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General FAQ

Is there a fee to fill out a FAFSA form?

The FAFSA is free to fill out. If someone contacts you about paying a fee for the FAFSA form, it’s either a scam or a company offering services to help you fill it out for a fee.

Who can apply?

Any student enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program at an eligible college or career/trade school.

Where can I find help submitting my application?

You can get free help filling out the FAFSA from your high school counselor, college financial aid office or by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (800) 433-3243.

Am I a dependent or an independent student?

Independent students don’t have to report parent income and assets, dependent students do. To qualify as an independent student, you must meet one or more requirements, including:

  • You’re at least 24 years old

  • You’re a graduate student

  • You’re a veteran of the U.S. armed forces

  • You have children or other dependents who receive 50% or more of their support from you

  • You’re an emancipated minor or in legal guardianship

  • You’re married, or separated but not divorced

  • At any point after age 13, your parents were both deceased

Is the FAFSA worth it?

Completing the FAFSA opens doors to grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and federal loans. The amount of money you can get by filing depends on your financial need.  Average amounts are about $9,000, in the form of loans and grants.

What is a Pell Grant?

Federal Pell Grants usually are awarded only to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid, except under certain circumstances. 

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The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $7,395 for the 2024–25 award year (July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025).

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Whether or not you qualify for a Pell Grant, you may qualify forms of other assistance through FAFSA, including low-interest loans. 

What is the difference between Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans?

Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans are both federal student loans offered by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to help eligible students cover the cost of higher education. 

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However, Direct Subsidized Loans have slightly better terms to help out students with financial need.

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The U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on a Direct Subsidized Loan

  • while you’re in school at least half-time,

  • for the first six months after you leave school (referred to as a grace period*), and

  • during a period of deferment (a postponement of loan payments).

How much can I borrow in federal student loans?

Your school determines the amount you can borrow based on your cost of attendance and other financial aid you receive.

FAQ For Non-Citizens

Can I apply for FAFSA if I or my parents are undocumented?

Yes. As of April 30, 2024, the Department of Education announced that it would temporarily eliminate the identity verification requirement for parents without Social Security numbers. This allows parents without a Social Security number to immediately get an FSA ID and use it to either start or complete their students’ FAFSA form.

Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to receive financial aid?

You don’t have to be a U.S. citizen to fill out the FAFSA. Eligible non-U.S. citizens include U.S. nationals (American Samoa or Swains Island natives), green card holders and citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands or the Republic of Palau. As of April 2024, undocumented persons may also apply.

What languages is the FAFSA application available in?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is available in English and Spanish.

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