Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is an important part of paying for college. Submitting the FAFSA opens the doors to federal financial aid such as: grants, work-study and scholarship opportunities. Find out more information on the .
Completing the FAFSA is also a requirement to qualify for the ϲͼ Promise Program. This program covers the cost of tuition and fees for students attending ASU, NAU or the U of A and who qualify for any amount of Federal Pell Grant as determined by the FAFSA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Key FAFSA Dates
The 2024-25 FAFSA is live
Students planning to attend college during the 2024-25 academic year should complete the .
The FAFSA priority submission dates for ϲͼ State University, Northern ϲͼ University, and the University of ϲͼ have been extended to May 1, 2024, however, all three universities encourage students and families to submit their FAFSA Form as soon as possible if they have not done so already.
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Where can I get help with the FAFSA?
Meet with a local FAFSA Expert
ϲͼ student and families can schedule a FREE FAFSA assistance meeting with a FAFSA expert to help them complete the form. Appointments take place virtually via Zoom, Google Meets, or Microsoft Teams.
Text Benji
Students and families can text FAFSA questions to Ask Benji - ϲͼ's free, digital FAFSA assistant and you'll receive an immediate answer. Get started with this digital assistant by texting "Hi Benji" to 602-786-8171.
Local School
Talk to your high school counselor, or college and career specialist about resources your school may provide.
Universities
The financial aid offices at ASU, NAU and Uϲͼ can assist students and parents with FAFSA questions.
Federal Student Aid
The Federal Student Aid website offers a wealth of FAFSA resources for students and families.
Am I Eligible To Receive Financial Aid?
Eligibility Criteria
Most U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens are eligible for financial aid. Requirements include:
- Be a U.S. citizen or an .
- Have a valid Social Security number .
- Be enrolled or accepted to college or career school as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program.
- Be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for Direct Loan Program funds.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school.
- Sign the on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
- Additional information is .
Where Do I Start?
Create an FSA ID
The Federal Student Aid Identification also called the FSA ID, is the first step to completing your FAFSA. It is a username and password that students and parents create to access the FAFSA and electronically sign the form. For students and parents with a social security number, below are the steps to create an FSA ID. Learn more here.
- Visit .
- Click "Get Started"
- Enter Personal Information
- Create Username and Password
- Verify your Email Address
- Complete Challenge Question
- 2-Step Verification
- Review and Submit
- Make sure to write down or take a picture of your FSA ID username and password as a reminder!
- Repeat the process to have your parent create an FSA ID, too! They will need to input their information and a separate email address.
PLEASE NOTE: If your parent(s) do not have Social Security Numbers, they cannot create FSA IDs at this time, but they will be able to do so later this fall. More information on this process to come!
What is the ϲͼ Promise Program?
Tuition and fees are covered for eligible ϲͼ Students
The ϲͼ Promise Program is a guaranteed scholarship program for eligible ϲͼ residents that provides financial support to students from low-income families, making higher education more accessible and affordable for students and families. Qualifying students are guaranteed their tuition, mandatory fees and program fees will be fully covered. To qualify, a student must:
- Be an ϲͼ resident.
- Graduate high school with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
- Complete the FAFSA by April 1 of their senior year of high school and qualify for any federal Pell Grant.
- Enroll as a first-time, full-time, on-campus degree seeking student at ASU, NAU or Uϲͼ in the fall semester immediately following high school graduation.
Learn More Here
Video resources
What is the FAFSA
FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a form used to apply for financial aid. Completing the FAFSA form is the only way to access the largest source of financial aid - federal student aid - to help you pay for college. It's important to submit a FAFSA form every year you plan to attend college or career/trade school to remain eligible and receive aid.
