Iowa State University

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Office of Student Financial Aid

FAFSA

The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is filed each year by students to qualify for institutional and federal financial aid. It is important to remember to file the FAFSA each year between January 1 and March 1 in order to be considered for priority financial aid.

Completing the FAFSA

Completing the FAFSA for the first time can be a confusing process, so we've compiled a set of instructions to make the process easier.

Dependency

Learn how the FAFSA determines dependency of a student, and how students should classify themselves.

Extenuating Circumstances

Do you feel that your financial situation is represented incorrectly on the FAFSA?
Learn more about extenuating circumstances.

Making Corrections

Learn about making corrections to the FAFSA application.

Sign the FAFSA

Before a FAFSA can be submitted, it must be signed by the student and, in many cases, a parent. In addition to a paper signature, a FAFSA may also be signed using an electronic Department of Education PIN.

Student Aid Report (SAR)

After the FAFSA has been processed, a Student Aid Report will be sent to both the student and the schools specified in the FAFSA.

Verification

In accordance with federal regulations, Iowa State University must complete a process called verification with information from a select number of students. It is important for the student to submit the required documents when selected for verification.

Need Help?

The US Department of Education offers a great website to aid students with completing the FAFSA.