-Class of 2025-
The application will be available on October 1, 2024
It is a California Graduation Requirement- Assembly Bill 469
Who is eligible to complete the FAFSA:
U.S. citizens, nationals, legal permanent residents and individuals who have an Arrival-Departure Record from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services showing certain designations, including refugees, are eligible to apply for federal student aid. Students need to be enrolled in a Title IV-eligible program, meaning one that can receive federal financial aid funds, to qualify.
Website:
studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
Phone Number:
1-800-433-3243
CA Student Aid Commission Tik Tok:
@castudentaid
1. You Can Access over 120 Billion dollars in Financial Aid and you could potentially get up to $30,000 in aid!
2. Most students qualify, yes they really do! Aid is available for anyone with a household income below $250,000 a year
3. It’s Free! It is literally in the title, FREE Application for Federal Student Aid
4. It is quick to complete! It takes an average of 30 minutes to complete, seriously that is less than one episode of your favorite TV show (The Office for me)
5. It can be essential for some schools! Some schools and private scholarships will require you to complete it.
6. It is a high school graduation requirement
7. And most importantly, it provides you with the opportunity to have post secondary options
Step 1: Create a FSA ID
Create an FSA ID Website: https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch
Before begin filling out the FAFSA, you (the student) must create a FSA ID. Additionally, one of your parents will also need to create a FSA ID. Parents without a SSN will select that they do not have a SSN and then create an account. Do not enter your ITIN as your SSN.
Note: If you have an older sibling that completed the FAFSA application then your parent has most likely already created an FSA ID and will not need to create one. They will need to use their original FSA ID information as it is associated with their Social Security Number. If your parent does not remember their information they will need to call 1-800-433-3243 and have a representative assist them in recovering their account information. If your parent does not have a social security number they will not create an FSA ID.
Step 2: Gather All Required Documents
You might need the following information or documents as you fill out the 2024–25 FAFSA form:
Your parents’ SSNs if you’re a dependent student
2022 Tax returns
Records of child support received
Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts
Net worth of investments, businesses, and farm
Step 3: The Student will complete their part of FAFSA
Review the FAFSA Form
Complete the Personal Circumstance Section
Student Identity Questions
Dependency Questions
Select No, on the Apply for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan Only Question otherwise you will not qualify for federal aid
Enter contributors (parents) information
Name, Date of Birth, SSN or select parent doesn't have one, and email address
Complete the Student Demographic Section
Student Race and Ethnicity Questions
Student Citizenship Question
Parent Education Question
High School Information
Complete the Student Financial Section
2022 Tax Return Information
Student Assets
Complete the College Section
Select up to 20 schools that should receive your information
Include all the school you applied to and plan on applying to
Complete the Signature Page
Review your responses and provide your electronic signature
The student should sign before the contributor
Step 4: The Contributor will complete their part of FAFSA
Create an FSA ID, if you have not created one previously
Contributor will need to provide consent
Contributors need to provide consent otherwise the student can not be considered for aid
Contributor Demographic Section
Parents marital status
Contributor Finance Section
Federal Programs
Free and Reduced Price School Lunch only applies to families that meet the USDA Eligibility Guidelines
Family Size
Number of students in college
2022 tax return additional information
IRA Rollover Info
Pension Rollover Info
Foreign Earned Income Exclusion
Earned Income Tax Credit
Parent Grants and Scholarships
Parent Assets Section
Child Support Received
Current Total of Cash, Saving and Checking Accounts
Current Net Worth of Investments, including Real Estate
Current Net Worth Businesses and Investment Farms
Contributor Signature Section
Review your responses and provide your electronic signature
The last person (contributor) will receive the congratulations page and will send an email to the student
Step 5: What happens after you submit
When you submit your completed 2024–25 FAFSA form, you’ll get an email confirming that they received your form with preliminary information related to your eligibility for federal student aid. This will include your estimated Student Aid Index (SAI) and estimated eligibility for Federal Pell Grants.
They’ll provide your FAFSA eligibility information to your school(s) and state in the first half of March. Once your school(s) receive your FAFSA information, they will provide you with personalized aid information in the coming weeks. Until your school(s) and state receive your form, they won’t be able to answer questions about your aid eligibility or status.
They’ll send you an email when your FAFSA information has been sent to your selected schools and when you can access your FAFSA Submission Summary on StudentAid.gov. The FAFSA Submission Summary will provide your official SAI calculation and Federal Pell Grant eligibility. You can also check the status of your FAFSA form on StudentAid.gov in the first half of March.
Because many states have made changes to their aid processes for the 2024–25 award year, please review your state’s aid eligibility and deadline information.
Students that are eligible for a Cal Grant must create a Web Grant account and complete the necessary steps, https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/