Florida Education Options: Understanding FAFSA

September 11, 2010

Understanding FAFSA

Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, ensures that all eligible individuals can benefit from federally funded or federally guaranteed financial assistance for education beyond high school.
Federal Student Aid plays a central and essential role in supporting postsecondary education by providing money for college to eligible students and families. By partnering with postsecondary schools, financial institutions and others Federal Student Aid works to deliver services that help students and families who are paying for college.
To receive federal student aid, you must meet certain requirements. You must:

Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
Have a valid Social Security Number (unless you’re from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau).
Be registered with Selective Service if you are male and 18 to 25 years of age (go to www.sss.gov for more information).
Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) Certificate or pass an exam approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program at a school that participates in the federal student aid programs.
Not have a drug conviction for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, loans, or work-study).

Federal student aid is financial assistance that’s available through the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid.
Federal student aid covers school expenses such as tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. This aid can also help you pay for a computer and dependent childcare expenses.
There are three categories of federal student aid: grants, work-study and loans.
You also might be able to get financial aid from your state government, your school, or a private scholarship. Explore every opportunity for financial aid!

Your eligibility for aid depends on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), your year in school, your enrollment status, and the cost of attendance at the school you will be attending. Your school’s financial aid office will tell you how much you can receive.

Once you have applied for federal student aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), The Federal Student Aid program will determine if you qualify for federal grants, loans, or work-study.

Grant Programs Fact Sheet: Federal grants are available for students attending colleges, including career colleges and universities. Grants, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid.

Loan Programs Fact Sheet: Federal student loans allow students and their parents to borrow money to help pay for college. They have low interest rates and offer flexible repayment terms, benefits, and options.

If you have not yet completed your FAFSA, go to FAFSA Filing Options.
For detailed information on all federal student aid programs, visit the Funding Your Education section on this Web site or call 1-800-4-FED-AID.

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Education Options

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