FAFSA Paper

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

FAFSA 2011-2012 Paper Draft

Federal Student Aid Application

OMB: 1845-0001

⚠️ Notice: This form may be outdated. More recent filings and information on OMB 1845-0001 can be found here:

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Free Application for Federal Student Aid
—

June 30, 2012

Use this form to apply free for federal and
state student grants, work-study and loans.

Or apply free online at
www.fafsa.gov.

For federal aid, submit your application as early as possible, but no earlier than
January 1, 2011. We must receive your application no later than June 30, 2012.
Your college must have your correct, complete information by your last day of
enrollment in the 2011-2012 school year.
For state or college aid, the deadline may be as early as January 2011. See the table
to the right for state deadlines. You may also need to complete additional forms.
Check with your high school guidance counselor or a financial aid administrator at
your college about state and college sources of student aid and deadlines.

April 15, 2011 (date received)
Academic Challenge - June 1, 2011 (date received)
Workforce Grant - Contact the financial aid office.
Higher Education Opportunity Grant
- June 1, 2011 (fall term) (date received)
- November 1, 2011 (spring term) (date received)
Initial awards - March 2, 2011 + *
Additional community college awards
- September 2, 2011 (date postmarked) + *
February 15, 2011 (date received) # *
June 30, 2011 (date received by state) # *
April 15, 2011 (date received)
May 15, 2011 (date processed)
July 1, 2011 (date received); earlier priority deadlines
may exist for certain programs.
Opportunity Grant - March 1, 2011 (date received) # *
As soon as possible after January 1, 2011. Awards
made until funds are depleted.
March 10, 2011 (date received)
April 1, 2011 (date received) # *
As soon as possible after January 1, 2011. Awards
made until funds are depleted.
July 1, 2011 (date received)
May 1, 2011 (date received) #
March 1, 2011 (date received)
May 2, 2011 (date received)
March 1, 2011 (date received)
30 days after term starts (date received)
April 1, 2011 (date received) #
MTAG and MESG Grants - September 15, 2011 (date
received) #

HELP Scholarship - March 31, 2011 (date received) #
MT March 1, 2011 (date received) #
ND March 15, 2011 (date received)
NH May 1, 2011 (date received)
NJ 2010-2011 Tuition Aid Grant recipients - June 1, 2011
(date received)

All other applicants

- October 1, 2011, fall & spring terms (date received)

- March 1, 2012, spring term only (date received)
NY May 1, 2012 (date received) + *
OH October 1, 2011 (date received)
OK April 1, 2011 (date received) #
OR OSAC Private Scholarships - March 1, 2011

Oregon Opportunity Grant - As soon as possible after

January 1, 2011. Awards made until funds are

depleted.
PA All 2010-2011 State Grant recipients & all non-

2010-2011 State Grant recipients in degree program
- May 1, 2011 (date received) *

All other applicants - August 1, 2011 (date received) *
RI
March 1, 2011 (date received) #
SC Tuition Grants - June 30, 2011 (date received)

SC Commission on Higher Education - no deadline
TN State Grant - As soon as possible after January 1,

2011. Awards made until funds are depleted.

State Lottery - September 1, 2011 (date received) #
WV April 15, 2011 (date received) # *
# For priority consideration, submit application by date specified.
+ Applicants encouraged to obtain proof of mailing.
* Additional form may be required.
AK
AR

CT
DC
DE
FL
IA

ID
IL

IN
KS
KY

LA
MA
MD
ME
MI
MN
MO
MS

If you are filing close to one of these deadlines, we recommend you file online at
www.fafsa.gov. This is the fastest and easiest way to apply for aid.

Using Your Tax Return

Filling Out the FAFSA

If you or your family has unusual circumstances that might affect your financial
situation (such as loss of employment), complete this form to the extent you can, then
submit it as instructed and consult with the financial aid office at the college you plan
to attend.

For more information or help in filling out the FAFSA, go to
www.studentaid.ed.gov/completefafsa or call 1-800-4-FED-AID
(1-800-433-3243). TTY users (for the hearing impaired) may call 1-800-730-8913.
Your answers on this form will be read electronically. Therefore:

Correct

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• use black ink and fill in circles completely:
• print clearly in CAPITAL letters and skip a
box between words:

• report dollar amounts (such as $12,356.41)
like this:

1 5
$

Incorrect

E L M

x √

S T

1 2 3 5 6
,

no cents

Yellow is for student information and purple is for parent information.

Mailing Your FAFSA

After you complete this application, make a copy of pages 3 through 8 for your
records. Then mail the original of pages 3 through 8 in the attached envelope or
send it to:
Federal Student Aid Programs, P.O. Box 7001, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864-0071.
After your application is processed, you will receive a summary of your information
in your Student Aid Report (SAR). If you provide an e-mail address, your SAR will be
sent by e-mail within 3-5 days. If you do not provide an e-mail address, your SAR will
be mailed to you within three weeks. If you would like to check the status of your
FAFSA, go to www.fafsa.gov or call 1-800-4-FED-AID.

Let’s Get Started!
Now go to page 3 of the application form and begin filling it out. Refer to the
notes as instructed.

Federal Student Aid logo, arrow symbol and FAFSA are service marks or registered service marks of Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education.

STATE AID DEADLINES

If you are supposed to file a 2010 federal income tax return, we recommend that
you complete it before filling out this form. If you have not yet completed your 2010
tax return, you can still submit your FAFSA using best estimates. After you submit
your tax return, correct any income or tax information that is different from what
you initially submitted on your FAFSA.

APPLICATION DEADLINES
Federal Deadline - June 30, 2012
State Aid Deadlines - See below.
Check with your financial aid administrator for these
states and territories:
AL, AS *, AZ, CO, FM *, GA, GU *, HI *, MH *, MP *, NC,
NE, NM, NV *, PR, PW *, SD *, TX, UT, VA *, VI *, VT *, WA,
WI and WY *.
Pay attention to the symbols that may be listed after
your state deadline.

