It’s a Free Application for Federal Student Aid — your ticket to every kind of financial aid, including scholarships, PELL grants as well as student loans.

FAFSA is your first and most important step to getting the money you need to help you pay for college.

EFC is a measure of how much money you and your family is expected to contribute to your college education.

October 1 is the first day you can submit your FAFSA. The deadline is June 30 but may differ from state to state.

FAFSA is a lengthy form, and can be a confusing one — here’s a checklist of documents you’ll need to get you started.

Your FSA ID which serves as your electronic signature can be used each year to electronically apply for federal student aid.

Your dependency status may affect the amount of financial aid for which you're eligible. In most cases, an independent student will qualify for more.

Applying for FAFSA is now easier. For the first time, you can submit your FAFSA form on a mobile device using the myStudentAid app.

Congratulations! You finished filling out the FAFSA! Soon after, you'll receive a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR) + your EFC.

FAFSA renewal is for students who have already completed the FAFSA the previous year. To renew your FAFSA online, go to StudentAid.gov.

If you were chosen for verification, don't panic! It is a normal part of the process used to ensure that certain FAFSA information is accurate.

Incorrect FAFSA can impact your financial aid eligibility. To make FAFSA corrections, use one of the methods explained here.