Fact
You can le your FAFSA on your phone with the myStudentAid
app! It’s free at the Apple App Store (iOS) or the Google Play
store (Android). You can also request a form be sent to you so
you can mail it back in by calling 1-800-4FED-AID.
Fiction
I need a computer to le the FAFSA.
Fact
Filing the FAFSA is free – it’s right there in the name! Avoid any
website or mobile app that requires a payment – that means it
isn’t the ofcial FAFSA site or the ofcial myStudentAid app.
Fiction
I need to pay a fee to le the FAFSA.
Fact
The average time to complete a FAFSA is only 22-30 minutes.
Here’s a worksheet you can use to get an idea of what the form
looks like and what information it asks for. There’s also lots of
help available – even a FAFSA YouTube channel!
Fiction
It takes a really long time to ll out the FAFSA.
Fact
The information the FAFSA collects includes things you can easily
access, like your Social Security number, bank statements and
driver’s license. You don’t even have to have your tax forms on
hand: there’s a tool that can pull them in automatically for you!
See a checklist of the information you need to le the FAFSA.
Fiction
The FAFSA asks for a lot of information and I
won’t be able to nd it.
Fact
It depends. There are many situations when you only need one
parent’s information to complete the FAFSA – and you might
not even need that. The FAFSA considers many different family
situations, and so will your college’s nancial aid ofce. Learn
more about parent involvement.
Fiction
I need both parents’ information to complete the FAFSA.
Fact
The FAFSA not only enables you to apply for federal grants and
low-interest loans, it’s also the form that states and individual
colleges use to determine your need-based aid. Check the FAFSA
submission deadline for your state here.
Fiction
I don’t need to ll out the FAFSA.
Fact
Students who fall into certain non-citizen statuses are
eligible for federal nancial aid. See a list here. Your parents’
citizenship does NOT impact your eligibility. For information on
nancial aid options for DACA recipients, click here.
Fiction
I need to be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for
nancial aid.
Fact
You can use what’s called “prior-prior year” taxes to complete
the FAFSA. That means that for the 2021 FAFSA, you can use
2019 information.
Fiction
My family must have led their tax returns before I
can le the FAFSA.
FAFSA Facts and Fiction: Get the Truth – and the Money You Need for College
Don’t let misconceptions about the FAFSA prevent you from getting the money you need for college. Here’s
the truth behind some questions you might have about lling out this critical nancial aid form:
Don’t forget to list our FAFSA Code:
It’s so important not to let false impressions steer you away from ling the FAFSA – this form is the key to
getting the money you need to attend college. If you’re confused about something you hear or read, contact
your school’s nancial aid ofce and they’ll set the record straight!
Our Office of Financial Aid will work with you to ensure you have access to the resources you need to pay for college. Our
goal is to make sure all qualified applicants can invest in an education here.
If you have any questions about financial aid, need help filling out the FAFSA or encounter special financial circumstances
your family is experiencing due to COVID, please call us at (804) 123-5678 or email us.