Applying by the Deadlines

•

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July 1, 2011

U.S. Department of Education
Federal Student Aid

If you are in the U.S. on an F1 or F2 student visa, a J1 or J2 exchange visitor
visa, or a G series visa (pertaining to international organizations), select “No,
I am not a citizen or eligible noncitizen.” You will not be eligible for federal
student aid; however, you should still complete the application because you
may be eligible for state or college aid.

Notes for question 22 (page 3)
The Selective Service System, and the registration requirement for young
men, preserves America’s ability to provide manpower in an emergency to the
U.S. Armed Forces. Almost all men—ages 18 through 25—must register. For
more information about Selective Service, visit www.sss.gov.

Notes for questions 33 (page 4)
and 81 (page 6)

Investments do not include the home you live in, the value
of life insurance, retirement plans (401[k] plans, pension funds,
annuities, non-education IRAs, Keogh plans, etc.) or cash, savings
and checking accounts already reported in questions 40 and 88.
Investments also do not include UGMA and UTMA accounts for
which you are the custodian, but not the owner.
Investment value means the current balance or market value of
these investments as of today. Investment debt means only those
debts that are related to the investments.
Business and/or investment farm value includes the market
value of land, buildings, machinery, equipment, inventory, etc.
Business and/or investment farm debt means only those debts for
which the business or investment farm was used as collateral.
Business value does not include the value of a small business
if your family owns and controls more than 50 percent of the
business and the business has 100 or fewer full-time or full-time
equivalent employees. For small business value, your family
includes (1) persons directly related to you, such as a parent,
sister or cousin, or (2) persons who are or were related to you by
marriage, such as a spouse, stepparent or sister-in-law.

If you filed or will file a foreign tax return, a tax return with Puerto Rico,
another U.S. territory (e.g., Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
Swain’s Island or the Northern Marianas Islands) or one of the Freely
Associated States (i.e., the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall
Islands or the Federated States of Micronesia), use the information from that
return to fill out this form. If you filed a foreign return, convert all monetary
units to U.S. dollars, using the exchange rate that is in effect today. To view
the daily exchange rate, go to www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h10/
update.

Notes continued from previous column.
Investments also include qualified educational benefits or
education savings accounts (e.g. Coverdell savings accounts, 529
college savings plans and the refund value of 529 prepaid tuition
plans). For a student who does not report parental information,
the accounts owned by the student (and/or the student’s spouse)
are reported as student investments in question 42. For a student
who must report parental information, the accounts are reported
as parental investments in question 89, including all accounts
owned by the student and all accounts owned by the parents for
any member of the household.

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If you are an eligible noncitizen, write in your eight- or nine-digit Alien
Registration Number. Generally, you are an eligible noncitizen if you are
(1) a permanent U.S. resident with a Permanent Resident Card (I-551); (2)
a conditional permanent resident (I-551C); or (3) the holder of an ArrivalDeparture Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing
any one of the following designations: “Refugee,” “Asylum Granted,” “Parolee”
(I-94 confirms that you were paroled for a minimum of one year and status has
not expired), “Victim of human trafficking,” T-Visa holder (T-1, T-2, T-3, etc.) or
“Cuban-Haitian Entrant.”

Notes for questions 41 and 42
and 89 and 90

Notes for questions 14 and 15 (page 3)

Notes for questions 34 (page 4)
and 82 (page 6)

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In general, a person is eligible to file a 1040A or 1040EZ if he or she makes
less than $100,000, does not itemize deductions, does not receive income
from his or her own business or farm and does not receive alimony. A person
is not eligible to file a 1040A or 1040EZ if he or she makes $100,000 or more,
itemizes deductions, receives income from his or her own business or farm,
is self-employed, receives alimony or is required to file Schedule D for capital
gains. If you filed a 1040 only to claim Hope or Lifetime Learning credits, and
you would have otherwise been eligible for a 1040A or 1040EZ, you should
answer “Yes” to this question. If you filed a 1040 and were not required to file
a tax return, you should answer “Yes” to this question.

Notes for questions 37 (page 4)

and 85 (page 7) — Notes for those who filed a 1040EZ
On the 1040EZ, if a person didn’t check either box on line 5, enter 01 if he or
she is single, or 02 if he or she is married. If a person checked either the “you”
or “spouse” box on line 5, use 1040EZ worksheet line F to determine the
number of exemptions ($3,650 equals one exemption).

Notes for questions 41 and 42 (page 4)
and 89 and 90 (page 7)
Net worth means current value minus debt. If net worth is negative, enter 0.
Investments include real estate (do not include the home you live in),
trust funds, UGMA and UTMA accounts, money market funds, mutual
funds, certificates of deposit, stocks, stock options, bonds, other securities,
installment and land sale contracts (including mortgages held), commodities,
etc.

Investment farm value does not include the value of a family
farm that you (your spouse and/or your parents) live on and
operate.

Notes for questions 48 (page 5)
Answer “Yes” if you are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces
or are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee who is on active duty
for other than state or training purposes.
Answer “No” if you are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee who
is on active duty for state or training purposes.

Notes for question 49 (page 5)
Answer “Yes” (you are a veteran) if you (1) have engaged in active
duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or
Coast Guard) or are a National Guard or Reserve enlistee who was
called to active duty for other than state or training purposes, or
were a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, and
(2) were released under a condition other than dishonorable. Also
answer “Yes” if you are not a veteran now but will be one by June
30, 2012.
Answer “No” (you are not a veteran) if you (1) have never engaged
in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, (2) are currently an ROTC
student or a cadet or midshipman at a service academy, (3) are
a National Guard or Reserve enlistee activated only for state or
training purposes, or (4) were engaged in active duty in the U.S.
Armed Forces but released under dishonorable conditions.
Also answer “No” if you are currently serving in the U.S. Armed
Forces and will continue to serve through June 30, 2012.

