How To Apply for Financial Aid

Enroll as a degree or certificate-seeking student 

Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen 

Maintain satisfactory academic progress 

Not be in default on a federal educational loan 

Not owe a refund on a federal educational grant 

Have a high school diploma or equivalent 

Were you born before January 1, 2000?

As of today, are you married?

At the beginning of the 2023—2024 school year (July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024), will you be working on a master's or doctorate program?

Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training?

Are you a veteran of the U.S. armed forces?

Do you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024?

Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2024?

When you were age 13 or older, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent/ward of the court?

Are you or were you an emancipated minor or in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?

At any time on or after July 1, 2022, were you an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or at risk of being homeless?

Were you born before January 1, 2001?

As of today, are you married? (Answer “no” if you are separated but not divorced)

At the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program (Such as a M.A., MBA, M.D., J.D., Ph.D, Ed.D, graduate certificate, etc)?

Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training? (If you are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee, are you on active duty for other than state or training purposes)?

Are you a veteran of the U.S. armed forces?

Do you have children or other people (excluding your spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you now and between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025?

At any time since you turned 13, were you an orphan (no living biological or adoptive parent), were you in foster care, or a ward of the state?

Are you or were you a legally emancipated minor, as determined by a court in your legal state of residence?

Are you or were you in a legal guardianship with someone other than your parent or stepparent, as determined by a court in your legal state of residence?

At any time after July 1, 2023, were you unaccompanied and either (1) homeless or (2) self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?

Social Security Number and Driver's License (or state ID) for you and for your parent(s) if you are a dependent student

If you are not a U.S. citizen, documentation of your eligible noncitizen status

You and your parent(s) (or spouse) can access 2021 IRS tax return information to complete your 2023—2024 FAFSA®.

You may use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to directly transfer 2021 IRS tax return information directly into the FAFSA® to increase accuracy of information. If not available, please continue as follows.

You may also need records of your parents' income (if you are a dependent student). Please use the following as a guide to help gather your documents:
 

•  Your 2021 federal income tax return (and your spouse's, if married)
Parents' 2021 federal income tax return (if you are a dependent student)
W-2 forms or other records of income earned
 

•  Records of other untaxed income received, such as welfare benefits, Social Security, military or clergy allowances
Business or farm records, if applicable
 

•  Current bank statements and records of stocks, bonds and other investments

The FUTURE Act - Direct Data Exchange (FA-DDX) will replace the IRS Data Retrieval tool and will be required to automatically transfer data from your completed 2022 tax form, after providing consent, directly into the FAFSA® via the IRS to help ensure accuracy.

Based on your answers to the marital or dependency questions on the FAFSA®, your spouse, parents or stepparents (contributors) may also need to provide tax information.

If you are unable to use the FUTURE Act Direct Data Exchange (FA-DDX), you will need 2022 federal tax information to complete your 2024—2025 FAFSA®. You may also need records of your parent/parent’s income (if you are a dependent student). Please use the following as a guide to gather your documents:
 

• Your (and your spouse’s, if married) 2022 federal income tax return. 

• Parent’s/stepparent’s 2022 federal income tax return (if you are a dependent student). 

• W-2 forms or other records of income earned. 

• Current bank statements and records of stocks, bonds, and other investments. 

• Business or farm records, if applicable.