1. FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS
Leah Nicholson

2. THE BASICS
The cost of college
Financial Aid Process
Types of Aid

3. COST OF ATTENDANCE (COA) Tuition Required Campus Fees Room & Board
Books
Transportation
Personal Expenses
COST OF ATTENDANCE
(COA)
affordability.ku.edu/costs

4. STUDENT & PARENTS WILL NEED:
FSA User ID & Password
2016 Tax Information
Additional Financial and Asset Information
Social Security Numbers

5. Apply for your FSA ID at FSAID.ed.gov
FEDERAL STUDENT AID USER ID – FSA ID
Apply for your FSA ID at FSAID.ed.gov

6. COMMON FSA ID ISSUES Not providing an email address
An address can only be used once
FSA ID is attached to personal information
You have to have a social security number to create an FSA ID

7. FILE THE FAFSA

8. COMMON ISSUES
LEGAL NAME
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
DATE OF BIRTH
GENDER

9. DEPENDENCY STATUS BORN BEFORE JANUARY 1,1995 MARRIED GRADUATE STUDENT
HAVE CHILDREN YOU SUPPORT MORE THAN 50%
MILITARY ACTIVE DUTY/VETERAN
HOMELESS, ORPHAN, WARD OF THE COURT, FOSTER CARE
LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP OR EMANCIPATED MINOR
Answer No to ALL questions – they are Dependent
Answer YES to ANY questions – they are Independent

10. PARENT INFORMATION INCLUDE BOTH PARENTS ON THE FAFSA IF:
Your parents are married.
Your parents are unmarried, but living together.
INCLUDE STEPPARENTS INFORMATION IF:
Your parent is remarried to a stepparent.
INCLUDE ONLY ONE PARENT ON THE FAFSA IF:
Your parents are divorced, separated, not remarried, and/or do not live together.
Include the parent who you lived with most in the past 12 months.
GRANDPARENTS, FOSTER PARENTS, & LEGAL GUARDIANS:
They are not considered as parents unless they legally adopted you

11. HOUSEHOLD SIZE: YOURSELF
YOUR PARENTS ON THE FAFSA Including stepparents
YOUR PARENTS’ OTHER CHILDREN To be included, your parents’ must support them at least 50% financially
OTHER PEOPLE LIVING IN THE HOUSEHOLD To be included, your parents’ must support them at least 50% financially

12. NUMBER IN COLLEGE: YOURSELF
OTHERS LIVING IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD Must be enrolled at least half time
Do not include your parents even if they are
enrolled half time in college.

13. USE THE IRS DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL
TAKE NOTE:
Many fields will be populated – but you will not be able to see the transferred information on the FAFSA
The IRS DRT is available about 2 weeks after you file your taxes electronically

14. 529 SAVINGS PLAN
Reported under parent’s investment net worth if parent information is on FAFSA
All 529 plans must be reported that are owned by the student and/or the parent(s) for any member of the household
These include accounts with a designated beneficiary other than the student for whom the FAFSA is being completed, such as a sibling of the dependent applicant or a child of the independent applicant.
Reported under the student’s investment net worth if no parents are reported on the FASFA

15. ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Additional Financial Info includes:
Untaxed Income includes:
Payments to Tax-Deferred Pension
Child Support Received
Housing & Other Allowances paid to Military/Clergy
Veterans Non-Education Benefits
Money received or paid on your behalf
Education Credits
Child Support Paid
Combat Pay
Taxable Grants & Scholarships
Federal Work-Study Earnings
READ EACH LINE CAREFULLY.
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY.
USE THE HELP & HINTS.

16. SIGN & SUBMIT YOUR FAFSA.
AGREE TO “TERMS OF AGREEMENT”
STUDENT ENTERS FSA ID & PASSWORD
PARENT ENTERS FSA ID & PASSWORD
REVIEW “FAFSA SUMMARY”
CLICK “SUBMIT FAFSA NOW”
PRINT CONFIRMATION PAGE

17. VERIFICATION IF SELECTED:
Required by the Department of Education to complete before FAFSA can be processed
The process is completed through the school
Additional tax documentation and forms may need to be submitted to complete the FAFSA
IRS Data Retrieval Tool = Simpler process

18. ESTIMATED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION (EFC)
FAFSA information determines this number
An estimate that the government believes a family might be able to afford to contribute financially
COST OF ATTENDANCE (COA)
The total estimated cost for a student at a particular institution
AWARD LETTERS
You will receive a communication about your financial aid eligibility from your school

19. WHAT ARE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES?
The information provided on the FAFSA no longer reflects your family’s financial situation.
Contact the college you plan to attend to find out how to have your award package re-evaluated.
WHAT ARE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES?

20. APPLY EARLY!
DECEMBER 1

21. AWARDS BASED ON FAFSA
GRANTS
FEDERAL WORK-STUDY
LOANS
SCHOLARSHIPS

22. KU SCHOLARSHIPS
All Kansas who meet the criteria listed below and apply by Nov. 1 receive the scholarship. There are no separate applications for these scholarships.

23. IMPORTANT DEADLINES NOVEMBER 1 DECEMBER 1 Scholarship Deadline
FAFSA Priority Deadline

24. FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS
KU Visitor Center
affordability.ku.edu
Appointments Available!