Notes continued in next column.

Page 2

Notes continued on page 9.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

July 1, 2011

U.S. Department of Education
Federal Student Aid

—

June 30, 2012

Step One (Student): For questions 1-31, leave blank any questions that do not apply to you (the student).

OMB # 1845-0001

Your full name (exactly as it appears on your Social Security card)
1. Last
name

3. Middle
initial

2. First
name

Your mailing address
4. Number and
street (include
apt. number)
5. City (and
country if not
U.S.)

6. State

–

9. Your date
of birth

–

MONTH

DAY

10. Your permanent telephone number

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3

8. Your Social Security Number

YEAR

(

M M D D 1 9 Y Y

Your Driver’s license number (if you have one)
11. Driver’s license
number

7. ZIP code

)

–

12. Driver’s license
state

13. Your e-mail address. If you provide your e-mail address, we will communicate with you electronically. For example, when your FAFSA has been processed, you will
be notified by e-mail. Your e-mail address will also be shared with your state and the colleges listed on your FAFSA to allow them to communicate with you. If you
prefer to be contacted by postal mail or do not have an e-mail address, please leave this field blank.

See Notes page 2.

Yes, I am a U.S. citizen (U.S. national). Skip to question 16.

No, but I am an eligible noncitizen. Fill in question 15.

No, I am not a citizen or eligible noncitizen. Skip to question 16.

14. Are you a U.S.
citizen?
Mark only one.

15. Alien Registration Number

Male

Female

21. Are you male
or female?

19. Did you become a legal
resident of this state
before January 1, 2006?

STATE

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18. What is your
state of legal
residence?

Report your marital status as of the date you sign your FAFSA.
If your marital status changes after you sign your FAFSA, you cannot change this information.
17. Month and year you
16. What is your
1
3
I am single
I am separated
were married,
marital status as
remarried, separated,
2
4
of today?
I am married/remarried
I am divorced or widowed
divorced or widowed.

If female, skip to question 23.

Yes

20. If the answer to question 19
is “No,” give month and year
you became a legal resident.

MONTH

YEAR

M M Y Y Y Y
MONTH

YEAR

M M Y Y Y Y

22. Most male students must register with Selective Service to receive
federal aid. If you are male, age 18-25 and not registered, fill in the
circle and we will register you. See Notes page 2.

Yes

23. Have you been convicted for the possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you were receiving
federal student aid (such as grants, loans or work-study)?

Answer “No” if you have never received federal student aid or if you have never had a drug conviction while receiving federal student aid.
If you have a drug conviction for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid, answer “Yes,” but complete and
submit this application, and we will mail you a worksheet to help you determine if your conviction affects your eligibility for aid. If you are
unsure how to answer this question, call 1-800-433-3243 for help.

Some states and colleges offer aid based on the level of schooling your parents completed.
24. Highest school your father completed

Middle school/Jr. high

High school

College or beyond

Other/unknown

25. Highest school your mother completed

Middle school/Jr. high

High school

College or beyond

Other/unknown

26. When you begin college in the 2011-2012 school year, what will be your high school completion status?
High school diploma. Answer question 27. ...................................................................

Homeschooled. Skip to question 28. ..................

General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Skip to question 28. ........

None of the above. Skip to question 28. ..........

For Help–www.studentaid.ed.gov/completefafsa

Page 3

Step One CONTINUED on page 4

Step One CONTINUED from page 3
27. What is the name of the high school where you received or will receive your high school diploma?
Write in the high school name, and the city and state where the high school is located.

28. Will you have your first bachelor’s degree
before July 1, 2011?

STATE
High School Name

Yes

High School City

30. When you begin the 2011-2012 school year, what degree or certificate
will you be working on?

29. When you begin the 2011-2012 school year, what will be your
grade level?
Never attended college and 1st year undergraduate .........................

1st bachelor’s degree .........................................................................................................

Attended college before and 1st year undergraduate ........................

2nd bachelor’s degree .........................................................................................................

Associate degree (occupational or technical program) ..........................................

2nd year undergraduate/sophomore .......................................................

Associate degree (general education or transfer program) ..................................

3rd year undergraduate/junior ....................................................................

4th year undergraduate/senior ....................................................................

5th year/other undergraduate ....................................................................

Teaching credential (nondegree program) ................................................................

1st year graduate/professional ....................................................................

Graduate or professional degree ....................................................................................

Continuing graduate/professional or beyond ......................................

Other/undecided ..................................................................................................................

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Certificate or diploma (occupational, technical or education program of
less than two years) ............................................................................................................
Certificate or diploma (occupational, technical or education program of
two or more years) ................................................................................................................

31. Are you interested in being considered for work-study?

Don’t know

32. For 2010, have you (the student) completed your IRS income tax
return or another tax return listed in question 33?
1

I will file, but I have not yet completed my return. ...............................

33. What income tax return did you file or will you file for 2010?
IRS 1040 ...................................................................................................................................

IRS 1040A or 1040EZ ...........................................................................................................

A foreign tax return. See Notes page 2. .....................................................................

A tax return with Puerto Rico, another U.S. territory or Freely Associated
State. See Notes page 2. ..................................................................................................

I have already completed my return. ........................................................

Answer questions 32–57 about yourself (the student). If you are single, separated, divorced or widowed,
answer only about yourself. If you are married as of today, include information about your spouse
(husband or wife).

Step Two (Student):

Yes

I’m not going to file. Skip to question 38. .............................................

