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Whether you need financial aid to help pay for college or not, you need to fill out the FAFSA form. Filling out your FAFSA can seem daunting, but in actuality, applying can be easy if you go into it with the right information and a basic understanding of the process.
Step #1: Create your StudentAid.gov Account
Your StudentAid.gov account will give you your FSA ID, which is the username and password that you use to log in to U.S. Department of Education (ED) websites. Your FSA ID is your electronic signature and therefore should not be shared. Both students and parents of dependent students need to create an FSA ID.
Please note: Each FSA ID user must have a unique mobile phone number and/or e-mail address. Students and parents will have different FSA IDs.
Step #2: Get the documents you need together before you start.
You’ll need the following documents with you as you fill in the FAFSA form:
- Your Social Security Number
- Your parents’ / contributors Social Security Numbers (if you are a dependent)
- Your tax returns for the two years prior. For example, the 2024 – 2025 FAFSA asks for the 2022 tax information.
- Records of any child support received
- Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts
- Net worth of investments, businesses, and farms
Step # 3: A list ALL of the colleges you are considering (even if you have not applied or been accepted yet)
The schools you list on your FAFSA form will automatically receive your FAFSA results electronically. They will use your FAFSA information to determine the types and amounts of financial aid you may receive. It’s OK to add a school to your FAFSA form and later decide not to apply for admission to that school.
When you have all this information, you are ready to start the FAFSA application.
You can file online or through an app on your phone.
Need more help? MWCC offers FAFSA Days every Friday to help students complete their FAFSA. Click to sign up today!