APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), developed by the U.S. Department of Education, should be completed and submitted between January 1 and mid February. This will assure receipt by the processing center before March 1 for first round consideration for federal and state grants, work-study, and loans.

If tax information is not complete, estimates are acceptable when completing the FAFSA.  Information can be corrected later by the student or by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.

In addition to the FAFSA, graduating West Virginia high school students must also complete the Common Application for consideration of the Promise Scholarship and the WV Higher Education Grant by March 1.  New students who are WV residents, but not a recent high school graduate, also need to complete the Common Application by March 1 for consideration by the WV Higher Education Grant program.  For further information, go to:

www.promisescholarships.org
www.wvapply.org

The FAFSA is available through any college financial aid office, high school counselors and public libraries.  Please have your results sent to Fairmont State in Step 6.  Our Title IV code number is 003812.

 You should use the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) developed by the U.S. Department of Education to apply for student financial aid. 

Click here to go directly to "FAFSA ON THE WEB".

If you have a PIN, you can electronically sign your FAFSA.  Parents with PINs can also electronically sign (if you don't have a PIN, you can apply for one now by going to www.pin.ed.gov).

Once the FAFSA has been submitted for analysis, a formula will calculate a dollar figure that represents the expected family contribution (EFC) toward meeting your college expenses.  You will receive an e-mail from the processing center.  Review the data carefully and if corrections are required, please make them accordingly at the FAFSA website or contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance. 

Approximately thirty percent of applicants are selected for a process called "verification." If selected, the Financial Aid Office is required to collect the previous year's federal tax return(s) from parent and/or student tax filers, W2s from all employers, written documentation of untaxed income, and a completed verification worksheet (see below).  Make certain to sign and date all documentation and submit to the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible. 

Your application will not be considered complete until the verification process has been completed.

If you were selected for verification, click here to be linked to the verification worksheets.  Make sure you select the appropriate year.