34. If you have filed or will file a 1040, were you eligible to file a 1040A or 1040EZ?

Yes

See Notes page 2.

Don’t know

For questions 35–44, if the answer is zero or the question does not apply to you, enter 0. Report whole dollar amounts with no cents.
35. What was your (and spouse’s) adjusted gross income for 2010? Adjusted gross income is on IRS Form 1040—
line 37; 1040A—line 21; or 1040EZ—line 4.

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36. Enter your (and spouse’s) income tax for 2010. Income tax amount is on IRS Form 1040—line 55; 1040A—
line 35; or 1040EZ—line 11.

,
$

37. Enter your (and spouse’s) exemptions for 2010. Exemptions are on IRS Form 1040—line 6d or Form 1040A—
line 6d. For Form 1040EZ, see Notes page 2.

Questions 38 and 39 ask about earnings (wages, salaries, tips, etc.) in 2010. Answer the questions whether or not a tax return was filed. This information
may be on the W-2 forms, or on IRS Form 1040—lines 7 + 12 + 18 + Box 14 of IRS Schedule K-1 (Form 1065); or 1040A—line 7; or 1040EZ—line 1. If any
individual earning item is negative, do not include that item in your calculation.
38. How much did you earn from working in 2010?

39. How much did your spouse earn from working in 2010?

40. As of today, what is your (and spouse’s) total current balance of cash, savings and checking accounts?
Do not include student financial aid.

41. As of today, what is the net worth of your (and spouse’s) investments, including real estate? Don’t include the
home you live in. Net worth means current value minus debt. See Notes page 2.

42. As of today, what is the net worth of your (and spouse’s) current businesses and/or investment farms?
Don’t include a family farm or family business with 100 or fewer full-time or full-time equivalent employees.

See Notes page 2.

For Help — 1-800-433-3243

Page 4

,
,
,
,
,
Step Two CONTINUED on page 5

Step Two CONTINUED from page 4
43. Student’s 2010 Additional Financial Information (Enter the combined amounts for you and your spouse.)
a. Education credits (American Opportunity, Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits) from IRS Form 1040—line 49 or 1040A—
line 31.

b. Child support paid because of divorce or separation or as a result of a legal requirement. Don’t include support for children in
your household, as reported in question 93.

c. Taxable earnings from need-based employment programs, such as Federal Work-Study and need-based employment portions
of fellowships and assistantships.

d. Taxable student grant and scholarship aid reported to the IRS in your adjusted gross income. Includes AmeriCorps benefits
(awards, living allowances and interest accrual payments), as well as grant and scholarship portions of fellowships and
assistantships.

e. Combat pay or special combat pay. Only enter the amount that was taxable and included in your adjusted gross income.
Do not enter untaxed combat pay.

f. Earnings from work under a cooperative education program offered by a college.

,
,
,
,
,

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3

44. Student’s 2010 Untaxed Income (Enter the combined amounts for you and your spouse.)

b. IRA deductions and payments to self-employed SEP, SIMPLE, Keogh and other qualified plans from IRS Form 1040—line 28 +
line 32 or 1040A—line 17.

c. Child support received for any of your children. Don’t include foster care or adoption payments.

d. Tax exempt interest income from IRS Form 1040—line 8b or 1040A—line 8b.

a. Payments to tax-deferred pension and savings plans (paid directly or withheld from earnings), including, but not limited
to, amounts reported on the W-2 forms in Boxes 12a through 12d, codes D, E, F, G, H and S.

e. Untaxed portions of IRA distributions from IRS Form 1040—lines (15a minus 15b) or 1040A—lines (11a minus 11b).
Exclude rollovers. If negative, enter a zero here.

g. Housing, food and other living allowances paid to members of the military, clergy and others (including cash payments and cash
value of benefits). Don’t include the value of on-base military housing or the value of a basic military allowance for housing.

h. Veterans noneducation benefits, such as Disability, Death Pension, or Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and/or VA
Educational Work-Study allowances.
i. Other untaxed income not reported in items 44a through 44h, such as workers’ compensation, disability, etc.
Don’t include student aid, earned income credit, additional child tax credit, welfare payments, untaxed Social Security benefits,
Supplemental Security Income, Workforce Investment Act educational benefits, on-base military housing or a military housing
allowance, combat pay, benefits from flexible spending arrangements (e.g., cafeteria plans), foreign income exclusion or credit
for federal tax on special fuels.
j. Money received, or paid on your behalf (e.g., bills), not reported elsewhere on this form.

,
,
,

f. Untaxed portions of pensions from IRS Form 1040—lines (16a minus 16b) or 1040A—lines (12a minus 12b).
Exclude rollovers. If negative, enter a zero here.

,
,
,

Step Three (Student): Answer all questions in this step to determine if you will need to provide parental information.
Yes

46. As of today, are you married? (Also answer “Yes” if you are separated but not divorced.) ...........................................................................
47. At the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, will you be working on a master’s or doctorate program (such as an
MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, graduate certificate, etc.)? ....................................................................................................................................................

Yes

48. Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training? See Notes page 2.

Yes

49. Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces? See Notes page 2. ....................................................................................................................................

Yes

50. Do you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012?
51. Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of
their support from you, now and through June 30, 2012? .............................................................................................................................................
52. At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a
dependent or ward of the court? See Notes page 9. .............................................................................................................................................................

Yes

53. As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you an emancipated minor? See Notes page 9.

Yes

54. As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you in legal guardianship? See Notes page 9.
55. At any time on or after July 1, 2010, did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were
an unaccompanied youth who was homeless? See Notes page 9. .............................................................................................................................
56. At any time on or after July 1, 2010, did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded
by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who
was homeless? See Notes page 9. ....................................................................................................................................................................................................
57. At any time on or after July 1, 2010, did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living
program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of
being homeless? See Notes page 9. ................................................................................................................................................................................................

