FAFSA—you’ve probably heard about it, but do you really know what it is and what it means for you as you navigate through your college journey? It can seem like a daunting task trying to tackle the financial side of college, but it doesn’t have to be once you better understand what FAFSA is and how to apply for financial aid in college. 

What is FAFSA? 

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that students need to complete to receive student aid for college or career school. The form determines eligibility for federal, state, and school aid (e.g., grants, scholarships, work-study funds, student loans).  

Schools use your FAFSA information to calculate student aid and will send students an aid offer with the amount and types of aid offered. You can add up to 20 schools to your FAFSA and each school has their own individual code. 

What do I need to complete the FAFSA form? 

According to the Federal Student Aid website, you will need the following things to complete the FAFSA form: 

  1. Social Security Number (for U.S. Citizens) 
  1. A-Number (Non-U.S. Citizens) 
  1. Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID login to complete the FAFSA form online 
  1. Federal income tax returns, records of child support received; and current balance of cash, savings, and checking accounts (NOTE: You must provide consent and approval to disclose federal tax information to be eligible for federal student aid) 
  1. Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable), net worth of investments, businesses, and farms 
  1. Records of untaxed incomes (if applicable) 

If you are a dependent student, you will also need all of this information from your parents. 

Steps to Apply for Financial Aid at Judson University 

Judson University wants to be financially accessible for students and 99% of students receive some kind of financial aid. Here is a list of steps to complete to receive financial aid at Judson University: 

  1. Apply to Judson 
  1. Create FSA ID on the Federal Student Aid website 
  1. Complete FAFSA form using the Judson FAFSA School Code: 001700 
  1. Receive student aid report (SAR) 
  1. Receive and return financial aid package  

(You need to apply and be admitted to Judson University to receive a financial aid package) 

  1. Accept student loans (if applicable) 

(For first-time borrowers, you need to go to the Student Loans website and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and complete Entrance Counseling) 

Getting Started! 

The best tip to avoid the stress and worry of FAFSA is to start early! The FAFSA form opens on October 1st, and it is best to get your form filled out as soon as possible so your school has plenty of time to receive your information and complete your financial aid package. 

Contact the financial aid office at [email protected] with any questions that arise while you navigate through your college journey.