FAFSA and state aid, explained
By Vincent Elliott · Published · Updated
What is the FAFSA?
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a form, filed at studentaid.gov, that determines what federal aid you're eligible for. This includes grants, work-study, and federal student loans. Colleges also use it to build a full financial aid package for you, and most states use it (or a state-specific version) to determine eligibility for state grants.
Why file it?
A lot of families skip the FAFSA assuming their income is too high to qualify for anything. However, that's often a mistake for two reasons. First, many merit scholarships and state grant programs need a filed FAFSA as part of eligibility, regardless of financial need. Second, federal student loans (which most families use at least some of, even with savings) require it too. Filing costs nothing but a little time.
When should I file?
The FAFSA opens each fall for the following school year. The exact opening date has shifted in recent years, so check studentaid.gov directly rather than relying on a date we share. Some state and institutional aid is awarded on a first-come basis, so filing as soon as it opens is important.
Get your FSA ID early
Both the student and a parent (if you're a dependent) need a separate FSA ID to sign the form electronically. Creating one takes one to two days to verify, so it's worth doing before you sit down to fill out the FAFSA.
Connection to state aid
Several scholarships on this site, such as state programs like the Georgia HOPE Scholarship and Cal Grant, determine eligibility through the FAFSA (or a state-specific supplemental form) each term rather than through a one-time application. Check scholarships by state for the ones specific to where you live.