Financial Aid

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Applying for Financial Aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an application that collects household and financial information for the student and the student's parents/family.  The FAFSA is the foundation we use to determine your eligibility for the Federal programs and also some state and Grand Valley programs. 

How do I apply?

You should file your FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov anytime after January 1 each year.  Filing online improves the accuracy of your application since FAFSA includes "smart edits" in the application.  If you are unable to file online, you can contact FAFSA at (800) 433-3243. You can request up to 3 paper applications a year. You may be required to include parent information on your application. To determine if you are considered a dependent student or independent student review the qualifications for independent status. A helpful tutorial is the Seven Easy Steps to the FAFSA: A Student's Guide to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. 

When do I apply?

The priority deadline is March 1 each year.  A FAFSA filed after March 1 may not receive the maximum in financial aid eligibility due to limited monies.  Your FAFSA does require tax information.  If you do not have your taxes filed, it is okay to estimate your information.  Be sure to correct your FAFSA information once your taxes are finalized. 

Am I eligible for financial aid?

In general to receive aid from FAFSA, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a citizen or eligible non citizen of the U.S.

• Have a high school diploma, General Education Development (GED) certificate, pass an approved "ability to benefit" test, or have completed a high school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under state law.

• Enroll in an eligible program as a regular student seeking a degree or certificate.

• Be registered with the Selective Service if required (in general, if you are a male over the age of 18).

How do I sign the FAFSA?

Students and their parents can sign the FAFSA electronically using a federal PIN.  You can either request a PIN before you file or while you file online.  Signing your FAFSA electronically is the fastest way for your information to be processed and sent to Grand Valley. 

Follow Up Requests

On occasion our office will need additional information from you in order to process your FAFSA. The additional information we would ask for simply verifies the information you listed on your FAFSA form.  The list below are the types of information we may ask request. Do not send us information unless we send you a request.  This can cause confusion and delay your award notification.

• Verification of Tax Information
• Household Size Statement
• Selective Service Enrollment
• Disability Certification

If you receive a request for additional information respond as quickly as possible. We are not able to finalize your award notification until the process is finished.