Financial Aid for the 2016-2017 School Year – Application available January 1st!
By: Kelly Wentz, Financial Aid
It’s that time of year….
To gear up for the 2016-2017 financial aid year and completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) beginning January 1st!! The 2016-2017 FAFSA does not bring with it any new changes and families are still strongly encouraged to complete the FAFSA prior to our February 1st priority deadline. Apply online at www.fafsa.gov; NOTE: Avoid any website that requests payment for completion – it is FREE to complete!
But Why??
Completing the FAFSA prior to February 1st helps to ensure an eligible student is in the pool for high need funds that may be limited. Although it is unlikely you will have complete 2015 tax information at this time in the year, you can estimate your information based on previous tax years, W-2s, or end of year paystubs. Although your numbers may not be accurate, it is important to meet that February 1st deadline; corrections can be made to the FAFSA later in the year once you’ve completed your returns!
We Know You’re Excited!!!
And so are we!! There are many places to receive assistance in filing your FAFSA. The first place is FAFSA itself! Helpful hints and tips can be found on the right-hand side of the FAFSA while you are completing it online.
Many high schools offer FAFSA filing nights for their graduating seniors and College Goal Sunday is also a great resource if you need assistance.
The Office of Financial Aid is also happy to assist you in completing the FAFSA, and we can be reached at 509-313-6582 or finaid@gonzaga.edu for any questions you have while filling out FAFSA.
Preparation is Key!
Although the FAFSA itself has not changed from last year, your login information may be different depending on when you last accessed a Federal Aid website. In May 2015, the Department of Education moved away from the 4-digit PIN number used to sign in to FAFSA and implemented a FSA ID that students and parents are now required to use. If you have not already registered for an FSA ID, now is the time to do so! You can register at fsaid.ed.gov. NOTE: In some instances, it may take up to 3 days for your FSA ID to be validated against the Social Security Administration, which is why we encourage you to register now!
If you have registered for FSA ID already, be sure you have that information ready for January 1st so you can complete your FAFSA as soon as possible! Also gather other important documentation such as driver’s license numbers, pay stubs, W-2s, 1099 forms, and so on. Usually, if you need it for your taxes, you’ll need it for your FAFSA!
Happy FAFSA filing and remember, we’re just a phone call or email away!!