Financial Aid

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I apply for financial aid?
2. What is financial aid?
3. I'm transferring to GVSU.  How do I get my financial aid now?
4. What is your school code for the FAFSA?
5. I don't live with my parents; can I be considered independent for the FAFSA?
6. Do I have to have my taxes done to file the FAFSA?
7. Do I have to file the FAFSA every year?
8. What is the priority filing deadline for the FAFSA?
   

1.)   How do I apply for financial aid?
        You can apply for Financial aid via the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

2.)   What is financial aid?
        Financial aid is money made available to a student to help fund his/her
        education.  It can be a grant, scholarship, work-study program or student  
        loans.  Most often it is a combination of these funds that help fund a students 
        education.

3.)   I'm transferring to GVSU.  How do I get my financial aid now? 
        Financial aid cannot be directly transferred from school to school.  Therefore  
        you must first cancel your aid at the old school and then go to the FAFSA 
        website and add GVSU.  Check with our office to determine which year's 
        FAFSA we need for you to receive aid at our school.

4.)   What is your school code for the FAFSA?  
       002268

5.)   I don't live with my parents; can I be considered independent for FAFSA?
       The FAFSA looks at other criteria to determine if you are independent of your 
       parents.  You have to be able to answer "yes" to one of the questions below to 
       be considered independent:

                      *Will you turn 24 this current year?
                      *Are you working on a Masters or Doctorate?
                      *Are you married?
                      *Do you have children or dependents that you support?
                      *Are you a U.S veteran?
                      *Are you or were you an orphan or ward of the court?
                      *As of today, are you an emancipated minor?
                      *As of today, are you in legal guardianship?
                      *At any time on or after July 1, 2008 has it been determined that you 
                       were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?

       If the answer is "no" to all of these questions then the parents MUST fill out
       the FAFSA form with the student.  If the student can answer yes to one or 
       more of these questions then the parents do not have to fill out the form.  NOTE: 
       If you select "yes" to one of the above questions, the Financial Aid Office may
       verify this information.

6.)   Do I have to have my taxes filed to complete the FAFSA?
        Yes, you may complete the FAFSA using estimated income. However, the
        IRS will be verifying all your income information therefore you MUST go back
        and correct your income information once you have completed your tax return.

7.)    Do I have to file the FAFSA every year.
        Yes. The student can use the federal PIN to complete a Prefilled FAFSA
        online each year provided they filed the previous year's FAFSA.

8.)    What is the priority filing deadline for the FAFSA?
         March 1st.