Tips to make completing your FAFSA easier

The sticker price for college can range from around $30,000 to over $65,000 annually, depending on the type of college and where a student attends. With costs continuing to rise, financial aid is a necessity for most college-bound students and their families.

What's the best way to start your financial aid journey and make college more affordable? The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which helps colleges determine how much financial aid each accepted student receives. While the form might be intimidating, we've put together some tips that will make completing your FAFSA easier.

Tips to make completing your FAFSA easier

The FAFSA is much simpler than it was several years ago, and these three tips will make it even easier to complete!

1. Get documents together

While you can consent to allow the FAFSA to pull income information from your tax returns, you'll need to gather some other details, too, such as:

• Contributor name, email, SSN, and date of birth
• Child support records
• Current balances for assets in your checking and savings accounts (and cash)
• Net worth of any businesses, investments, and farms you and your family own

Getting these documents gathered and organized before you start will help streamline the process.

2. File online

It's easier to complete your FAFSA online than by paper and mail, and you'll receive your FAFSA Submission Summary faster. Online forms are processed in 1-3 days, while paper applications take around 7-10 days. It's also simpler to make changes or correct mistakes with an online FAFSA.

3. Have the student file first

When a student starts the FAFSA, it will determine if it needs a contributor (parent). If the parent completed their portion first and it's determined their information wasn't needed, they may have wasted their time. You'll also be able to directly invite your contributor to your completed form, reducing confusion.

4 More tips for completing your FAFSA

While these tips won't necessarily help make completing the FAFSA easier, they can help you avoid issues and could result in larger financial aid packages.

1. Complete the FAFSA early

You should complete your FAFSA as soon as possible – it opens on October 1 each year for the following academic year.

Colleges and states generally award aid money on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted. Their financial aid deadlines are typically in January or February. Submitting your FAFSA after these dates means you could be out of the running for state or institutional financial aid packages. Others use priority deadlines, and submitting your form early means you're more likely to receive one of their institutional scholarships and grants.

2. Be thorough

Errors and blank fields on the FAFSA can delay processing and could jeopardize the amount of aid you receive. Always read over your application before you submit it, and write "0" or "not applicable" into fields that don't apply to you. The online FAFSA should prompt you regarding any incorrect submissions.

3. Be truthful

Intentionally providing misinformation on your FASFA may lead to fines or even time in prison. If you find yourself in a situation where you are receiving little or no aid from a school, there are additional options available, such as scholarships and lending resources, to help you achieve your education.

4. File every year

Even if you don't think you'll qualify for need-based aid, still complete the FAFSA each year. Income requirements change and it's impossible to predict how much you'll be offered. Many schools also require the FAFSA for merit-based awards.

Plus, it's faster to complete it in subsequent years, since the FSA saves your information.

More information

FAFSA is just the first step in making college more affordable. Explore all the different ways, like scholarships, grants, and federal aid, that can help you afford. Visit the Citizens Student Hub today to get started.

Still need extra funds? We are committed to helping you reach your potential. For more information about student lending, call 1-888-411-0266 to speak with one of our Student Lending Specialists, visit us online, or join an upcoming webinar for assistance with filling out a FAFSA.