The Apply Nevada! FAFSA Nights will prepare you to complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is the application you will need to complete to see if you qualify for federal financial aid. To complete the application there are a number of items you will need to have on hand. Here is what you will need to complete your FAFSA:
For the 2021-2022 school year, you will need your income information and your parents income information from 2019. If your parents are divorced, you should use the parent that provide at least 51% of your support, which is not necessarily the parent that claims you on their tax return.
You and one of your parents should create an FSA ID and password, since both are needed to sign and submit the FAFSA electronically: https://fsaid.ed.gov/ . Once all of a your information is entered into the FAFSA, the data can be saved and your parent can sign electronically when it is convenient.
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions below for more information.
Information needed:
- Your social security number—it is important that this be entered correctly.
- Income/tax returns for 2019 for both you and your parents.
- Other forms, if applicable: Foreign tax returns, W-2 forms from all jobs, 1099 forms, Child Support Documents (paid or received), Food Stamp Award Letter, Untaxed Pensions/Retirement Plans, value of any checking, savings, investment accounts as well as real estate or business values (not including the home in which the you live.)
Work Study: If you are interested in work study, you will need to check the box correctly in Section One of the FAFSA. If the box is not checked, the institution may not offer Work Study to you.
Be sure to check your email and your institutional account, if applicable, for additional required documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dependency status?
Your dependency status determines whose information you must report on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- If you’re a dependent student, you will report your and your parents’ information.
- If you’re an independent student, you will report your own information (and, if you’re married, your spouse’s).
What do we need to complete the FAFSA?
Be sure you or your parents bring the following in order to file your FAFSA:
- Social Security Number. Be sure that the number is correct!
- Records of income, such as income earned from work and business, child support paid or received and any other untaxed income. If you have them, refer to the W-2 Forms or Federal Income Tax Return IRS 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ.
- Information about assets, such as savings, certificates of deposit, stock options, bonds, 529 plans and other college savings programs; and investment real estate, business and farm.
- Driver’s license number, if you have one.
- Dates of birth, include the month, day and year.
- Month and year of marriage, separation, divorce or other change in marital status.
- Alien Registration Number, if you (student) are not a U.S. citizen.
- An FSA ID, to sign electronically. (This can be created beforehand at fsaid.ed.gov, or at the time of application.)
- List of colleges you are considering.
How can I be considered an independent student for financial aid purposes?
To be considered an independent student when completing the FAFSA, you must meet one of the criteria found at the Dependent/Independent Applicant page on UNLV’s web site here https://www.unlv.edu/finaid/checklist/before-applicant. Also, college Financial Aid Offices will have dependency appeal processes for students who have extenuating circumstances regarding their relationship with their parents.
How do I apply for financial aid?
To apply for federal, state, and institutional financial aid, you must complete the FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.
I forgot my FSA ID to complete and sign the FAFSA. Who can help me find it?
Your FSA ID is unique between you and the U.S. Department of Education. If you lose your FSA ID, you should use the Federal Student Aid Retrieval page, found at
https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/pas/pub/ForgotUsername.
How do I make corrections to my FAFSA?
If you find incorrect information on your FAFSA or you originally used estimated information and need to report actual figures, changes can be made by re-visiting the page on which you filed your FAFSA. You (and your parent if applicable) will need your FSA ID to sign your FAFSA again electronically.
If you find your information is incorrect after you have been awarded financial aid, you are obligated to correct your FAFSA information online. You could be billed for financial aid you are not eligible to keep. To make corrections, visit this page for helpful information: https://studentaid.gov/help/how-correct-fafsa
What is an EFC?
When you apply for federal student aid, your financial information is used in a formula established by the U.S. Congress. This formula determines the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC), an amount families are expected to contribute toward educational expenses. The EFC is used in an equation to determine financial need. Your EFC can be found on the first page of your FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR).
Why do my parents/guardians need to provide their income/tax information to FAFSA?
For financial aid purposes, a traditional undergraduate student is generally considered a dependent student. Dependent students are required to provide parent information to be considered for most types of financial aid.