The FAFSA is free to file and determines eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid.  Parent and student financial information must be provided on the application available at www.FAFSA.gov.  Parents and students sign the FAFSA electronically with their FSA ID which can be created at fsa-id. To access a tip sheet explaining the documentation you need to gather to file the FAFSA click HERE.

The FAFSA can be completed as early as October 1st in the senior year of high school and must be completed annually after that to continue to qualify for aid.  Deadlines vary, and some funding is limited, so file the FAFSA as soon as possible to ensure you do not miss out on aid you qualify for.

• Federal Deadline (Federal Pell Grant, campus-based aid, Teach Grants, student loans) – June 30th

• PA State Deadline (state grant) – May 1st (4 year colleges); August 1st (community college, 2-year programs, technical schools, etc.)

• School Deadlines (need based grants and scholarships) – check dates at each school you are applying to and file by the earliest deadline.  The following are examples of deadlines for the 2021-2022 awarding year:

  • Penn State University – December 1

  • Slippery Rock University – February 28

  • Ohio State University – February 1

Note these are much earlier than the state and federal deadlines!  

Once the FAFSA is submitted and processed you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) which summarizes the information you provided.  Make sure to check for errors.  Your processed results will be shared with the schools you listed on your application, as well as with PHEAA to determine eligibility for the PA State Grant.  Look for your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) near the top right corner of your SAR.  Schools use the EFC to determine your eligibility for financial aid.  It is important to compare financial aid award letters since schools have some flexibility in how they award funds available to them. The award letter comparison worksheet, available HERE, will be helpful in determining the amount of money you still need to cover expenses after all aid has been applied.