Chapter	1
The	Application	Process:	FAFSA	to	ISIR
The	laws	governing	the	Federal	Student	Aid	(FSA)	programs	require	that	a	person	apply	for	aid	with	a	form	provided	by
the	U.S.	Department	of	Education	(ED,	Department)	and	that	no	fee	be	charged	for	processing	it.	This	form	is	the	Free
Application	for	Federal	Student	Aid	(FAFSA®)	form.
To	be	considered	for	federal	student	aid,	a	student	must	complete	a	FAFSA	form.	It	collects	financial	and	other	information
used	to	calculate	the	Student	Aid	Index	(SAI;	formerly	Expected	Family	Contribution	or	EFC)	and	to	determine	a	student9s
eligibility	through	computer	matches	with	other	agencies.
The	FAFSA	form	is	the	only	application	students	must	complete	to	apply	for	Title	IV	aid.	A	school	cannot	require	extra
information	from	students	to	package	Title	IV	aid,	except	for	verification,	resolution	of	conflicting	information,	or
professional	judgment	determinations.	However,	a	school	may	require	additional	information	for	other	purposes,	such	as
packaging	private	or	institutional	aid.	If	the	school	collects	additional	information	that	affects	Title	IV	eligibility,	it	must
take	the	information	into	account	when	awarding	Title	IV	aid.
Types	of	FAFSA	Applications
More	than	99%	of	FAFSA	forms	are	filed	electronically.	However,	there	are	other	options	for	individuals	unwilling	or	unable
to	file	electronically.
FAFSA	Online
Implementation	of	the	FAFSA	Simplification	Act	and	the	FUTURE	Act	required	a	complete	overhaul	of	the	FAFSA	form,
beginning	with	the	2024-25	award	year.	Submitted	FAFSA	forms	are	sent	directly	to	the	FAFSA	Processing	System	(FPS).
Help	is	available	for	students	online	or	by	calling	the	Federal	Student	Aid	Information	Center	(FSAIC)	at	1-800-4-FED-AID
(1-800-433-3243).
There	are	many	advantages	to	filing	electronically,	including:
Faster	processing;
Availability	of	online	help;
Skip	logic,	which	allows	applicants	to	skip	over	questions	that	don9t	pertain	to	them;	and
Fewer	errors	and	rejected	applications	because	internal	and	end-of-entry	data	edits	ensure	that	required	fields	are
completed	and	conflicts	are	resolved	prior	to	submission.
Paper	(PDF)	FAFSA	Form
The	paper	(PDF)	FAFSA	form	is	available	on	StudentAid.gov.	In	future	cycles,	students	will	also	be	able	to	call	the	Federal
Student	Aid	Information	Center	(FSAIC)	at	1-800-433-3243	to	request	a	single	copy.
The	form	can	be	printed	and	completed	by	hand,	or	by	typing	the	data	on	the	PDF	before	printing	and	mailing	it.	The
mailing	address	is	printed	on	the	first	page	of	the	FAFSA	form	under	<Mail	Your	FAFSA®	Form=.	The	address	changes
annually,	so	use	the	address	printed	on	the	associated	year9s	FAFSA	form.
You	must	mail	all	fillable	pages	of	the	form	(pages	7-20),	including	pages	that	are	left	blank	because	they	do	not	apply	to
the	applicant.	Extra	postage	will	be	required	due	to	the	size	and/or	weight	of	the	mailing.
FSA	no	longer	prints	or	mails	aid-related	publications,	though	they	are	available	on	StudentAid.gov	for	users	to	download
and	print.
Incarcerated	Applicants
Incarcerated	applicants	who	have	access	to	the	necessary	technology	can	complete	a	FAFSA	form	online	using	their
StudentAid.gov	account	username	and	password.	However,	many	incarcerated	applicants	will	not	be	able	to	file