Get Financial Aid Information Sheet

It is a standardized form that is designed to simplify the information that prospective students receive about costs and financial aid so that they can easily compare institutions and make informed decisions about where to attend school.

For each parent, you'll report similar information to that you report for yourself: basic information about your parent's identity (e.g., name, date of birth, and Social Security number if he or she has one); living situation (e.g., marital status, state of residence, household size); and financial circumstances (e.g., ...

The amount of money you can get by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) depends on your financial need. But, the maximum amount can be in the low tens of thousands of dollars per year. Average amounts are about $9,000, with less than half of that in the form of grants.

Gathering the Documents Needed to Apply Your Social Security number (it's important that you enter it correctly on the FAFSA form!) Federal tax information or tax returns including IRS W-2 information, for you (and your spouse, if you are married), and for your parents if you are a dependent student: IRS 1040.

The financial aid staff starts by deciding upon your cost of attendance (COA) at that school. They then consider your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). They subtract your EFC from your COA to determine the amount of your financial need and therefore how much need-based aid you can get.

Your current bank statements. Your current business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond, and other investment records. Documentation that you are a U.S. permanent resident or other eligible noncitizen.

There are no guarantees that you'll receive the same amount of federal student aid from year to year. You may want to have a Plan B, which can include seeking out scholarships and grants and considering a private student loan to fill in the gaps.

To complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), you will need: Your Social Security Number. Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen) Your federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned.

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and it is available to print. Printing the FAFSA makes the process easier for some as they can view the paper in front of them and take it with them when acquiring the additional required documents. Go to the FAFSA wesbite (www.fafsa.ed.gov).