Office of Student Financial Aid

FAFSA Tips For Parents And Families

Submitting a FAFSA — a Free Application for Federal Student Aid — is the first step in applying for federal financial aid (federal or state grants, loans or work study) to help pay for college.

When you submit the FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education provides you with:

• Student Aid Index (SAI) – the amount they feel your family can pay toward your student's college education
• How much federal aid you may qualify for

We strongly encourage students to fill out their own FAFSAs. But if your student is a dependent, you will have to fill out the parent section of the application with your financial information.

• For FAFSA purposes, parent is defined as the student's legal (biological and/or adoptive) parent or stepparent. Grandparents or siblings are NOT considered parents, even if they raised a student.
• Even if you think your income is too high and that you won't qualify for aid, fill out the FAFSA. Don't leave any money on the table. Some scholarships require the FAFSA.

Step-by-Step FAFSA guide

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The Parent Section of FAFSA: What you need to know

Is my student a dependent?

If your student is a dependent, you'll need to provide your financial information on the FAFSA.

Review the questions on the Federal Student Aid website to determine whether your child is considered a dependent or independent. Definitions are different for the FAFSA than they are in other areas, such as on tax returns.

Create a Parent StudentAid.gov Account 

• You'll need this account if your student is a dependent and you must provide your financial information on the FAFSA.

  • You'll use this account to electronically sign the FAFSA.
  • If you have multiple children attending college, you can use the same account to sign all applications.
  • Don't lose it! Save it somewhere safe. You will use the same account each year when you submit your FAFSA.

Create a StudentAid.Gov Account

Documents You'll Need

Review required Documents

I'm divorced. Who fills out the parent portion of the FAFSA?

More details on how to report parent info

Do I have to finish the FAFSA in one sitting?

• No, you can save your work and return to it later by using your StudentAid.gov Account information.