Paying for College

File The FAFSA

Information You Need Before Filing FAFSA

• Students who plan to file the FAFSA online need to obtain both student and parent PIN numbers (only a student PIN if an independent student). PIN numbers must be activated after January 1 but before filing the FAFSA online. Each student completing a FAFSA online needs a PIN number, while parents only need to obtain one PIN number which can be used to complete all of their children's FAFSAs.
  • See "http://www.pin.ed.gov".

• Many documents will be required during the FAFSA completion process. Be sure you have each of the following handy at the time of completion:
  • Driver's license
  • W-2 Forms and other records of money earned
  • Federal Income Tax Returns for both the student and parents (if a dependent student for financial aid purposes) - IRS Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040TeleFile, or foreign tax return (if applicable)
  • Records of any other untaxed income such as Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records
  • Records/statements of current bank, investment, business, farm or other assets

If you won't be filing the FAFSA for a while but would like to get an estimate of your Expected Family Contribution, or EFC, (the amount a family would be expected to pay for one year of college according to the federal formula ) visit the EFC Estimation Tool on this or other available websites.