieval Tool

ISIR Institutional Student Information Record

NSLDS National Student Loan Data System 

ROTC Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (when ROTC appears alone, often refers 

specifically to Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) 

RSA Rehabilitation Services Administration

SAR Student Aid Report

SSA Social Security Administration

SSN Social Security number 

TEACH Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (as in TEACH 

Grant)

TRIO not an abbreviation; see www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio for information 

on the programs 

TTY teletype

VA U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 
42 

Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, plays a central and essential role 

in America’s postsecondary education community. 

Federal Student Aid ensures that all eligible individuals benefit from federal financial assistance—

grants, loans, and work-study programs—for education beyond high school. By championing the 

promise of postsecondary education, we uphold its value as a force for greater inclusion in American 

society and for the continued vitality of America as a nation.