Federal Student Aid New Features Make Filing Easier and Faster
by Shelle Mc Millan
March 12, 2008
Apply Early for Federal Student Aid with the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid
New Features Make Filing Easier and Faster
The start of the calendar year also marks the beginning of the
college financial aid season with the release of the U.S.
Department of Education’s 2008-2009 Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is the qualifying form for all
federal grants and loans as well as many state and private student
aid programs.
Each year, the U.S. Department of Education disburses more than $80
billion in higher education grants and loans to student attending
postsecondary schools. To qualify, students must first complete the
FAFSA.
“We want to make sure students and families take full advantage of
the billions of dollars in federal financial assistance available
to them for postsecondary education each year,” Secretary Margaret
Spellings said. “Most families are eligible to receive some type of
financial aid; they just have to take that first step and complete
the application.”
Each year, an estimated 14 million applicants apply, and more than
10 million receive some type of federal grant or loan.
More than 95% of FAFSAs are submitted online, and now, with several
added features, it is easier than ever to apply online.
Students and families can:
• Request a personal identification number (PIN) and immediately
receive it to electronically sign the application.
• Submit an online FAFSA and immediately receive a confirmation
with a preliminary expected family contribution.
• List up to 10 schools to receive the provided financial aid
information.
• Copy parental information to another FAFSA application for a
second or third child.
To determine aid eligibility, students and families should fill out
the FAFSA as early as possible after January 1 for the academic
year beginning July1. Many factors contribute to a student’s
eligibility for federal financial aid besides income, such as the
size of the family and the age of the oldest parent. Completing a
FAFSA is the only way students and families can find out how much
federal aid they are eligible to receive.
Although completing the FAFSA online is the preferred method for
most families, there are other FAFSA filing options available,
including downloading the form or ordering a hard copy. Both online
and hard copy FAFSAs are available in English and Spanish at the
Federal Student Aid Web site, www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov, by
clicking FAFSA Filing Options.
Federal Student Aid, an office of U.S. Department of Education,
ensures that all eligible individuals can benefit from federally
funded or federally guaranteed financial assistance for education
beyond high school. To learn more, visit
www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov.
The source for this article came from www.ed.gov.