Yes

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45. Were you born before January 1, 1988? ......................................................................................................................................................................................

For Help–www.studentaid.ed.gov/completefafsa

Page 5

If you (the student) answered “No” to every question in Step Three, go to Step Four.
If you answered “Yes” to any question in Step Three, skip Step Four and go to Step Five on page 8.
(Health professions students: Your college may require you to complete Step Four even if you answered “Yes” to any Step Three question.)

If you believe that you are unable to provide parental information, see Notes page 9.

Step Four (Parent Information): Complete this step if you (the student)

answered “No” to all questions in Step Three.

Answer all the questions in Step Four about your parents even if you do not live with them. Grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, aunts and uncles are not
considered parents on this form unless they have legally adopted you. If your parents are living and married to each other, answer the questions about them. If your
parent is single, widowed, divorced, separated or remarried, see the Notes on page 9 for additional instructions.

58. What is your parents’ marital status as of today?
Married or remarried

Divorced or separated

Single

Widowed

59. Month and year
they were married,
remarried, separated,
divorced or widowed.

MONTH

YEAR

M M Y Y Y Y

What are the Social Security Numbers, names and dates of birth of the parents reporting information on this form? If your parent does not have a
Social Security Number, you must enter 000-00-0000. Enter two digits for each day and month (e.g., for May 31, enter 05 31).

60. FATHER’S/STEPFATHER’S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

62. FIRST INITIAL

–

M M D D 1 9 Y Y

64. MOTHER’S/STEPMOTHER’S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

63. FATHER’S/STEPFATHER’S DATE OF BIRTH

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3

–

61. FATHER’S/STEPFATHER’S LAST NAME, AND

66. FIRST INITIAL

65. MOTHER’S/STEPMOTHER’S LAST NAME, AND

–

67. MOTHER’S/STEPMOTHER’S DATE OF BIRTH

M M D D 1 9 Y Y

68. Your parents’ e-mail address. If you provide your parents’ e-mail address, we will let them know your FAFSA has been processed. This e-mail address will

also be shared with your state and the colleges listed on your FAFSA to allow them to communicate with your parents.

STATE

70. Did your parents
become legal
residents of this state
before January 1, 2006?

72. How many people are in your parents’ household?

Yes

71. If the answer to question 70 is “No,”
give month and year legal residency
began for the parent who has
lived in the state the longest.

MONTH

YEAR

M M Y Y Y Y

69. What is your
parents’
state of legal
residence?

Include:
• yourself, even if you don’t live with your parents,
• your parents,
• your parents’ other children if (a) your parents will provide more than half of their support between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012, or
(b) the children could answer “No” to every question in Step Three on page 5 of this form, and
• other people if they now live with your parents, your parents provide more than half of their support and your parents will continue to
provide more than half of their support between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012.

73. How many people in your parents’ household will be college students between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012?

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Always count yourself as a college student. Do not include your parents. You may include others only if they will attend, at least half- time
in 2011-2012, a program that leads to a college degree or certificate.

In 2009 or 2010, did you, your parents or anyone in your parents’ household (from question 72) receive benefits from any of the federal programs
listed? Mark all the programs that apply. Answering these questions will not reduce your eligibility for student aid or for these other programs. Food Stamps TANF

may have a different name in your parents’ state. Call 1-800-4-FED-AID to find out the name of the state’s program.

74. Supplemental
Security
Income

75. Food
Stamps

76. Free or
Reduced
Price Lunch

77. Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families
(TANF)

79. For 2010, have your parents completed their IRS income tax return
or another tax return listed in question 80?

IRS 1040A or 1040EZ ...........................................................................................

A foreign tax return. See Notes page 2. .....................................................

A tax return with Puerto Rico, another U.S. territory or Freely
Associated State. See Notes page 2. ............................................................

My parents will file, but they have not yet completed their return ....

81. If your parents have filed or will file a 1040,
were they eligible to file a 1040A or 1040EZ?
See Notes page 2.

For Help — 1-800-433-3243

80. What income tax return did your parents file or will they file for 2010?
IRS 1040 ...................................................................................................................

My parents have already completed their return .....................................

My parents are not going to file. Skip to question 86. ........................

78. Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants and Children (WIC)

Yes

Don’t know

Page 6

82. As of today, is either of your parents a
dislocated worker? See Notes page 9.

Yes

Don’t know

Step Four CONTINUED on page 7

Step Four CONTINUED from page 6
For questions 83–92, if the answer is zero or the question does not apply, enter 0. Report whole dollar amounts with no cents.
83. What was your parents’ adjusted gross income for 2010? Adjusted gross income is on IRS Form 1040—line 37;
1040A—line 21; or 1040EZ—line 4.

84. Enter your parents’ income tax for 2010. Income tax amount is on IRS Form 1040—line 55; 1040A—line 35; or
1040EZ—line 11.

,
,

85. Enter your parents’ exemptions for 2010. Exemptions are on IRS Form 1040—line 6d or on Form 1040A—line 6d.
For Form 1040EZ, see Notes page 2.
Questions 86 and 87 ask about earnings (wages, salaries, tips, etc.) in 2010. Answer the questions whether or not a tax return was filed. This information may be on
the W-2 forms, on IRS Form 1040—lines 7 + 12 + 18 + Box 14 of IRS Schedule K-1 (Form 1065); on 1040A—line 7; or on 1040EZ—line 1. If any individual earning item is
negative, do not include that item in your calculation.

87. How much did your mother/stepmother earn from working in 2010?

88. As of today, what is your parents’ total current balance of cash, savings and checking accounts?

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86. How much did your father/stepfather earn from working in 2010?

