Financial Aid

It starts with FAFSA

Remember! You need to reapply for all grants, scholarships, and loans each academic year. The financial aid award year begins in the fall term and runs through the next summer term.

Submit your free FAFSA application

Applying for financial aid starts with the federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The FAFSA will determine your eligibility for federal grants, federal loans, and other types of aid, such as state grants, scholarships, and institutional aid.

Complete the FAFSA application.

Questions and Answers

The best time to apply is when you complete your tax returns, but no later than April 15.

The list of documents you need can be found here.

Yes. The information you supply can be verified by your school, state, and by Federal Student Aid. You may be asked to provide U.S. income tax return transcripts and, if you can’t or don’t provide these records, you may not get federal student aid.

If you get federal student aid based on incorrect information, you will have to pay it back. You may also have to pay fines and fees. If you purposely give false or misleading information on your application, you may be fined $20,000, sent to prison, or both.

Every academic year you will need to submit the FAFSA application one time.

The academic year begins with the fall semester and ends at the end of summer semester the following year.

No. When you enroll for classes, it will constitute your acceptance of financial aid.

The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $7,395 for the 2026–27 award year (July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027). The amount you will receive is based on your SAI and lifetime eligibility. The Pell grant is prorated based on the number of credit hours you are registered for.

You can receive a student loan as long as you are enrolled for at least 6 credit hours.

The SAI is an eligibility index number that a college’s or career school’s financial aid office uses to determine how much federal student aid you would receive if you attended the school. This number results from the information that you provide in your FAFSA form.

A loan needs to be paid back and a grant does not.

The interest on a subsidized loan is paid by the Department of Education while the student is in school. An unsubsidized loan accrues interest even while the student is enrolled.