The FAFSA (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 by the annual priority deadline in order to be considered for priority financial aid.
Completing the FAFSA for the first time can be confusing, so we’ve compiled a set of instructions to make the process easier.
Learn how the FAFSA determines dependency of a student, and how students should classify themselves.
Do you feel that your financial situation is represented incorrectly on the FAFSA? Learn more about extenuating circumstances.
Learn about making corrections to the FAFSA application.
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 FSA ID.
After the FAFSA has been processed, a Student Aid Report will be sent to both the student and the schools specified in the FAFSA.
In accordance with federal regulations (CFR Title 34, Part 668), Iowa State University must complete a process called verification by collecting documentation from a select number of students regarding the information reported on their FAFSA.
Use this tool to calculate an estimated Expected Family Contribution (EFC) without completing an actual FAFSA.
The US Department of Education offers a detailed online resource in English and Spanish to aid students with completing the FAFSA.