Financial Aid
FILL OUT YOUR FASFA: https://fafsa.ed.gov/
*Opens Oct 1, 2021 & Closes June 30, 2022 for the 2022-2023 School Year
Tips:
Use Mozilla Firefox to complete the form.
Keep all information in a secure place from year to year.
Make sure you enter all of the colleges you are thinking of attending. You can go back and enter them at a later date but doing it now is easier. You can enter up to ten school at once.
Even if a school offers a student a large scholarship, that amount might not be better compared to a smaller scholarship offer at another school. For example, if a student gets a $10,000 scholarship from a college whose tuition is $40,000 and a $2,500 scholarship from a school whose tuition is $5,000, the student has a better offer from the school with the smaller scholarship amount since their overall tuition is cheaper.
Make sure you watch for letters in the mail or emails after submitting your FAFSA to your desired schools. They will send you financial aid offers shortly after you submit it. Just because you submit your FAFSA to a school and they send you an offer, doesn't mean you have to accept or attend there.
If you need more money to a college, there are companies/banks that offer student loan/private loan options.
Steps to Create A FSA ID/Start the FAFSA
Go online to http://fsaid.ed.gov & Select "Create an FSA ID." Parent and student will both need a FSA ID to sign the FAFSA at the end.
Create a Username, create a Password, verify your password.
Accurately enter your name, date of birth, social security number, contact information, challenge questions and answers. Your name, date of birth, and social security number will be sent to the Social Security Administration for verification.
Enter either a valid cell phone number or a valid e-mail address. Verifying both your cell phone number and e-mail address is optional, but not required. Once verified, you may use your Username, verified cell phone number, or verified email address to login to Dept. of ED websites: www.fafsa.gov, www.studentloans.gov, https://fsaid.ed.gov. Each person's FSA ID can only be attached to one cell phone number and one e-mail address at a time.
Keep your FSA ID and password in a safe place. You will need this information each year to file the FAFSA.
Go to FAFSA.gov and start to complete the FAFSA form. Use your FSA ID to login to complete it.
FAFSA goes mobile
Starting this summer, students and parents will have two ways to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): a newly redesigned FAFSA website and a new mobile app.
The website is now compatible with any device, including desktop/laptop computers, smartphones and tablets. It also features a more modern and user-friendly look and feel. New “tool tips” provide easy-to-use contextual information. The goal of the new website design is to make filling out the FAFSA as easy as possible for students and parents.
Visit the new FAFSA website here and download the mobile app later this summer. The 2020-21 FAFSA will be available on October 1. Follow Iowa College Aid on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to get reminders and tips for filling out the FAFSA
Iowa College Access Network Resources
· ICAN Materials Library: www.icansucceed.org/materials
· ICAN Virtual Presentations: http://www.icansucceed.org/en/about_us/services/the_resource_zone/virtual_presentations/
· ICAN Events and Presentations: www.icansucceed.org/events
· College Fairs: www.icansucceed.org/collegefairs
· Golden Circle College Fair: www.icansucceed.org/goldencircle
· ICAN Scholarship Searches: www.icansucceed.org/scholarships
· ICAN Office Locations: www.icansucceed.org/locations
· Schedule an appointment with ICAN: www.icansucceed.org/apt
· What to bring to a FAFSA appointment: www.icansucceed.org/whattobring
· How to create and FSA ID: www.icansucceed.org/fsaid
· 2018-19 FAFSA Ready Iowa Events: http://www.icansucceed.org/index.cfm?nodeID=82830&audienceID=1
· ICAN Financial Aid Certification Training Program: www.icansucceed.org/fafsatraining