Do I have to apply for financial aid every year?

Yes. Your eligibility for financial aid is based on data from the prior calendar year, information which may change from year to year. Be sure to submit the correct year FAFSA for the academic year that you plan to enroll. Continuing financial aid applicants have the option of completing a Renewal FAFSA on which most of the personal and demographic information from the prior year application is preprinted. The renewal process is much simpler and faster, since only new information or information which has changed and requires updating needs to be supplied. It is critical that you provide the Federal Processor with any address change as soon as possible in order to ensure that your Renewal FAFSA is sent to the correct address. You can update your address by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (800) 433-3243.

Consider applying on-line


Both first time and continuing financial aid applicants have the option to apply for financial aid on-line at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ Students can save time and postage by completing the FAFSA on the Web. On-line applications are screened for missing data and common errors that can delay processing before they are submitted, and the applicant is notified of any edits. Students must sign their FAFSA application. This may be done either by signing electronically using the student's U.S. Department of Education PIN number or by printing the signature page, signing it, and mailing it in. (Signature pages will be sent to students who do not have printer access). Students and parents can obtain a PIN at the FAFSA Web site. The process takes up to 48 hours if a valid e-mail address is provided, or two weeks if the PIN number must be sent by regular mail, so students should plan ahead if they want to use the PIN number to sign the FAFSA.