2016-2017 Application Help
First Name
Enter the student's first name. This must match the first name on the student's Social Security card.
The first name can only contain letters (A-Z), apostrophes ('), dashes (-), or blanks (spaces). No other characters are allowed.
Middle Initial
Enter the student's middle initial. This must match the middle initial on the student's Social Security card.
Last Name
Enter the student's last name. This must match the last name on the student's Social Security card.
The last name can only contain letters (A-Z), apostrophes ('), dashes (-), or blanks (spaces). No other characters are allowed.
Search for College by Location
This search tool is offered to you as an alternative to the college name
search above. Sometimes college names are phrased in an unexpected way, or they contain abbreviations,
which make them easier to locate with this tool.
First select the state or country the college is in. Countries are located at the bottom of the
Select College Location menu.
After you select a location, a new menu will appear below it containing all the colleges in the selected
location. Select a college from that Select College menu.
College Information - Name
Select the college from the list.
School Code
Enter the FAFSA School code for the college you wish to add.
The code should be either 6 numbers long or one letter followed by 5 numbers.
Search for College by Name or Federal School Code
Enter the first few words of a college name to search for it by name. Or enter the
6-character Federal School Code to search for it by codeThen navigate through the results and click to select one.
If you have problems finding a college, try these search tips:
• Remove small connector words like "the", "of", "at", and "and" from your search. Just enter
the main words of the college name.
• Avoid acronyms. For example, if you are looking for New York University, do not enter NYU.
• To increase the number of search matches, shorten the number of words or letters in your search
phrase.
• To decrease the number of search matches, try a longer search phrase.
• Double check your spelling.
• Some college names have one or more abbreviations in our records, which can make them hard to find.
For example, Alabama Agrcltl & Mechl Univ. This example could be found by entering "Alabama" and navigating
through the results.
• Federal School Codes can be either six digit numbers or one letter followed by five numbers.
• Finally, remember that you can always use search by location feature located underneath the college
name search. If it's covered up by the results of the college name search, simply click in the white space next to
the results to collapse the results list.
Housing Plan
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With Parent(s) - The student plans to live with their parent(s) while attending the selected college.
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On Campus - The student plans to live in housing provided by the college, such as a residence hall or dormitory. A fraternity or sorority may be considered on campus or off campus, depending on the college.
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Off Campus – The student plans to live in housing which is not provided by the college, such as an apartment or house. A fraternity or sorority may be considered on campus or off campus, depending on the college. Also note that a student that plans to live with their parent(s) should select "With Parent(s)," not "Off Campus."
Parents Married Filing Separately
If the parents filed separate tax returns, select Yes; otherwise, select No.
Parent Head of Household
If one of the parents filed as Head of Household, select Yes; otherwise, select No.
Amended Tax Return
If the parent, filed an amended tax return, select Yes; otherwise, select No.
Puerto Rico or Foreign Tax Return
If the parent, filed a Puerto Rican or foreign tax return, select Yes; otherwise, select No.
File Taxes Electronically
If the parent, filed their taxes electronically within the last 3 weeks, or by mail within the last 8 weeks, select Yes; otherwise, select No.
Married Filing Separately
If the student and the spouse filed separate tax returns, select Yes; otherwise, select No.
Head of Household
If either the student or the spouse filed as Head of Household, select Yes; otherwise, select No.
Amended Tax Return
If the student, filed an amended tax return, select Yes; otherwise, select No.
Puerto Rico or Foreign Tax Return
If the student, filed a Puerto Rican or foreign tax return, select Yes; otherwise, select No.
File Taxes Electronically
If the student, filed his/her taxes electronically within the last 3 weeks, or by mail within the last 8 weeks, select Yes; otherwise, select No.
Parent 1 (father's/mother's/stepparent's) Education
Select the option that corresponds to the highest level of school completed by the student's first parent (father/mother/stepparent).
Note that this only refers to the student's birth or adoptive parent. This does not refer to a stepparent, legal
guardian, or foster parent who has not adopted the student.
Parent 2 (father's/mother's/stepparent's) Education
Select the option that corresponds to the highest level of school completed by the student's second parent (father/mother/stepparent).
Note that this only refers to the student's birth or adoptive parent. This does not refer to a stepparent, legal
guardian, or foster parent who has not adopted the student.
High School Completion
Select the option that matches or will match the student's high school completion status before
their first date of enrollment in college.
Select High School Diploma if the student has received or will receive
a diploma.
Select GED Certificate if the student has received or will receive a General Educational Development
diploma.
Select Home Schooled if the student has completed the secondary level of homeschooling as
regulated by the student's state.
Select Other if the student will not have received a High School Diploma or GED
Certificate and has not completed the secondary level of homeschooling.
High School Name
Select the name of the high school that issued or will issue the student's diploma.
If your high school is not the list, select the not listed option and enter the full name of the high school.
Specify High School Name
Enter the full name of the high school that issued or will issue the student's diploma.
High School City
Enter the city where the high school that issued or will issue the student's diploma is located.
High School State
Enter the state where the high school that issued or will issue the student's diploma is located.
