Financial Aid
Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The FAFSA is a free application the federal government provides to determine eligibility for federal, state and institutional aid in the form of grants, loans, and work-study funds. It’s best to complete the FAFSA as early as possible, but actual deadlines are listed on college websites. You must reapply every year.
The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is the amount a family can reasonably be expected to contribute based on the FAFSA response. Financial aid packages will vary based on the EFC so you won’t know for sure that you can’t afford a school until you go through the financial aid process. Send the FAFSA data to any school you’re applying for. You can choose up to 10 schools.
If you are an undocumented student (not a citizen or eligible non-citizen of the United States), you would not be eligible for federal student aid. Instead, see the MN Dream Act Application below.
How to Apply
You and your parent/guardian need to get a FSA ID to log in and electronically sign the FAFSA and other US Department of Education websites/documents. This process takes up to 3 days from the date you apply.
Be prepared with the necessary documents. Here is what you will need:
Your Social Security Number
Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
Your federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
An FSA ID to sign electronically.
If you are a dependent student, then you will also need most of the above information for your parent(s).
Go to the FAFSA website and click Start a New FAFSA. https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa
If you’re a new user, select “Enter the student’s information.” You will need your Social Security Number and date of birth.
You will be directed to the welcome page. Make sure the tab is on 2022-2023, then click Start New FAFSA.
Next you will create a temporary Save Key so you can save your FAFSA and return to it later.
Work through the sections of the FAFSA. There are Help and Hints on the right-hand side of the page to guide you throughout the application.
In Student Demographics you can select the colleges to receive your FAFSA data.
Then you select your Dependency Status:
If all “No” responses, student is dependent
If “Yes” to any of the following statements, student is independent:
At least 24 years old by December 31 of the award year covered by the FAFSA
Graduate or professional student
Married
Has legal dependents other than a spouse who receive more than one half of their support
Is an orphan, in foster care, or ward of the court
On active duty or veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
Emancipated minor or legal guardianship determined by a court
Has been determined to be homeless by an authorized official
Parent Demographics. When you enter in information for Parent 1 and Parent 2, remember which is which. If parents live in separate households, the parent for financial aid is the household the student primarily lives in.
Financial Information. You may be able to transfer tax information using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
Then, Sign & Submit with an electronic signature. If you’re dependent, Parent 1 will need to sign as well.
2021-2022 FAFSA Walkthrough Video
After the FAFSA: What Happens Next
MN Dream Act Application
MN Dream Act Application is the state financial aid application for undocumented and DACAmented students.
It is an online application, has instructions in English and Spanish and must be completed in one sitting.
Students need to reapply annually.
Do not need to get Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID like with the FAFSA.
Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) is not an option.
100% verification- 1040 tax returns collected from all applicants, not tax transcripts and OHE follows PPY (2018 taxes for 20-21, 2019 taxes for 21-22)
Completion of the MN Dream Act state financial aid application is required to determine your eligibility for Minnesota state financial aid programs. Your application will be processed by the MN Office of Higher Education.
The MN Dream Act application should only be used by undocumented students who are NOT citizens or eligible non-citizens of the United States. (Students who are citizens or eligible non-citizens should apply for financial aid using the FAFSA.)
MN Dream Act applicants must also meet the following requirements:
Attended a Minnesota high school for at least three school years
Graduated from a Minnesota high school or earned a GED in Minnesota
Registered with the Selective Service System when 18 to 25 years old (male applicants only)
You will NOT be able to:
Complete part of your application, save it and log back in to complete it
Submit corrections to your application after you have submitted it (you can contact our office to make corrections for you)
So, make sure you have the following documents/information with you when you start your application:
Social Security Number (if you have one)
Names and ages of all household members
Dates of birth for your parents (if applying as a dependent student)
Names and dates of attendance for all colleges attended after high school graduation
Copies of W-2 statements and/or 2019 federal income tax returns for you (and spouse, if married) and your parents (if applying as a dependent student). Include copies of tax Schedule 1, Schedule 2 and Schedules 3, if filed.
Amount of child support received or paid by you (and spouse, if married) and your parents (if applying as a dependent student)
Worksheets and Factsheets from MN Goes to College
FAFSA and Dream Act Worksheet FINAL.pdfMNDreamActFactSheet.pdf