FAFSA 101 - Help Pay for College

Wednesday, February 24, 2021
FAFSA 101 - Help Pay for College

It’s National Financial Aid Awareness Month and we wanted to make sure the FAFSA is on your radar.

FAFSA, which stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the first step in applying for financial assistance for college. The FAFSA application is used to determine students’ eligibility for federal grants, loans, and/or work-study programs based on this application.  The program is universal and everyone is encouraged to apply; in fact, some scholarship donors require it regardless of your income level. With more than $120 billion awarded each year from Federal Student Aid, it’s important to apply!

Don’t Procrastinate

The most generous financial aid packages are given out early, so make sure your application is up to date and file as soon as possible. Nearly all who apply are eligible for some form of financial aid (a grant or a student loan).  The State of Arizona does not have any filing deadlines but your college/university might so you’ll want to check to ensure you are meeting all deadlines to receive maximum consideration for grants.  A good rule of thumb is to file 8-10 weeks before your tuition payment is due.

Get Started Now

Watch a short video to learn what you need to file your FAFSA application.  Items include your social security number, bank statements and records of investments, last year’s tax returns, W-2’s, and other sources of income.  Dependent students will need their parent information as well.  Check out our FATV library, which features thousands of videos to learn about financial aid opportunities. We even feature videos in Spanish, Creole and Chinese!

Easy to Apply 

Students and parents can easily complete the FAFSA application online, or from the MyStudentAid mobile application.  Students can also request a paper application if they need.  Students and parents who file online or from the mobile app can automatically transfer their tax information to their FAFSA application, making it easy and efficient. Additionally, students can send their FAFSA to multiple colleges/universities at the same time.

For more information, visit https://www.paradisevalley.edu/students/financial-aid or reach out to PVCC’s Financial Aid department via email: financialaid@paradisevalley.edu, phone: (602) 787-7000 (option 7) or via Instant Message.