89. As of today, what is the net worth of your parents’ investments, including real estate? Don’t include the home
you live in. Net worth means current value minus debt. See Notes page 2.
90. As of today, what is the net worth of your parents’ current businesses and/or investment farms?
Don’t include a family farm or family business with 100 or fewer full-time or full-time equivalent employees. See

Notes page 2.

a. Education credits (American Opportunity, Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits) from IRS Form 1040—line 49 or 1040A—
line 31.

b. Child support paid because of divorce or separation or as a result of a legal requirement. Don’t include support for children
in your parents’ household, as reported in question 72.

c. Your parents’ taxable earnings from need-based employment programs, such as Federal Work-Study and need-based
employment portions of fellowships and assistantships.

d. Your parents’ taxable student grant and scholarship aid reported to the IRS in your parents’ adjusted gross income. Includes
AmeriCorps benefits (awards, living allowances and interest accrual payments), as well as grant and scholarship portions of
fellowships and assistantships.

e. Combat pay or special combat pay. Only enter the amount that was taxable and included in your parents’ adjusted
gross income. Do not enter untaxed combat pay.

f. Earnings from work under a cooperative education program offered by a college.

,
,
,

91. Parents’ 2010 Additional Financial Information (Enter the amounts for your parent[s].)

,
,
,
,
,
,

92. Parents’ 2010 Untaxed Income (Enter the amounts for your parent[s].)

b. IRA deductions and payments to self-employed SEP, SIMPLE, Keogh and other qualified plans from IRS Form 1040—line 28 +
line 32 or 1040A—line 17.

c. Child support received for any of your parents’ children. Don’t include foster care or adoption payments.

d. Tax exempt interest income from IRS Form 1040—line 8b or 1040A—line 8b.

e. Untaxed portions of IRA distributions from IRS Form 1040—lines (15a minus 15b) or 1040A—lines (11a minus 11b).
Exclude rollovers. If negative, enter a zero here.

f. Untaxed portions of pensions from IRS Form 1040—lines (16a minus 16b) or 1040A—lines (12a minus 12b).
Exclude rollovers. If negative, enter a zero here.

g. Housing, food and other living allowances paid to members of the military, clergy and others (including cash payments and
cash value of benefits). Don’t include the value of on-base military housing or the value of a basic military allowance for
housing.

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a. Payments to tax-deferred pension and savings plans (paid directly or withheld from earnings), including, but not limited to,
amounts reported on the W-2 forms in Boxes 12a through 12d, codes D, E, F, G, H and S.

h. Veterans noneducation benefits, such as Disability, Death Pension, or Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and/or
VA Educational Work-Study allowances.
i. Other untaxed income not reported in items 92a through 92h, such as workers’ compensation, disability, etc.
Don’t include student aid, earned income credit, additional child tax credit, welfare payments, untaxed Social Security benefits,
Supplemental Security Income, Workforce Investment Act educational benefits, on-base military housing or a military housing
allowance, combat pay, benefits from flexible spending arrangements (e.g., cafeteria plans), foreign income exclusion or credit
for federal tax on special fuels.

For Help–www.studentaid.ed.gov/completefafsa

Page 7

$
$

,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,

Step Five (Student): Complete this step only if you (the student) answered “Yes” to any questions in Step Three.
93. How many people are in your household?

Include:
• yourself (and your spouse),
• your children, if you will provide more than half of their support between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012, and
• other people if they now live with you, you provide more than half of their support and you will continue to provide more than half of
their support between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012.

94. How many people in your (and your spouse’s) household will be college students between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012?
Always count yourself as a college student. Include others only if they will attend, at least half-time in 2011-2012, a program that leads to
a college degree or certificate.

In 2009 or 2010, did you (or your spouse) or anyone in your household (from question 93) receive benefits from any of the federal programs listed?

Mark all the programs that apply. Answering these questions will not reduce your eligibility for student aid or for these other programs. Food Stamps or TANF may have a
different name in your state. Call 1-800-4-FED-AID to find out the name of the state’s program.

95. Supplemental
Security
Income

96. Food
Stamps

97. Free or
Reduced
Price Lunch

98. Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families
(TANF)

99. Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants and Children (WIC)

100. As of today, are you (or your spouse) a dislocated worker? See Notes page 9.

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3

Yes

Don’t know

Step Six (Student): Indicate which colleges you want to receive your FAFSA information.

101.e

2ND FEDERAL SCHOOL CODE

OR
3RD FEDERAL SCHOOL CODE

OR
4TH FEDERAL SCHOOL CODE

ADDRESS
AND CITY
NAME OF
COLLEGE
ADDRESS
AND CITY
NAME OF
COLLEGE
ADDRESS
AND CITY
NAME OF
COLLEGE
ADDRESS
AND CITY

101.g

NAME OF
COLLEGE

101.c

1ST FEDERAL SCHOOL CODE

STATE

HOUSING PLANS

101.b

STATE

101.d

STATE

101.a

Enter the six-digit federal school code and your housing plans. You can find the school codes at www.fafsa.gov or you can call 1-800-4-FED-AID. If you
cannot get the code, write in the complete name, address, city and state of the college. For state aid, you may wish to list your preferred college first. To
have more colleges receive your FAFSA information, read What is the FAFSA? on page 10.

STATE

101.f

101.h

on campus

with parent

off campus

on campus

with parent

off campus

on campus

with parent

off campus

on campus

with parent

off campus

Step Seven (Student and Parent): Read, sign and date.

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If you are the student, by signing this application you certify that you (1) will use federal
and/or state student financial aid only to pay the cost of attending an institution of higher
education, (2) are not in default on a federal student loan or have made satisfactory
arrangements to repay it, (3) do not owe money back on a federal student grant or have
made satisfactory arrangements to repay it, (4) will notify your college if you default on a
federal student loan and (5) will not receive a Federal Pell Grant from more than one college
for the same period of time.

