What You Need to Complete the FAFSA Process

The most important and resourceful tool in applying for federal student aid is your U.S. Department of Education PIN number. After obtaining your PIN, you should begin gathering together all your preliminary information to make filling out the FAFSA quick and painless.  Before you fill out the form, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the FAFSA application process to ensure you are securing your aid properly.

Your PIN Number
You U.S. Department of Education PIN number is a very essential tool. Your PIN number allows you to sign all of your documents online, which saves you valuable time and money.  It is important to have your FAFSA filled out early and as quickly as possible; having to print, sign, and mail documents hampers your efforts to get more financial aid.  Remember, most financial aid, especially grants, are dispersed on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Who will need a PIN?  Both the parent(s) and the student need a PIN number. Students who are independents and filing without their parents do not need a parent PIN number. Each pin number is unique to the individual person.

To obtain your PIN, you simply need to visit the Federal Student Aid PIN website, which includes a short PIN application. Then you wait for email confirmation from the government. Once you receive this information, you will receive your PIN number shortly.  When you obtain the email with instructions regarding your PIN, it is important that you retrieve your PIN from their secure site.  You must do this quickly because the email expires after a short period of time, due to the amount of delicate information it contains.

Keep your PIN number private.  Remember this is your digital signature; keep it safe like you would your Social Security Number.

The FAFSA needs to be filled out each year. If you fill out your FAFSA online, your information will be in the system. If there are any changes of circumstances, you can update the information online, and then simply sign it again with your PIN.

Gathering Information
It is very important to begin the FAFSA application with as much knowledge as possible. Gathering preliminary information will make filling out the FAFSA as quick and painless as possible.  Below is the list of information you will need to accurately complete the FAFSA:

• Student and Parent Social Security Numbers
• Driver’s License or State ID Number
• Alien Registration (if non U.S. citizen)
• Previous Year Tax Information or Tax Returns, Including W-2
• Records of Untaxed Income (Welfare, Veteran Benefits, Etc.)
• Information on Savings, Investments, Business, and Farm Assets.
• Marital Status (divorced, single, widowed, etc)
• What Degree You Will Be Working Towards
• Email Addresses
• Number of People In Household

Remember that you need this information for both the student and the parents, if parents are being used on the FAFSA form.

The Application Process
After applying for your PIN and gathering your preliminary information, the last step is completing the FAFSA application.  We have several detailed guides to take you through the step-by-step process of successfully completing your FAFSA – and securing the most amount of aid you need!