FAQ Category: FAFSA

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A FAFSA is required for all financial aid eligibility including scholarships and student employment.  Even if you are not eligible for grants you may be eligible for another source of financial aid.

To apply for financial aid, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is used to determine federal, state and school aid.  You can complete the application at www.fafsa.gov.

A new FAFSA must be completed every academic year.  The FAFSA opens on October 1^st for the next academic year. For example, on October 1, 2021 the FAFSA for 2022-2023 will be available.  The 2022-2023 FAFSA will provide financial aid for the fall of 2022, the spring of 2023 and the summer of 2023.

No.  You can fill out the FAFSA for a current academic year any time before June 30 of that year.

To complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®), you will need:

• Your Social Security Number
• Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
• Your federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
• Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
• Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
• An FSA ID to sign electronically.

If you are a dependent student, then you will also need most of the above information for your parent(s).

• The FSA ID allows students and parents to identify themselves electronically to access Federal Student Aid websites.
• The FSA ID allows students and parents to electronically sign the FAFSA
• An FSA ID is made up of a username and password and can be used to log into the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) form.
• While you aren’t required to have an FSA ID to complete and submit a FAFSA form, it’s the fastest way to sign your application and have it processed. It’s also the only way to access or correct your information online, or to prefill an online FAFSA form with information from your previous year’s FAFSA form.
• If you don’t already have an FSA ID, you can create one at create an FSA ID.
• If you have an FSA ID but don’t remember your username, select “Forgot Username.”
• If you have an FSA ID but don’t remember your password, select “Forgot Password.”
• Parents: If you previously created an FSA ID when you were a student, you don’t need to create another one. You can only have one FSA ID linked to your Social Security number.

No. You and your parent cannot share the same FSA ID. You must apply for an FSA ID and your parent must apply for an FSA ID. An FSA ID serves as part of a person’s identification, as well as their electronic signature, and should only be used by that individual.

You may be eligible to have your FAFSA form adjusted by financial aid staff.  Financial aid offices can adjust your financial aid award to reflect you or your family’s current income.

 Follow these steps:

1. Complete the FAFSA questions as instructed using the required tax year (including using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, if eligible).
2. Submit your FAFSA form.
3. Contact the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend to discuss how your financial situation has changed.

The free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) outlines what determines if a student is dependent or independent. A student is independent if they can answer yes to any questions numbered 45 through 57 on the FAFSA and can provide backup documentation.  If all questions are answered no, then the student is dependent and FAFSA requires the student to use parental information. In certain cases, a dependency override is warranted. These cases usually include complete abandonment by parents or an abusive or dangerous family environment.  

No. Only the parent with whom you resided the longest during the preceding 12 months should provide financial information. If you did not live with either parent or lived with both equally, then the parent who provided the most financial support should provide financial information on the FAFSA.

Yes. Your stepparent’s financial information must be included even if he or she is not helping you pay for your education.

You will indicate on the financial aid application that your parents are living together but not married and provide personal and financial information for both parents on the application.

Yes.  You will not be eligible for federal grants or federal student employment, but you may still be eligible for scholarships and institutional student employment.  However, if your inability to obtain parental information is due to unusual circumstances (parental incarceration, abuse, abandonment, etc.), you should contact your college’s financial aid office to inquire about a dependency override, which will allow you to apply as an independent student.

You are not eligible for federal sources of financial aid, but you may be eligible for scholarships and New Mexico State financial aid.  You can fill out the Dreamer’s Application instead of the FAFSA to determine eligibility.