If you are the parent or the student, by signing this application you agree, if asked, to
provide information that will verify the accuracy of your completed form. This information
may include U.S. or state income tax forms that you filed or are required to file. Also, you
certify that you understand that the Secretary of Education has the authority to verify
information reported on this application with the Internal Revenue Service and other
federal agencies. If you sign any document related to the federal student aid programs
electronically using a Personal Identification Number (PIN), you certify that you are the
person identified by the PIN and have not disclosed that PIN to anyone else. If you purposely
give false or misleading information, you may be fined up to $20,000, sent to prison, or both.
If you or your family paid a fee for someone to
fill out this form or to advise you on how to fill
it out, that person must complete this part.
Preparer’s name, firm and address

104. Preparer’s Social Security Number (or 105)

–

105. Employer ID number (or 104)

–

102. Date this form was completed
MONTH

DAY

M M D D

2011

2012

103. Student (Sign below)
1

Parent (A parent from Step Four sign below.)
2

COLLEGE USE ONLY
D/O

FEDERAL SCHOOL CODE

FAA Signature
1

106. Preparer’s signature and date
DATA ENTRY
USE ONLY:

For Help — 1-800-433-3243

Page 8

Notes for question 52 (page 5)

Notes for Step Four, questions 58–92 (pages 6 and 7)

Answer “Yes” if at any time since you turned age 13:

Additional instructions about who is considered a parent on this
form:
• If your parent is widowed or single, answer the questions
about that parent.

• You were in foster care, even if you are no longer in foster care today; or
• You were a dependent or ward of the court, even if you are no longer a
dependent or ward of the court today. For federal student aid purposes,
a ward of the court is not someone who is incarcerated.
The financial aid administrator at your school may require you to provide
proof that you were in foster care or a dependent or ward of the court.

Notes for questions 53 and 54 (page 5)
Answer “Yes” if you can provide a copy of a court’s decision that as of
today you are an emancipated minor or are in legal guardianship. Also
answer “Yes” if you can provide a copy of a court’s decision that you were
an emancipated minor or were in legal guardianship immediately before
you reached the age of being an adult in your state. The court must be
located in your state of legal residence at the time the court’s decision was
issued.

• If your widowed parent is remarried as of today, answer the
questions about that parent and your stepparent.
• If your parents are divorced or separated, answer the
questions about the parent you lived with more during the
past 12 months. (If you did not live with one parent more
than the other, give answers about the parent who provided
more financial support during the past 12 months, or during
the most recent year that you actually received support
from a parent.) If this parent is remarried as of today, answer
the questions about that parent and your stepparent.

Notes for questions 82 (page 6)
and 100 (page 8)

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3

• You had no living parent (biological or adoptive) even if you are now
adopted; or

In general, a person may be considered a dislocated worker if he
or she:
• is receiving unemployment benefits due to being laid
off or losing a job and is unlikely to return to a previous
occupation;

The financial aid administrator at your college may require you to provide
proof that you were an emancipated minor or in legal guardianship.

• has been laid off or received a lay-off notice from a job;

Notes for questions 55–57 (page 5)

• was self-employed but is now unemployed due to
economic conditions or natural disaster; or
• is a displaced homemaker. A displaced homemaker is
generally a person who previously provided unpaid
services to the family (e.g., a stay-at-home mom or
dad), is no longer supported by the husband or wife, is
unemployed or underemployed, and is having trouble
finding or upgrading employment.

Answer “Yes” if you received a determination at any time on or after
July 1, 2010, that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or,
for question 57, at risk of being homeless.
• “Homeless” means lacking fixed, regular and adequate housing,
which includes living in shelters, motels or cars, or temporarily living
with other people because you had nowhere else to go.

Answer “No” if you are still a minor and the court decision is no longer
in effect or the court decision was not in effect at the time you became
an adult.

• “Unaccompanied” means you are not living in the physical custody of
your parent or guardian.

• “Youth” means you are 21 years of age or younger or you are still
enrolled in high school as of the day you sign this application.

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Answer “No” if you are not homeless, at risk of being homeless or if you
do not have a determination. You should contact your financial aid office
for assistance if you do not have a determination but believe you are an
unaccompanied youth who is homeless or are an unaccompanied youth
providing for your own living expenses who is at risk of being homeless.
The financial aid administrator at your college may require you to provide
a copy of the determination if you answered “Yes” to any of these
questions.

Notes for students unable to provide parental information on
pages 6 and 7
Under very limited circumstances (for example, your parents are
incarcerated; you have left home due to an abusive family environment;
or you do not know where your parents are and are unable to contact
them), you may be able to submit your FAFSA without parental
information. If you are unable to provide parental information, skip
Steps Four and Five, and go to Step Six. Once you submit your FAFSA
without parental data, you must follow up with the financial aid office
at the college you plan to attend, in order to complete your FAFSA.

Page 9

If a person quits work, generally he or she is not considered
a dislocated worker even if, for example, the person is
receiving unemployment benefits.
Answer “Yes” to question 82 if your parent is a dislocated
worker. Answer “Yes” to question 100 if you or your spouse is a
dislocated worker.
Answer “No” to question 82 if your parent is not a
dislocated worker. Answer “No” to question 100 if neither
you nor your spouse is a dislocated worker.
Answer “Don’t know” to question 82 if you are not sure
whether your parent is a dislocated worker. Answer “Don’t
know” to question 100 if you are not sure whether you
or your spouse is a dislocated worker. You can contact
your financial aid office for assistance in answering these
questions.
The financial aid administrator at your college may require
you to provide proof that your parent is a dislocated worker,
if you answered “Yes” to question 82, or that you or your
spouse is a dislocated worker, if you answered “Yes” to
question 100.

What is the FAFSA ?

Information on the Privacy Act and use of
your Social Security Number

Why fill out a FAFSA?

