Applying For Aid

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Applying for financial aid doesn't need to be stressful—most of the forms you need to apply for financial aid are easily available online. Here's how to navigate the financial aid process effectively.

1. Apply for admission to FSCJ. If you haven't already been admitted as a student, learn how to get started with the online application.
2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The FAFSA should take you less than 20 minutes to complete. FSCJ's school code is 001484. You'll need to list this information on the form to ensure FSCJ receives a copy of your FAFSA. You will be prompted to create an FSA ID number once you log onto FAFSA.gov.
3. Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. When completing the FAFSA, you'll want to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to directly import your tax information from the IRS to your FAFSA. Watch this step-by-step guide below for assistance.
4. Apply early! For priority consideration, your FAFSA must be received by the established priority deadlines: June 1 (for fall), November 1 (for spring), and April 1 (for summer). If you're a Florida resident, The Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA), administers a variety of state-funded grants and scholarships to assist Florida residents with the cost of their postsecondary education. Students must submit a completed Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) to OSFA Florida Student Scholarship Grant Programs for the academic year starting that fall.

Parents/Guardians

For parents/guardians assisting their student with the FAFSA form, read The Parents Guide to Filling out the FAFSA Form for tips.

FAFSA Videos

IRS Data Retrieval Process Videos

FAFSA Submitted? Here Are Your Next Steps

1. From the date you submitted your FAFSA with FSCJ's school code, it typically takes three to five business days for FSCJ to receive your application. If you've already been admitted, the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid will review your application immediately. If you haven't been admitted into a program, please contact an admissions representative to identify your next steps in that process.
2. After the initial review, FSCJ will contact you if you are required to do anything else. FSCJ will use guidance from the Department of Education to identify if you need to submit additional information in order to assess your application further. FSCJ will contact you directly through email to notify you if additional information is needed.
   
   FSCJ will also update your "To Do" list on your myFSCJ account with detailed descriptions of the additional requirements. Make sure you review your myFSCJ account frequently to stay on top of your requirements and submit any requested information to FSCJ promptly. To learn more about the Title IV verification policy, you can visit our Policies and Information page.

You've Been Awarded Financial Aid! Now What?

1. Accept your aid package. It is important to accept your award promptly, so that your aid will disburse in a timely manner. Initial awards are based on the assumption that you will be enrolled full-time; awards may be adjusted if you enroll for more or fewer credits as your cost of attendance will change to reflect your actual enrollment. Your Pell Grant will automatically be accepted on your behalf. Pell Grants will be revised according to your actual enrollment after your classes begin. Therefore, you may see your award amount fluctuate throughout the semester.
2. Adjust your loan award amount if necessary. After you accept your award, you can adjust your loan amounts to better match your intended enrollment or reduce your loan amounts if you only need a portion of the award. To adjust your loans, simply use the loan adjustment form found on the accept/decline financial aid section of your myFSCJ account.
3. Complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note. If you are a new borrower, visit StudentLoans.gov to complete your Direct Loan Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note. Both of these documents must be completed before your loan funds will disburse.
4. Enroll in classes. Use your financial aid to help pay for classes to get your FSCJ education started. Learn how to register online or on-site at many FSCJ locations.
5. Check your myFSCJ account. In order to ensure your financial aid is disbursed on time, check your myFSCJ account periodically to make sure you have completed any missing or incomplete items and that your financial aid file is complete.

Remember to Maintain Your Eligibility

To maintain your eligibility for financial aid, you must meet the standards set forth in FSCJ's financial aid policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress. You may also want to read about how changes in your enrollment can affect your financial aid. Be aware of how changes in your enrollment throughout the semester can affect your financial aid.

Confirmation of Applying

Student Aid Report (SAR)

The SAR is a confirmation of a student aid application (FAFSA). Students should receive a SAR approximately two to three weeks after they submit their FAFSA. The SAR is a two-part confirmation form to review for errors and omissions. Read the instructions on the SAR carefully. If changes are needed, contact your Student Success office to determine which corrections are necessary. If corrections are required, students may correct their application by completing part 2 of the SAR and returning it to the federal processor or making the corrections via the FAFSA website. Not correcting a SAR as soon as possible may cause delays in processing a student’s financial aid.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

If all the data is complete and correct, the SAR will include an expected family contribution (EFC). The EFC is calculated based on a federal methodology established by Congress. An EFC is the index that is used to establish eligibility for need-based aid.

Eligibility for need-based aid is calculated by subtracting the EFC (and other outside resources such as veteran’s benefits, scholarships, tuition waivers, fellowships, etc.) from the cost of attendance. This determines a student’s financial need.

If the EFC and other resources are less than the COA, the student may have financial need, and every effort is made to meet that need with a financial aid package that may include grants, work-study and/or loans.

Based on the above example, this student may be eligible for $5,761 in financial aid. While this calculation establishes the eligibility for need-based aid, it does not guarantee the student will receive this amount. Eligibility for aid is determined by other factors, including the amount of funds available at the College. Some funds are limited, therefore it is in the student’s best interest to apply early each year. The FAFSA application is available in early January each year.

Verification

The Department of Education has regulations to ensure that only eligible students receive financial aid.  Verification is the process used to confirm the data you provided on the FAFSA is accurate.  It is to your benefit to submit all requested items as quickly as possible since your financial aid file cannot be reviewed or completed until verification is complete.  If there are differences found between information reported on the FAFSA and the actual documents provided, FSCJ will submit the corrections on your behalf.  Your financial aid award will be based on the corrected information.

If you are a dependent student, and both biological and/or adoptive parents reside in the same household, you will need to provide both parent’s information regardless of their marital status or gender.

If you are an independent student, and your marital status on the date the FAFSA was completed was “married,” you will need to provide your spouse’s information regardless of gender.

A student/parent is considered “married” if the student/parent was legally married in any domestic or foreign jurisdiction that recognizes that relationship as a legal marriage, regardless of where the couple resides.  This determination applies to same sex or opposite sex couples.  This determination does not apply to domestic partnerships, civil unions, or similar formal relationships recognized under state law.