Completed Bachelor's Degree
Select Yes if the student has or will have a bachelor's degree or an equivalent degree from
a school in another country by July 1. Otherwise select No.
College Grade Level
Select the option that corresponds to the grade level the student will be at in the
school year. This grade level is based on the student's current progress towards completing their degree and does not
necessarily reflect the number of years the student has already completed.
Type of Degree
Select the option that best describes the type of degree the student will be working toward in the school year
Parent Signature
In order to complete the application process for dependent students, a signature is required from both the student and from one of the student's parents.
Work Study
Select the option that corresponds to the student's interest in work-study programs.
Work-study programs provide students with jobs so that they can earn money to help with educational expenses.
Previously Received Aid
Select Yes if the student has received federal aid such as federal student grants, federal student
loans, or federal work-study in previous years of college. Select No if the student has not attended college
previously, or if the student has never received federal student aid.
Convictions
Select Yes if the student has been convicted of selling or possessing drugs while receiving
federal student aid.
Select No if the student has not been convicted of selling or possessing drugs. If the
student has been convicted of prossessing or selling drugs, select No if the conviction was not a federal or state offense,
or if the student was younger than 18 years of age and not tried as an adult, or if the conviction occurred during a time
when the student was not receiving federal student aid.
Convictions Removed
This question only concerns federal or state drug-related convictions which occurred after
the student turned 18 or before the student turned 18 if the student was tried as an adult.
Convictions While Receiving Aid
This question only concerns federal or state drug-related convictions which occurred after
the student turned 18 or before the student turned 18 if the student was tried as an adult.
Completed Rehab
Acceptable rehabilitation programs must include 2 random drug tests and must meet one of the
following four criteria:
• The program must be qualified to receive funds from local, state, or federal
governments.
• The program must be qualified to receive funds from a state or federal licensed insurance
company.
• The program must be recognized or administered by a local, state, or federal government agency or
court.
• The program must be recognized or administered by a state or federal licensed hospital, health clinic, or
medical doctor.
Number of Convictions for Possession
Select the number of times the student has been convicted for possessing illegal drugs. Do
not count convictions that were removed from the student's record or convictions that occurred when the student was
younger than 18 years old, unless the student was tried as an adult.
Date of Possession Conviction
Enter the date of the student's last conviction for possession of illegal drugs. Only
consider state or federal convictions which have not been removed from the student's record and that occurred after the
student turned 18 or where the student was tried as an adult.
Number of Convictions for Selling
Select the number of times the student has been convicted for selling illegal drugs. Do
not count convictions that were removed from the student's record or convictions that occurred when the student was
younger than 18 years old, unless the student was tried as an adult.
Date of Selling Conviction
Enter the date of the student's last conviction for possession of illegal drugs. Only
consider state or federal convictions which have not been removed from the student's record and that occurred after the
student turned 18 or where the student was tried as an adult.
Person Filling Out the Application
Please indicate whether the student is filling out this application.
If someone other than the student is filing this application, please enter that person's first name and last name into the fields provided.
Permanent Mailing Address
Enter the student's full street address, including information like apartment number if applicable. Information regarding the student's application will be mailed to this address.
The address can only contain letters (A-Z), numbers (0-9), commas (,), apostrophes ('), dashes (-), number symbols (#), at symbols (@), percent symbols (%), ampersands (&), slashes (/), or blanks (spaces). No other characters are allowed.
Permanent Mailing City
Enter the city of the student's mailing address. Information regarding the student's application will be mailed to this address.
If the student's address is in Canada, Mexico, a U.S. territory, or a military installation, enter only the city here and select the appropriate country, province, or location in the state dropdown box.
If the student's address is not in the United States or any of the locations above, enter the both the city and country of the student's address here and select Foreign Country in the state dropdown box.
The city can only contain letters (A-Z), numbers (0-9), commas (,), apostrophes ('), dashes (-), number symbols (#), at symbols (@), percent symbols (%), ampersands (&), slashes (/), or blanks (spaces). No other characters are allowed.
Permanent Mailing State
Select the state of the student's mailing address. Information regarding the student's
application will be mailed to this address.
If the student's address is in
Canada, Mexico, a U.S. territory, or a military installation, select the appropriate country, province, or location in the
state dropdown box.
If the student's address is not in the United States or any of the locations above, select
Foreign Country in the state dropdown box, and enter the student's country in the city field after the student's city.
Permanent Mailing Zip code
Enter the zip code of the student's mailing address. Information regarding the student's
application will be mailed to this address.
If the student's address is outside
of the United States and is not in a a U.S. territory or military installation, enter 00000 for the zip code.
Has the student lived in for more than 5 years?
Select yes if the permanent mailing state selected is also the student's state of legal residence
and the student has lived in this state for 5 or more years. Otherwise, select no.
State of Legal Residence
Select the student's state of legal residence.
If the student's legal residence
is in Canada, select their province.
If the student's legal residence is not in the United States or
Canada select their country of legal residence, or select Foreign Country if the country is not listed.
