If You Need Money for Education, It’s Time to Apply for Federal Student Aid FAFSA
Colleges, universities, and vocational training institutions use the FAFSA form to determine the amount of financial aid you are eligible to receive, which includes grants, scholarships, the Federal Work-Study Program, and loans.
The deadline to apply in Florida is May 15
What Is Federal Student Aid?
It is money from the federal government that helps you pay for college, vocational school, or graduate studies. Federal student aid is offered through grants or scholarships, Federal Work-Study Program funds, and loans.
Filling out and submitting the FAFSA form is free and easy, and it gives you access to most sources of financial aid to pay for college or vocational school, including federal, state, and institutional resources.
Who Can Receive Federal Student Aid?
Any student who meets certain eligibility requirements can receive some type of federal student aid. Some of the most basic eligibility requirements for students include that you must:
• demonstrate financial need (for most programs);
• be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen;
• have a valid Social Security number (with some exceptions);
• be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible degree or certificate program;
• be enrolled at least half-time (for most programs); and
• maintain satisfactory academic progress in college, vocational school, or graduate studies.
Who Should Complete the FAFSA® Form?
Any student, regardless of income, who wants to be considered for federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs. This includes grants, scholarships, the Federal Work-Study Program, and loans.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. To do this, you can start a session at fafsa.gov and submit the application online, fill out the form in the myStudentAid mobile app (available on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store), or complete the PDF version of the form and mail it.
Students and parents will need an FSA ID (account username and password) to sign the form via the mobile app or online. You will also use your FSA ID to access information about your financial aid on U.S. Department of Education websites. You can create an FSA ID in advance or when filling out the FAFSA form. For more information about the FSA ID, visit StudentAid.gov/help-center/answers/article/fsa-id.
What Do You Need to Apply?
Verified account username and password (FSA ID)
Name, date of birth, Social Security number, and email address of your contributing parent, mother, father, or spouse
Income and asset information (if required)
Types of Financial Aid
Federal grants or scholarships: Money that generally does not need to be repaid.
Federal Work-Study Program: Money earned through a job that does not need to be repaid.
Federal student loans: Loans that accrue interest and must be repaid.
Financial aid is available for free.
Assistance is provided at no cost throughout the application process. You can request help online while filling out your application at fafsa.gov. You can also get free information and assistance from your school counselor, the financial aid office of the institution you plan to attend, or the U.S. Department of Education at StudentAid.gov or by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
You should never pay to receive help
For more information about federal student aid, visit StudentAid.gov/iniciar.
Deadlines for Submitting the 2023–24 FAFSA® Form
Federal deadline
The FAFSA form must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on June 30, 2024. Any corrections or updates must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on September 14, 2024.
College, university, or vocational school deadlines
Each college, university, or vocational school may have its own deadline. Check with the institution you are interested in attending. You can also ask what the institution considers as the application deadline. For example, the deadline could be the date your FAFSA form is processed or the date the institution receives your processed FAFSA data.
Florida state deadline: May 15, 2023
For priority consideration, submit your application by May 15, 2023 (processing date).
All other aid
Check with the financial aid office of the college, university, or vocational school you plan to attend. Other forms may be required.