We use the information that you provide on this form to determine
if you are eligible to receive federal student financial aid and the
amount that you are eligible to receive. Sections 483 and 484 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, give us the authority to
ask you and your parents these questions, and to collect the Social
Security Numbers of you and your parents. We use your Social
Security Number to verify your identity and retrieve your records,
and we may request your Social Security Number again for those
purposes.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step in the financial aid
process. You use the FAFSA to apply for federal student aid, such as grants, loans and
work-study. In addition, most states and colleges use information from the FAFSA to award
nonfederal aid.

Why all the questions?
The questions on the FAFSA are required to calculate your Expected Family Contribution
(EFC). The EFC measures your family’s financial strength and determines your eligibility
for federal student aid. Your state and the colleges you list may also use some of your
responses. They will determine if you may be eligible for school or state aid, in addition to
federal aid.

State and institutional student financial aid programs may also use
the information that you provide on this form to determine if you
are eligible to receive state and institutional aid and the need that
you have for such aid. Therefore, we will disclose the information
that you provide on this form to each institution you list in questions
101a - 101h, state agencies in your state of legal residence and the
state agencies of the states in which the colleges that you list in
questions 101a - 101h are located.

How do I find out what my Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is?

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3

Your EFC will be listed on your Student Aid Report (SAR). Your SAR summarizes the
information you submitted on your FAFSA. It is important to review your SAR to make sure
all of your information is correct and complete. Make corrections or provide additional
information, as necessary.

If you are applying solely for federal aid, you must answer all of the
following questions that apply to you: 1-9, 14-16, 18, 21-23, 26, 28-29,
32-36, 38-58, 60-67, 69, 72-84, 86-100, 102-103. If you do not answer
these questions, you will not receive federal aid.

Using the information on your FAFSA and your EFC, the financial aid office at your college
will determine the amount of aid you will receive. The colleges use your EFC to prepare a
financial aid package to help you meet your financial need. Financial need is the difference
between your EFC and your college’s cost of attendance (which can include living
expenses), as determined by the college. If you or your family have unusual circumstances
that should be taken into account, contact your college’s financial aid office. Some
examples of unusual circumstances are: unusual medical or dental expenses or a large
change in income from last year to this year.

Without your consent, we may disclose information that you
provide to entities under a published “routine use.” Under such a
routine use, we may disclose information to third parties that we
have authorized to assist us in administering the above programs;
to other federal agencies under computer matching programs,
such as those with the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security
Administration, Selective Service System, Department of Homeland
Security, Department of Justice and Veterans Affairs; to your parents
or spouse; and to members of Congress if you ask them to help you
with student aid questions.

When will I receive the aid?

How much aid will I receive?

Any financial aid you are eligible to receive will be paid to you through your college.
Typically, your college will first use the aid to pay tuition, fees and room and board (if
provided by the college). Any remaining aid is paid to you for your other educational
expenses. If you are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, you may receive it from only one
college for the same period of enrollment.

How can I have more colleges receive my FAFSA information?

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If you are completing a paper FAFSA, you can only list four colleges in the school code step.
You may add more colleges by doing one of the following:
1. Use the Federal Student Aid PIN you will receive after your FAFSA has been processed
and go to FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.gov. Select the “Add or Delete a School Code”
link.
2. Use the Student Aid Report (SAR), which you will receive after your FAFSA is processed.
Your Data Release Number (DRN) verifies your identity and will be listed on the first page
of your SAR. You can call 1-800-4-FED-AID and provide your DRN to a customer service
representative, who will add more school codes for you.
3. Provide your DRN to the financial aid administrator at the college you want added, and
he or she can add their school code to your FAFSA.

Note: Your FAFSA record can only list up to ten school codes. If there are ten school codes
on your record, any new school codes that you add will replace one or more of the school
codes listed.

Where can I receive more information on student aid?
The best place for information about student financial aid is the financial aid office at the
college you plan to attend. The financial aid administrator can tell you about student aid
available from your state, the college itself and other sources.
• You can also visit our web sites www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov or
www.studentaid.ed.gov.
• For information by phone you can call our Federal Student Aid Information Center
at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). TTY users (for the hearing impaired) may call
1-800-730-8913.
• You can also check with your high school counselor, your state aid agency or your
local library’s reference section.
Information about other nonfederal assistance may be available from foundations, religious
organizations, community organizations and civic groups, as well as organizations related
to your field of interest, such as the American Medical or American Bar Association. Check
with your parents’ employers or unions to see if they award scholarships or have tuition
payment plans.

Page 10

If the federal government, the U.S. Department of Education, or
an employee of the U.S. Department of Education is involved in
litigation, we may send information to the Department of Justice, or
a court or adjudicative body, if the disclosure is related to financial
aid and certain conditions are met. In addition, we may send
your information to a foreign, federal, state, or local enforcement
agency if the information that you submitted indicates a violation
or potential violation of law, for which that agency has jurisdiction
for investigation or prosecution. Finally, we may send information
regarding a claim that is determined to be valid and overdue to a
consumer reporting agency. This information includes identifiers
from the record; the amount, status and history of the claim; and the
program under which the claim arose.

State Certification
By submitting this application, you are giving your state financial
aid agency permission to verify any statement on this form and to
obtain income tax information for all persons required to report
income on this form.

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 says that no one is required to
respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB
control number, which for this form is 1845-0001. The time required
to complete this form is estimated to be three hours, including
time to review instructions, search data resources, gather the data
needed, and complete and review the information collection. If you
have comments about this estimate or suggestions for improving
this form, please write to:
U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202-4700.
We may request additional information from you to process
your application more efficiently. We will collect this additional
information only as needed and on a voluntary basis.

File Type	application/pdf
File Modified	2010-09-17
File Created	2010-08-13