Legal Residency
Select yes if the student became a legal resident of the selected state before January 1, -5. Otherwise, select no.
Date of Legal Residency
Enter the month and year that the student became a legal resident of the selected state.
Permanent Phone Number
Enter the student's permanent phone number
Student E-mail Address
An accurate e-mail address is required to receive important directions regarding the FAFSA filing. We may also send reminders for college, state, and federal deadlines, or offers for educational products or services. We may also share the address or other information with select trusted partners to offer you educational products or services.
Create a Password
Create a password that the student will use to log in to return to an unfinished
application and to view information about the status of an order that has been submitted.
The password must be between 4 and 8 characters long. You can use any combination of numbers and / or uppercase and lowercase letters. For example, the password Person9 is different than the password pErSon9. The password cannot contain any special characters (@, *, ^, &, etc.).
Create a Password
Please re-enter the same password you created above.
Gender
Enter the student's gender.
Your gender is used to determine if you need to register with the Selective Service System. Most male citizens and male immigrants must register with the Selective Service System to qualify to receive federal student aid. This requirement applies to any person assigned the sex of male at birth.
Birth Date
Enter the student's birth date.
Important: This must match the birth date filed with the Social Security Administration.
Marital Status
Select the option corresponding to the student's current marital status.
For FAFSA purposes, a married couple is separated if the couple is considered legally separated by a state, or if the couple is legally married but has chosen to live separate lives, including living in separate households, as though they were not married. If you and your spouse are separated but living together, select "Married or Remarried," not "Separated."
Note: When two married persons live as a married couple but are separated by physical distance (or have separate households), they are considered married for FAFSA purposes.
Marriage Date
Enter the month and year of the date the student got married.
Driver's License
Select yes if the student has a driver's license and wants to provide information about it. Otherwise select no.
Driver's License State
Select the issuing state of the student's driver's license.
Driver's License Number
Enter number of the student's driver's license.
United States Citizenship
If the student is a US Citizen or US National, select that option.
Select
Eligible Noncitizen if the student is a permanent US resident or a conditional permanent resident with a Permanent
Resident Card (I-551) or Conditional Green Card (I-551C) respectively.
Select Eligible Noncitizen if the student has
an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security, and that record shows a designation of
'Refugee', 'Asylum Granted', 'Parolee', 'T-Visa holder', or 'Cuban-Haitian Entrant'.
Select Eligible Noncitizen if
the student has a valid certification of eligibility from the Department of Health and Human Services which shows a
designation of 'Victim of human trafficking'.
Select Eligible Noncitizen if the student is a resident of the Republic
of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Federated States of Micronesia.
Select Eligible Noncitizen if
the student is a Canadian-born Native American as per the terms of the Jay Treaty.
Select Other if the student
has a F1 or F2 student visa, or if the student has a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa, or if the student has a G series visa,
or if the student does not fall into the categories of US Citizen or Eligible
Non-US citizen specified above.
Alien Registration Number
Enter the student's Alien Registration Number. This should be an 8 or 9 digit number. If the number is only 8 digits, enter a '0' before the number.
Please only enter numbers in this field. Do not enter the A or any dashes or other special characters. For example, if your Alien Registration Number is A123-456-789, please enter 123456789.
Social Security Number
Enter the student's Social Security Number.
This is a 9-digit number in the format ###-##-####.
Masters/Doctorate Program
Select Yes if the student will be working on a masters or doctorate program at the
beginning of the academic year. Otherwise select No.
Armed Forces
Select Yes if the student is currently serving on active duty in the US Armed Forces or if
the student is a National Guard or Reserves enlistee and is on active duty for purposes other than state or
training.
Select No if the student is a National Guard or Reserves enlistee and is on duty for state or training
purposes. Select No if the student is not serving on active duty in the US Armed Forces.
Veteran
Select Yes if the student is currently a veteran of the US Armed Forces or if the student
will be a veteran by June 30, 2016. Otherwise select No.
Student's Children
Select Yes if the student has children or is expecting a child who will be born before or
during the school year that the student will provide more than half of the support for between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017.
Select No if the student has no
children or if the student provides less than half of the support for the children.
Student's Dependents
Select Yes if the student has dependents other than children and spouse and the student will
provide more than half of the dependents' support between July 1, 2016 and June 30,
2017.
Select No if the student has no dependents, or if the student has
dependents but provides less than half of their support.
Foster Child
Select Yes if the student had no living biological or adoptive parent, if the student was in foster
care, or if the student was a ward of the state at any time since the student turned 13 even if none of those
situations are accurate as of today.
Select No if none of those situations have occurred at any time since the
student turned 13.
Emancipated Minor
Select Yes if the student can provide a copy of the court's decision that the student is
currently an emancipated minor or was an emancipated minor as they reached the age of legal adulthood in the their
state.
Select No if the student is still a minor or if the court's decision is no longer in effect or if the court's
decision was not in effect at the time the student became an adult.
Guardianship
Select Yes if the student can provide a copy of the court's decision that the student is
currently in a legal guardianship or was in a legal guardianship as they reached the age of legal adulthood in their
state.
Select No if the student is still a minor or if the court's decision is no longer in effect or if the court's
decision was not in effect at the time the student became an adult.
Note: This does not include the student's
parents, even if the state appointed them to be the student's guardian.
The student is also not considered their
own guardian.
Homeless
Select Yes if the student is not living in the physical custody of their parent or guardian, is
under the age of 21 or still enrolled in high school, and has received a determination that they are an unaccompanied
youth from their high school or school district homeless liason on or after July 1, 2015.
Select No if the student has not received a determination that they are an unaccompanied youth, or if the student
is over the age of 21 and no longer enrolled in high school, or if the student is living with their parent or guardian.
Emergency Shelter
Select Yes if the student is not living in the physical custody of their parent or guardian, is
under the age of 21 or still enrolled in high school, and has received a determination that they are an unaccompanied
youth from director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development on or after July 1, 2015.
Select No if the student has
not received a determination that they are an unaccompanied youth, or if the student is over the age of 21 and no longer
enrolled in high school, or if the student is living with their parent or guardian.
Youth Center
Select Yes if the student is not living in the physical custody of their parent or guardian, is
under the age of 21 or still enrolled in high school, and has received a determination that they are an unaccompanied
youth from director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development on or after July 1, 2015.
Select No if the student has
not received a determination that they are an unaccompanied youth, or if the student is over the age of 21 and no longer
enrolled in high school, or if the student is living with their parent or guardian.
Number of People in Student's Household
When determing this number always include the student and student's spouse. Also include any children or other
dependents that live with the student if the student provides more than half of their support and will continue to provide
more than half of their support between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017.
Student's Children
Enter the number of children that the student will provide more than half of the support
for between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017.
Student's Dependents
Enter the number of dependents (other than children or a spouse) who the student lives with and will
provide more than half of the dependents' support between July 1, 2016 and June 30,
2017.
Number of College Students in Student's Household
When determing this number always include the student. Also include any members of the student's
household (spouse, children, or other dependents) who will attend a program that leads to a college degree at least half time in the
2016-2017 school year.
Dislocated Worker
Select Yes if either of the student or the student's spouse is currently a dislocated worker.
Otherwise select No.
A dislocated worker is someone who meets one of the following criteria:
•
They are receiving unemployment benefits due to losing their job and they are unlikely to return to said job.
• They have been laid off or received a lay-off notice from their job.
• They were self
employed but are now considered unemployed due to economic conditions or a natural disaster.
• They are a
displaced homemaker.
Federal Benefit Programs
Check all programs that apply. SNAP and TANF may have a different name in your state.
Federal Benefit Programs
Check all programs that apply. SNAP and TANF may have a different name in your state.
Federal Benefit Programs
Check all programs that apply. SNAP and TANF may have a different name in your state.
Federal Benefit Programs
Check all programs that apply. SNAP and TANF may have a different name in your state.
Federal Benefit Programs
Check all programs that apply. SNAP and TANF may have a different name in your state.
2015 Taxable Income
Select yes if the student earned any income in 2015, from working or from other sources, which would be subject to income tax. If the student earned no taxable income in 2015, select no.
2015 Tax Return Status
The 2015 IRS income tax return is for income earned during 2015.
Select the Already Filed option if the student has filed their 2015 tax return.
Select the Will File option if the student has not filed their 2015 tax return but plans to in the future.
Select the Will Not File option if the student does not plan to file a 2015 tax return.
Filing Status
Select the Filing Status of the student for the 2015 tax year.
Tax Return Form
Select the form the student used or will use for their tax return.
1040A/1040EZ Eligible
Select Yes if the student was eligible to file form 1040A or form 1040EZ for
their 2015 taxes but chose to file form 1040. Select No if the student was not eligible to file form 1040A or form 1040EZ.
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
Enter the student's AGI for 2015. This can be found on line 37 of IRS Form 1040. This can be found on line 21 of IRS Form 1040A. This can be found on line 4 of IRS Form 1040EZ
Usually, if you earned income greater than zero, AGI will also be greater than zero.
Negative numbers are not allowed. If your AGI is a negative number, please enter 0.
IRS Schedule K-1 (Form 1065)
Form 1065 is an information return used to report the income, gains, losses, deductions, credits, etc., from the operation of a partnership.
Income Tax
Enter the student's income tax for 2015. This is equal to line 56 minus line 46 on IRS Form 1040. This is equal to line 28 minus line 36 on IRS Form 1040A. This can be found on line 10 of IRS Form 1040EZ.
Negative numbers are not allowed. If Income Tax is a negative number, please enter 0.
Number of Exemptions
Enter the student's number of exemptions for 2015.
On IRS Form 1040 - This can be found on line 6d.
On IRS Form 1040A - This can be found on line 6d.
On IRS Form 1040EZ - If the taxpayer did not check either box on line 5, enter 1 if they are single or 2 if they are married. If either box on line 5 was checked, use line F on the EZ worksheet to determine the number of exemptions ($3,700 equals one exemption).
To estimate the number of exemptions, first estimate the number of personal exemptions, then estimate the number of exemptions for dependents, then add those two numbers together.
Personal exemptions - A taxpayer can generally claim one exemption for themself, unless another taxpayer could claim them as a dependent. For example, a student who is dependent on their parents would not be able to claim an exemption for themself.
Exemptions for dependents - A taxpayer can generally claim an exemption for each qualifying dependent child, and for each qualifying dependent relative. There are various criteria such as age and percent of support that determine if a child or relative can be considered dependent.
For more information on this topic, refer to IRS Publication 501: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf
Earned Working
Enter the amount of income the student earned working in 2015. This can be found on the "wages, salaries, tips, etc." from the 2015 tax return, or on the W-2 form in boxes 1 + 8.
Spouse Earned Working
Enter the amount of income the student's spouse earned working in 2015. This can be found on the "wages, salaries, tips, etc." from the 2015 tax return, or on the W-2 form in boxes 1 + 8.
Current Balance
Add together the balances of the student's cash, savings, and checking accounts and enter the total. If the total is negative, enter 0.
Investments Net Worth
Enter the net worth of the student's investments, such as real estate other than the home the
student lives in, trust funds, UGMA and UTMA accounts, money market funds, mutual funds, certificates of deposit, stocks,
stock options, bonds, other securities, installment and land sale contracts (including mortgages held), commodities,
qualified educational benefits or education savings accounts such as Coverdell savings accounts, 529 college savings plans
and the refund value of 529 prepaid tuition plans, and possibly other things.
Do not include the home the student
lives in, the value of life insurance, retirement plans (401[k] plans, pension funds, annuities, non-education IRAs, Keogh
plans, etc.) or cash, savings and checking accounts.
Business and Investment Farm Worth
Enter the net worth of the student's businesses and investment farms. This does not
include small businesses which the student owns more than 50% of and have fewer than 100 employees. This does not include
small family owned farms that the student lives on and operate.
Education Credits
Enter the total amount of American Opportunity, Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits the
student received in 2015.
Child Support Paid
Enter the total amount of child support paid by the student as a result of a divorce or
separation and required by a court.
Employment Program Earnings
Enter the student's total taxable earnings from employment programs such as
Federal Work-study and employment portions of fellowships and assistantships.
Grant and Scholarship Aid
Enter the total amount of grant and scholarship aid which was reported to the IRS as part of the
student's AGI in 2015.
This includes AmeriCorps benefits as well as
grant and scholarship portions of fellowships and assistantships.
Combat Pay
Enter the total taxable amount of combat pay that was included in the student's AGI in
2015. Do not include any untaxed combat pay.
Cooperative Education Earnings
Enter the total amount the student earned from cooperative education programs
offered by a college in 2015.
Payments to Pension and Savings
Enter the total amount the student paid to their tax deferred pensions and savings
programs. These amounts are reported on form W-2 in boxes 12a through 12d, codes D, E, F, G, H, and S.
IRA Deductions
Enter the student's total IRA Deductions and payments to SEP, SIMPLE and Keogh. This can
be found on IRS Form 1040 by adding lines 28 and 32. This can be found on IRS Form 1040A on line 17
Child Support Received
Enter the total amount of child support the student received in 2015. This does not
include foster care or adoption payments.
Tax Exempt Interest
Enter the total amount of tax exempt interest the student earned in 2015. This can be
found on IRS Form 1040 on line 8b. This can be found on IRS Form 1040A on line 8b.
Untaxed IRA Distributions
Enter the student's total amount of untaxed IRA distributions in 2015. For IRS Form
1040 subtract line 15a minus 15b, and subtract rollover amounts from the
total. For IRS Form 1040A subtract line 11a minus 11b, and subtract rollover amounts from the total.
Untaxed Pensions
Enter the student's total amount of untaxed portions of pensions in 2015. For IRS Form 1040 subtract line 16a minus 16b, and subtract rollover amounts from the total. For IRS Form 1040A subtract line 12a minus 12b, and subtract rollover amounts from the total.
Living Allowances Paid to Military, Clergy, and Others
Enter the total amount for housing, food and other living allowances the student paid to
military, clergy, and others. Do not include rent subsidies for low-income housing, the value of
on-base military housing or the value of a basic military allowance for housing.
Veteran Noneducation Benefits
Enter the total amount of veteran noneducation benefits recevied by the student such as
Disability, Death Pension, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and/or VA Educational Work-Study
allowances.
Other Untaxed Income
Enter any other untaxed income received by the student such as such as workers' compensation,
disability, etc.
Do not include student aid, earned income credit, additional child tax credit, welfare payments,
untaxed Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income, Workforce Investment Act educational benefits, on-base
military housing or a military housing allowance, combat pay, benefits from flexible spending arrangements (e.g., cafeteria
plans), foreign income exclusion or credit for federal tax on special fuels.
Other Money Received
Enter the amount of other money not reported on this form received by the student or paid on the
student's behalf.
Note: This includes distributions to the student from a 529 plan that is owned by someone other than the student or the student's parents.
Parents
Parents only refers to biological or adoptive parents, or a person that the state has determined to be the student's parent. Foster parents, legal guardians, widowed stepparents, and relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and older siblings should not be considered parents for the purposes of this form unless they have legally adopted the student.
Parent Lived With
Select Yes if the student lived with one parent more than the other over the last year. Select No if the student has lived with both parents an equal amount of time over the last year.
Parents only refers to biological or adoptive parents. Foster parents, legal guardians, and relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and older siblings should not be considered parents for the purposes of this form unless they have legally adopted the student.
Parents' Marital Status
Select the current marital status of the student's parent.
Supporting Parent
Select the parent of the student that the student has lived with more over the last year. If the student has lived with both parents equally, then select the parent that has provided more
financial support to the student in the last year.
Parents only refers to biological or adoptive parents. Foster parents, legal guardians, and relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and older siblings
should not be considered parents for the purposes of this form unless they have legally adopted the student.
Parents' Marriage Date
Select the month and year that the student's parents were married/remarried/widowed/separated.
[Fparent] First Initial
Enter the first initial of the student's [fparent]. Use the initial of the first parent's proper first name, not a nickname.
The first name can only contain letters (A-Z), apostrophes ('), dashes (-), or blanks (spaces). No other characters are allowed.
[Fparent] Last Name
Enter the last name of the student's [fparent]. This must match the last name on the parent's Social Security card, but cannot be longer than 16 characters.
The last name can only contain letters (A-Z), apostrophes ('), dashes (-), or blanks (spaces). No other characters are allowed.
[Fparent] Birth Date
Enter the birth date of the student's [fparent].
Important: This must match the birth date filed with the Social Security Administration.
[Fparent] Social Security Number
Enter the Social Security Number of the student's [fparent].
This is a 9-digit number in the format ###-##-####.
Special Note: If the parent does not have a Social Security Number, please contact us for special attention. Call us at 877-207-3286 or e-mail us [email protected], and provide us with your Application ID, .
[Mparent] First Initial
Enter the first initial of the student's [mparent]. Use the initial of the parent's proper first name, not a nickname.
The first name can only contain letters (A-Z), apostrophes ('), dashes (-), or blanks (spaces). No other characters are allowed.
[Mparent] Last Name
Enter the last name of the student's [mparent]. This must match the last name on the parent's Social Security card, but cannot be longer than 16 characters.
The first name can only contain letters (A-Z), apostrophes ('), dashes (-), or blanks (spaces). No other characters are allowed.
[Mparent] Birth Date
Enter the birth date of the student's [mparent].
Important: This must match the birth date filed with the Social Security Administration.
[Mparent] Social Security Number
Enter the Social Security Number of the student's [mparent].
This is a 9-digit number in the format ###-##-####.
Special Note: If the parent does not have a Social Security Number, please contact us for special attention. Call us at 877-207-3286 or e-mail us [email protected], and provide us with your Application ID, .
Parent's E-mail Address
Enter the student's parent's e-mail address. This will be used to notify the parents when the FAFSA has been processed. We may also send reminders for college, state, and federal deadlines, or offers for educational products or services. We may also share the address or other information with select trusted partners to offer you educational products or services. This cannot be the same as the student's email address.
Parent's State of Legal Residence
Select the state where the student's parents currently legally reside.
Parent's Date of Legal Residence
Select Yes if the student's parents have lived in this state for the last 5 years. Select No if they have not.
Parent's Date of Legal Residence
Enter the month and year that the student's parents became legal residents of this state.
Number of People in Parent's Household
When determing this number always include the parents and student even if the student does not live with their parents. Also include any children or other dependents that live with the parents if the
parents provide more than half of their support and will continue to provide more than half of their support between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017.
Parent's Children
Enter the number of children for whom the parents will provide more than half of the support
between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017.
Parent's Dependents
Enter the number of dependents who live with the parents and for whom the parents will
provide more than half of the support between July 1, 2016 and June 30,
2017. Do not include the student, other children of the parents, or the parent's spouse.
Number of College Students in Parent's Household
When determing this number always include the student even if the student does not live with their parents. Also include any other members of the parent's household who will
attend a program that leads to a college degree at least half time in the 2016-2017 school year. However, do not include members of the household who are in U.S. military service academies.
Federal Benefit Programs
Check all programs that apply. SNAP and TANF may have a different name in your state.
Federal Benefit Programs
Check all programs that apply. SNAP and TANF may have a different name in your state.
Federal Benefit Programs
Check all programs that apply. SNAP and TANF may have a different name in your state.
Federal Benefit Programs
Check all programs that apply. SNAP and TANF may have a different name in your state.
Federal Benefit Programs
Check all programs that apply. SNAP and TANF may have a different name in your state.
2015 Parent's Taxable Income
Select yes if the student's parent earned any income in 2015, from working or from other sources, which would be subject to income tax. If the student earned no taxable income in 2015, select no.
Parent's Tax Return Status
Select the Already Filed option if the student's parent have filed their
2015 tax return.
Select the Will File option if the student's parent have not filed their 2015 tax return but plans to in the future.
Select the Will Not File option if the student's parent do not plan to file a 2015 tax return.
Parent's Filing Status
Select the Filing Status of the student's parent's for the 2015 tax year.
Parent's Tax Return Form
Select the form the student's parent used for their tax return.
Form 1040A/1040EZ Eligible
Select Yes if the student's parent was eligible to file form 1040A or form 1040EZ for their 2014 taxes but chose to file form 1040. Select No if the student parent was not eligible to file form 1040A or form 1040EZ.
Dislocated Worker
Select Yes if either of the student's parent is currently a dislocated worker. Otherwise select No.
A dislocated worker is someone who meets one of the following criteria:
• They are receiving unemployment benefits due to losing their job and they are unlikely to return to said job.
• They have been laid off or received a lay-off notice from their job.
• They were self employed but are now considered unemployed due to economic conditions or a natural disaster.
• They are a displaced homemaker.
Parent's Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
Enter the student's parent's AGI for 2015. This can be found on line 37 of IRS Form 1040. This can be found on line 21 of IRS Form 1040A. This can be found on line 4 of IRS Form 1040EZ.
Usually, if you earned income greater than zero, AGI will also be greater than zero.
Negative numbers are not allowed. If AGI is a negative number, please enter 0.
IRS Schedule K-1 (Form 1065)
Form 1065 is an information return used to report the income, gains, losses, deductions, credits, etc., from the operation of a partnership.
Parent's Income Tax
Enter the student's parent's income tax for 2015. This is equal to line 56 minus line 46 on IRS Form 1040. This is equal to line 28 minus line 36 on IRS Form 1040A. This can be found on line 10 of IRS Form 1040EZ.
Negative numbers are not allowed. If Income Tax is a negative number, please enter 0
Parent's Number of Exemptions
Enter the student's parent's number of exemptions for 2015.
On IRS Form 1040 - This can be found on line 6d.
On IRS Form 1040A - This can be found on line 6d.
On IRS Form 1040EZ - If the taxpayer did not check either box on line 5, enter 1 if they are single or 2 if they are married. If either box on line 5 was checked, use line F on the EZ worksheet to determine the number of exemptions ($3,700 equals one exemption).
To estimate the number of exemptions, first estimate the number of personal exemptions, then estimate the number of exemptions for dependents, then add those two numbers together.
Personal exemptions - A taxpayer can generally claim one exemption for themself, unless another taxpayer could claim them as a dependent. For example, a student who is dependent on their parents would not be able to claim an exemption for themself.
Exemptions for dependents - A taxpayer can generally claim an exemption for each qualifying dependent child, and for each qualifying dependent relative. There are various criteria such as age and percent of support that determine if a child or relative can be considered dependent.
For more information on this topic, refer to IRS Publication 501: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf
[Fparent] Earned Working
Enter the amount the student's [fparent] earned working in 2015. This can be found on the "wages, salaries, tips, etc." from the 2015 tax return, or on the W-2 form in boxes 1 + 8.
[Mparent] Earned Working
Enter the amount the student's [mparent] earned working in 2015. This can be found on the "wages, salaries, tips, etc." from the 2015 tax return, or on the W-2 form in boxes 1 + 8.
Parent's Current Balance
Add together the balances of the student's parent's cash, savings, and checking accounts and enter the total. If the total is negative, enter 0.
Parent's Investments Worth
Enter the net worth of the student's parent's investments, such as real estate other than the home the parent live in, trust funds, UGMA and UTMA accounts, money market funds, mutual funds, certificates
of deposit, stocks, stock options, bonds, other securities, installment and land sale contracts (including mortgages held), commodities, qualified educational benefits or education savings accounts such as Coverdell savings
accounts, 529 college savings plans and the refund value of 529 prepaid tuition plans, and possibly other things.
Do not include the home the parent live in, the value of life insurance, retirement plans (401[k]
plans, pension funds, annuities, non-education IRAs, Keogh plans, etc.) or cash, savings and checking accounts.
Parent's Business Worth
Enter the net worth of the student's parent's businesses and investment farms. This does not include small businesses which the parent own more than 50% of and have fewer than 100 employees. This
does not include small family-owned farms that the parent live on and operate.
Parent's Education Credits
Enter the total amount of American Opportunity, Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits the student's parent received in 2015.
Parent's Child Support Paid
Enter the total amount of child support paid by the student's parent as a result of a divorce or separation and required by a court.
Parent's Employment Program Earnings
Enter the total taxable earnings of the student's parent from employment programs such as Federal Work-study and employment portions of fellowships and assistantships.
Parent's Grant and Scholarship Aid
Enter the total amount of grant and scholarship aid which was reported to the IRS as part of
the student's parent's AGI in 2015.
This includes AmeriCorps benefits as well as grant and scholarship
portions of fellowships and assistantship.
Parent's Combat Pay
Enter the total taxable amount of combat pay that was included in the student's parent's AGI in 2015. Do not include any untaxed combat pay.
Parent's Cooperative Education Earnings
Enter the total amount the student's parent earned from a cooperative education program offered by a college in 2015.
