Ways to help pay for college

Some simple steps to help find student aid programs

College can be an investment for the future, but many students may not be aware of the options available to pay for school.

Fortunately, there is a simple way to find ways to get the funds needed for education. The following is just the first step to funding a college journey.

FSA ID

The first step is to create an FSA ID on

fsaid.gov. This username and password is what students will use on financial aid websites such as studentaid.gov and

studentloans.gov and the myStudentAid mobile app. The FSA ID is a student’s signature and must be unique to each student. It’s also important to remember to never share an FSA ID with anyone. Parents of dependent students will also need their own FSA ID to sign a child’s Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) forms.

COMPLETE THE FAFSA

Once an FSA ID is obtained, head to www.

studentaid.gov or use the myStudentAid mobile app to complete the FAFSA. This is needed for awarding federal student aid and most state and/or college aid.

Those eligible can use the Internal Revenue Service Data Retrieval Tool to prefill answers to questions on the FAFSA by transferring data from federal income tax returns.

REVIEW THE STUDENT AID REPORT

After completing the FAFSA, students will receive a Student Aid Report with the student’s Expect Family Contribution from the U.S. Department of Education. Make sure it is accurate and if there is incorrect information, submit a correction through

www.studentaid.gov. The financial aid office at the school a student has selected will receive an electronic copy of the application.

SUBMIT PAPERWORK

Keep an eye on email, because if the Department of Education selects you for verification, the financial aid office may need other documents. Other documents may be required even if a student isn’t selected for verification.

REVIEW AID OFFER

Once the financial aid office has completed a student’s file, the student should receive an aid offer by mail. Students can then read, understand, accept or decline, adjust awards as directed and return the aid offer to the financial aid office. Contact the financial aid office if there are any questions or concerns.

For additional information, visit www.studentaid.gov.

Paying for college can be complicated, but resources at www.studentaid.gov can help simplify the process.