{"id":21139,"date":"2017-07-13T16:07:51","date_gmt":"2017-07-13T20:07:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/?p=21139"},"modified":"2025-10-02T11:46:35","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T15:46:35","slug":"fafsa-application-financial-aid-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/fafsa-application-financial-aid-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"Applying for Financial Aid in 8 Easy Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

College is expensive, but it may be possible for you to get financial aid in the form of grants<\/a>, scholarships<\/a> and student loans — both federal<\/a> and private<\/a>. So, you should definitely apply for financial aid. You can save yourself up to tens of thousands of dollars each school year by applying for financial aid. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 8 steps to help you with your financial aid application. <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Know your forms<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before you begin your financial aid application journey, you should know which forms you are required to fill out. Become familiar with these forms as they will be the forms you need. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)<\/a> <\/span>is the most popular application among college students. The federal government provides over $120 billion in federal grants, loans and work-study funds to more than 13 million students nationwide. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the FAFSA, some universities may require students to fill out a separate form created by them. These additional financial aid forms may be required to account for extenuating circumstances that may not be taken into account by the FAFSA. They may also be required to provide a more accurate financial aid package for their students, such as a financial aid appeal form and a university financial aid form.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Know your deadlines<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Keep track of the due dates for your financial aid forms, including the FAFSA deadlines<\/a>, to avoid the risk of not being granted university and government aid. The federal FAFSA deadline for 2026-2027 online applications is June 30, 2027, but colleges and states have their own deadlines as well.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add the dates to your Google Calendar, or phone calendar, and set a reminder for at least a month before they are due, so you can easily plan ahead and keep track of the deadline. If you tend to <\/span>procrastinate<\/span><\/a>, you may even want to set a few reminders for varying dates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never submit any financial forms late. Late filing of the FAFSA may render you ineligible to receive state-funded aid and federal aid. If you are late submitting your university\u2019s financial aid forms, you may become ineligible to receive university aid, including grants, or even worse, lose your financial aid eligibility. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Set up a time to complete the form<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Financial aid forms usually take students about an hour long, but actual time will vary by student. You should allot enough time to complete the form. If you aren\u2019t completely sure on how to fill out the necessary financial aid forms, reach out to your parents, guardians, and\/or an administrator to help you complete the forms and get the aid you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can apply as early as October 1 for the next school year. Don\u2019t wait until the last minute!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: Collect all necessary documents<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

FAFSA gives students <\/span>two filing options<\/span><\/a>. You can apply online, or complete a PDF form and mail it. Whichever option you choose, you need to have all necessary documents to complete and submit the form. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will need to gather:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n