Parent's Payments to Pension and Savings
Enter the total amount the student's parent paid to their tax deferred pensions and savings programs. These amounts are reported on form W-2 in boxes 12a through 12d, codes D, E, F, G, H, and S.
Parent's IRA Deductions
Enter the student's parent's total IRA Deductions and payments to SEP, SIMPLE and Keogh. This can be found on IRS Form 1040 by adding lines 28 and 32. This can be found on IRS Form 1040A on line 17.
Parent's Child Support Received
Enter the total amount of child support the student's parent received in 2015. This does not include foster care or adoption payments.
Parent's Tax Exempt Interest
Enter the total amount to tax exempt interest the student's parent earned in 2015. This can be found on IRS Form 1040 on line 8b. This can be found on IRS Form 1040A on line 8b.
Parent's Untaxed IRA Distributions
Enter the student's parent's total amount of untaxed IRA distributions in 2015. For IRS Form 1040 subtract line 15a minus 15b, and subtract rollover amounts from the
total. For IRS Form 1040A subtract line 11a minus 11b, and subtract rollover amounts from the total.
Parent's Untaxed Pensions
Enter the student's parent's total amount of untaxed portions of pensions in 2015. For IRS Form 1040 subtract line 16a minus 16b, and subtract rollover amounts from the total. For IRS Form 1040A subtract line 12a minus 12b, and subtract rollover amounts from the total.
Parent's Living Allowances Paid to Military, Clergy, and Others
Enter the total amount for housing, food and other living allowances the student's parent paid to military, clergy, and others. Do not include rent subsidies for low-income housing, the value of
on-base military housing, or the value of a basic military allowance for housing.
Parent's Veteran Noneducation Benefits
Enter the total amount of veteran noneducation benefits recevied by the student's parent such as Disability, Death Pension, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and / or VA Educational
Work-Study allowances.
Parent's Other Untaxed Income
Enter any other untaxed income received by the student's parent such as such as workers' compensation, disability, etc.
Do not include student aid, earned
income credit, additional child tax
credit, welfare payments, untaxed Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income, Workforce Investment Act educational benefits, on-base military housing or a military housing allowance, combat pay, benefits from flexible
spending arrangements (e.g., cafeteria plans), foreign income exclusion or credit for federal tax on special fuels.
Academic Year
An academic year is the 12 months from July 1st to June 30th. For example, the 2016-2017 academic year begins July 1, 2016 and ends June 30, 2017.
There is an 18 month window to file a FAFSA for each academic year, beginning six months before the academic year on January 1st, and ending at the same time the academic year ends on June 30th. For example:
• The 2016-2017 academic year lasts from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017. A FAFSA can be filed for the 2016-2017 academic year any time between January 1st, 2016 and June 30th, 2017.
• The 2015-2016 academic year lasts from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016. A FAFSA can be filed for the 2015-2016 academic year any time between January 1st, 2015 and June 30th, 2016.
• etc.
To apply for aid for a current academic year, we can prepare and file a FAFSA for you today.
If the option is available to select a future academic year, we can prepare that FAFSA for you now, and then file it for you as soon as possible after January 1st. Filing as soon as possible in this way ensures that you will be first in line to get all of the aid that you qualify for, before first-come first-serve programs run out of funds.
Selective Serivice Registration
Select Yes if the student is already registered with the Selective Service. Select No if he
is not.
Selective Service Registration
Most males age 18-25 must register with the Selective Service to receive federal student aid.
If you select Yes, the student will be registered when the FAFSA application is processed.
Information about
exemptions can be found at www.sss.gov.
The student can also
register themselves at www.sss.gov.
Academic Year
An academic year is most commonly the 10 months from August to May.
There is an 18 month window to file a FAFSA for each academic year, beginning on the January 1st before the academic year, and ending on the June 30th following the academic year. For example:
• The 2015-2016 academic year lasts from August 2015 to May 2016. A FAFSA can be filed for the 2015-2016 academic year any time between January 1st, 2015 and June 30th, 2016.
• The 2016-2017 academic year lasts from August 2016 to May 2017. A FAFSA can be filed for the 2016-2017 academic year any time between January 1st, 2016 and June 30th, 2017.
To apply for aid for a current academic year, we can prepare and file a FAFSA for you today.
If the option is available to select a future academic year, we can prepare that FAFSA for you now, and then
file it for you as soon as possible after January 1st. Filing as soon as possible in this way ensures that your FAFSA
application gets considered for all first-come first-serve aid programs before they run out of funds.
Selective Serivice Registration
Select Yes if the student is already registered with the Selective Service. Select No if he
is not.
Selective Service Registration
Most males age 18-25 must register with the Selective Service to receive federal student aid.
If you select Yes, the student will be registered when the FAFSA application is processed.
Information about
exemptions can be found at www.sss.gov.
The student can also
register themselves at www.sss.gov.
Select/Create your Security Question
Your security question and answer may be used to verify your identity, retrieve a lost password, etc.
Create your Security Question
Your security question and answer may be used to verify your identity, retrieve a lost password, etc..
Security Answer
Enter the answer to the question above.
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