Financial Aid (FAFSA)
Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is perhaps the most important step in applying for financial aid.
Federal student aid from the U.S. Department of Education is the largest source of aid in America, providing over $150 billion in grants, work-study, and federal loans for students attending four-year colleges or universities, community colleges, and career schools. Additionally, some colleges award institutional aid based on a students level of 'need' as determined by completing the FAFSA.
The FAFSA now uses prior-prior year tax information. This means no more rushing to complete your taxes in January to meet the late winter/early spring FAFSA deadlines. The FAFSA now opens October 1st. Deadlines for Montana post-secondary schools are December 1st (with Univeristy of Montana-Missoula and Missoula College being November 15th). To check out of state deadlines, go to fafsa.ed.gov/deadlines.htm as each state varies.
Students and parents will use the tax information from the previous spring to complete the FAFSA. For example, a student graduating in 20108 will use tax info from 2016 for his/her 2018-19 year of college.
Students and parents will need to apply for a FSA ID. Your FAFSA ID confirms your identity when you access your financial aid information and electronically sign your Federal Financial Aid documents. The student and parents each need their own FAFSA ID. Two separate email addresses are needed to establish two different IDs. For help with the ID, visit studentaid.gov/fsaid.
Federal student aid from the U.S. Department of Education is the largest source of aid in America, providing over $150 billion in grants, work-study, and federal loans for students attending four-year colleges or universities, community colleges, and career schools. Additionally, some colleges award institutional aid based on a students level of 'need' as determined by completing the FAFSA.
The FAFSA now uses prior-prior year tax information. This means no more rushing to complete your taxes in January to meet the late winter/early spring FAFSA deadlines. The FAFSA now opens October 1st. Deadlines for Montana post-secondary schools are December 1st (with Univeristy of Montana-Missoula and Missoula College being November 15th). To check out of state deadlines, go to fafsa.ed.gov/deadlines.htm as each state varies.
Students and parents will use the tax information from the previous spring to complete the FAFSA. For example, a student graduating in 20108 will use tax info from 2016 for his/her 2018-19 year of college.
Students and parents will need to apply for a FSA ID. Your FAFSA ID confirms your identity when you access your financial aid information and electronically sign your Federal Financial Aid documents. The student and parents each need their own FAFSA ID. Two separate email addresses are needed to establish two different IDs. For help with the ID, visit studentaid.gov/fsaid.
For a complete walk through of the FAFSA, check out the following video: