FAFSA - what is it?

WHY SHOULD I APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID?

Completing the FAFSA isn’t required, but it’s highly recommended—even if you think you won't qualify for aid. Here are some important reasons to apply:

State Aid Programs

• Many states use FAFSA data to determine eligibility for their own financial aid programs, which may have different criteria. Submitting your FAFSA ensures you’ll be considered for state-specific grants and scholarships.

School-Specific Aid

• Colleges and universities often use FAFSA information to award school-specific scholarships and resources. Even if you don’t qualify for federal grants, you may still be eligible for financial support directly from your school.

Access to a Range of Financial Aid Options

• Even if you don’t qualify for need-based grants and scholarships, completing the FAFSA ensures you’re considered for the widest range of financial support. Other types of aid you may be considered for are federal loans, work-study, and scholarships that aren’t based solely on financial need. Federal Parent PLUS Loans also require a completed FAFSA.

Guaranteed Access to Student Loans: 

• While graduating debt-free is ideal, it’s not a reality for most students. Completing the FAFSA provides access to federal student loans, issued directly in your name with no cosigner required. These loans offer flexible repayment options, deferment while you’re in school, and, for eligible students, subsidized loans where the government covers the interest while you are enrolled.

A Change Circumstances:

• Financial situations can shift unexpectedly. Filing the FAFSA creates a safety net, ensuring support is available if your circumstances evolve during the academic year.

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When will the FAFSA be available?

You’ll need to complete the FAFSA each year you plan to attend school. While the FAFSA usually opens on October 1 for the upcoming school year, updates to the application have shifted the timeline.

The 2024-2025 FAFSA is available now!

• If you're planning to enroll in Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Spring 2025, you can complete your 2024-2025 FAFSA today.

The 2025-2026 FAFSA opens December 1!

• If you plan to enroll in Summer 2025, Fall 2025, or Spring 2026, you’ll be able to complete your 2025-2026 FAFSA starting December 1.

Start the new year off right—aim to submit your FAFSA by March 15 and no later than May 1 for priority consideration!

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WHEN IS THE FAFSA DUE?

You’ll need to complete and submit a FAFSA form each year you plan to attend school to be considered for financial aid.

Key Deadlines

• Standard Deadline:
  You can submit the FAFSA any time during the academic year. However, to secure financial aid on time, make sure it’s processed by your school and your aid awards are finalized before the academic year ends or your enrollment period finishes.

• Recommended Deadline:
  Submit your FAFSA by March 15 for priority consideration for all available aid (federal, state, and institutional). Meeting this deadline helps maximize your chances of receiving financial support.

• PA State Grant Deadline:
  To be considered for the Pennsylvania State Grant, submit your FAFSA by May 1 each year. Missing this deadline may impact your eligibility for state-specific financial aid.

Important to Remember:

 

The student is the main applicant on the FAFSA; however other people may also be required to fill out a portion of the application for the student and contribute their information.

• Anyone who is required to provide information on the FAFSA is known as a Contributor.
• Being a Contributor on the FAFSA form does not mean they are financially responsible for the student's education costs. Their information is only used to help determine the type of aid the student qualifies for.

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What/who is a contributor?

A contributor refers to anyone asked to provide information on a student's FAFSA form:

• the student
• the student's spouse
• a biological or adopted parent
• the parent's spouse (stepparent).

A Contributor is NOT a grandparent, foster parent, legal guardian, brother or sister, aunt or uncle, friend, etc. - even if they helped provide for or raise the student.

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how are contributors determined?

• A student who is married will be required to provide spousal information on the FAFSA.
• A student who is under the age of 24 and cannot answer YES to one or more of the dependency questions on the FAFSA will be required to provide parental information. 

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which parent is my contributor?

If your legal parents (biological or adoptive) are:

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what if my contributor refuses to provide their information?

It is important to try to explain to them that being a contributor does NOT implicate financial responsibility. Their information is simply used to determine the types of aid you may qualify for.

Unfortunately, if your biological, adoptive, or step-parent(s) refuse to help you with this process, your FAFSA will be considered rejected/incomplete and you will be ineligible for federal, state, and possibly some forms of institutional aid. 

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what if I have no contact with my parents?

If you have no contact with your parents and don't know where they live, or you've left home due to an abusive situation, select “Yes” to the “Do unusual circumstances prevent the student from contacting their parents or would contacting their parents pose a risk to the student?” question on the 2024–2025 FAFSA form. You will be considered provisionally independent.

To complete your application, contact the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend to find out what supporting documentation you will need to submit to have your dependency status confirmed. 

• Learn more about the process for Unusual Circumstances at Millersville

The Federal Student Aid Account, or FSA ID, consists of a unique username and password combination you use to log in to U.S. Department of Education (ED) online systems.

• The FSA ID is your legal signature and shouldn't be created or used by anyone other than you—not even your parent, your child, a school official, or a loan company representative.

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Who needs a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID and password?

Anyone who is required to contribute information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must create their own Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID and password.

• A person who needs to contribute information on the FAFSA can include the student, biological, adoptive, and step-parent(s). 
• The FSA ID serves as your electronic signature and is needed to complete the FAFSA and other federal student aid documents.
• Starting December 2023, contributors without an SSN can create a StudentAid.gov account to fill out their portion of the 2024–2025 FAFSA form online.

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why do my contributors and i need separate accounts?

Each contributor must use their personal e-mail address, phone number, and other personal identifiers such as their legal name, social security number, and date of birth to create their account.

• Shared emails and phone numbers cannot be used for multiple people/accounts and you should not use work or school emails. 
• If you don’t want your financial aid to be delayed, it’s extremely important that each contributor create their own FSA ID and that they do not share it with anyone, even each other.

 

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How do you create your FSA User ID and password?

Go to studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account

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consent & the direct data exchange with the IRS

According to the Future Act, all students and contributors must provide consent to the following:

• Have their federal tax information transferred directly into the FAFSA form via direct data exchange with the IRS;
• Have their federal tax information used to determine the student's eligibility for federal student aid; and
• Allow the U.S. Department of Education to share its federal tax information with postsecondary institutions and state higher education agencies for use in awarding and administering financial aid.

Important: Even if students or contributors don't have a Social Security number, didn't file taxes, or filed taxes outside of the U.S., they still need to provide consent.

 

Gather the information and documents you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Having these items on hand can help you accurately complete the form and avoid any potential delays.

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students

• Your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID and password to log into the application
• Your Social Security Number or your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
• Tax returns (if applicable), W-2 forms, and any other financial information
• The name, date of birth, Social Security number, and email addresses for each contributor.

contributors

It's also good to gather other important documents and information just in case you need to enter any information manually. This may include:

• tax returns;
• records of child support received;
• current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts;
• net worth of investments, businesses, and farms.

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Direct Data Exchange students & contributors

Both the student and their contributors will be required to provide consent and approval to have federal tax information transferred directly from the IRS into the FAFSA once they begin their portion of the application.

• This must be done even if taxes were not filed.
• There are some instances when you may need to manually enter tax information, but consent must still be given. 
• If any required contributor does not provide consent and approval, the student will not be eligible for Federal Student Aid.

To begin the process go to studentaid.gov/fafsa

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students

Log in with your student FSA ID & password and complete questions pertaining directly to you and your college plans. This will include basic information such as student identity information & dependency questions, demographic information, financial information, and where you plan to apply to college. 

• You will be required to consent to a Direct Data Exchange of your information from the IRS into the FAFSA. Even if you did not file taxes, you will be required to consent.
• To have your information sent to Millersville University, you must include our School Code: 003325 on your application.

As the student, you will also be asked a series of questions to determine whose information is required on your FAFSA and considered a contributor. Once you know who is required as a contributor, you will need to invite them to complete their portion of the FAFSA.

• To invite your required contributors, you will need the name, date of birth, Social Security number, and email address of each contributor.

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contributors

Once your contributor(s) receives the email invitation, they can log into the application with their FSA ID & password and complete the sections pertaining to parent information. This will include basics such as identity information, household information, income tax information, and other financial information.

• You contributor(s) will also be required to consent to a Direct Data Exchange of their information from the IRS into the FAFSA.
• Even if they did not file taxes, they will be required to consent. If you are required to provide both parents information on the FAFSA consent must be given by both parties if their filing status is anything other than Married Filing Jointly.

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fafsa submission

Once the FAFSA is completed, all parties have signed electronically, and the form is submitted you will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary or confirmation page.

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Pennsylvania residents

If you completed your FAFSA prior to May 1st and you are a PA resident make sure to also complete your PA State Grant Application at pheaa.org

There are several steps to fully determining what you may qualify for in financial aid. Once your information is processed by Federal Student Aid, it has to be sent to institutions to evaluate and create a financial aid offer.  

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fafsa submission summary

The FAFSA Submission Summary will give you the following key pieces of information: 

• Your Student Aid Index (formerly known as the Expected Family Contribution, or EFC). 
• Your estimated eligibility for federal financial aid. 
• Whether you have been selected for verification.

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fafsa information is sent to schools 

Each school you include on your FAFSA will receive your information and begin to create your Financial Aid Offer based on your Student Aid Index (SAI) and other information.

• For the 2024-2025 academic year, The FAFSA application opened in January but the Department of Education began sending FAFSA data to schools in early May. 
• If you completed your FAFSA anytime after May, Millersville should receive your information within 5-7 business days.

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financial aid offers are created

Once your FAFSA data is made available, institutions will need time to create your Financial Aid Offer. Keep an eye out in your email for when your Offer Letter from Millersville is available. 

New, Prospective Students 

• If you have not yet confirmed your spot with Admissions your Offer Letter will go to the student email address on your FAFSA.
• If you have already confirmed your acceptance with Admissions, your Offer Letter will go to your student Millersville University email address. 

Current, Returning Students 

• Offer Letters for returning students are sent to your Millersville University email address beginning the mid-to-end of June. 
  • If you are planning to take summer courses and are requesting to use some of your fall/spring aid during that time, you will need to complete a Summer Aid Application.
  • In this instance, you would receive your Offer Letter beginning in late June/early July once your application is received and processed.

Learn more about financial aid eligibility & receiving aid

Lyle Hall, 2nd Floor, Room 241

Office Hours:
Standard: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (mid-August to mid-May)                                                                Summer: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (mid-May to mid-August)

Call Center Hours:
Available by Phone: Mon.-Fri. 8:00am to 6:00pm 

Phone: 717-871-5100                           
Fax:  717-871-7980 
Email: fa.mail@millersville.edu

USPS Mailing Address:
Office of Financial Aid
Millersville University
P.O. Box 1002
Millersville, PA 17551-0302

Address for UPS/FedEx:
Office of Financial Aid
Lyle Hall, 2nd Floor
40 Dilworth Rd
Millersville, PA 17551-0302