The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is the application that all higher education institutions (4-year colleges, community colleges, trade schools, etc.) use to determine how much financial aid a student is eligible to receive. 

Any student who wants to be considered for Federal Financial Aid, regardless of income level or decision on post-high school plans, should complete the FAFSA form. Completing the FAFSA ensures that the student is considered not only for federal financial aid but also state and school-specific financial aid programs.

Before sitting down to complete the FAFSA form, there are a few things you are going to need:

• Approximately 1 hour (don't worry, it typically doesn't take this long!)

• A verified FSA ID (to log in!)

• Parent or spouse contributor name, date of birth, social security number, and email address

• Income and asset information from 2023 (tax return)