For all the acronyms, it’s a pretty straightforward process if you take the time to see it through. After all, millions of students just like you apply successfully each year. So, go ahead. Apply. The results may surprise and delight you.
We’ve set everything up so you can apply and check the progress of your application online. (Although you can still do it the conventional way if you choose.) In the case of student loans, there are a few points we should make up front. One, interest rates are far lower than those for commercial loans because the federal government subsidizes them. Repayment terms are comfortable and in most instances you don’t begin to repay until you leave school. And if you’re worried about your credit history disqualifying you—don’t. The amount of your aid does not depend on your past history with creditors.
So … you can go for it, or you can hang back. The how to is right here, but you have to supply the drive.
DID YOU KNOW … Applying for federal student aid grants, loans and work-study programs is FREE! Why pay a third party for help with the FAFSA? Help in completing the FAFSA is available from our office for free and there are no fees of any kind assessed by the government when you submit a FAFSA.
What is a Federal Student Aid PIN and what is it used for? Your PIN is an electronic access code that serves as your personal identifier and can be used every year to electronically apply for federal student aid and to access your U.S. Department of Education records online.
Your PIN allows you to:
“Sign” your application electronically and complete the student aid process completely online—no paper is involved.
If you’re a dependent student and one of your parents has a Federal Student Aid PIN, he or she can sign the application electronically online as well.
Access your federal student aid records online, including your student loan history information on NSLDS.
DID YOU KNOW … The Federal Student Aid PIN gives you access to personal information and therefore should be kept PRIVATE. You should not share your PIN with anyone, even if that person is helping you fill out the FAFSA. Counselors should not offer to hold onto students’ PINs. If you are concerned about forgetting your PIN you should go to www.pin.ed.gov and change your PIN to a number you will remember.
Note: If you opted to receive your PIN by e-mail, you should add FederalStudentAidPIN@cpsemail.ed.gov to your e-mail address book or “safe list” to help avoid delivery problems.
How do I sign my application?
What if I don’t have a PIN? If you’re in FAFSA on the Web, a separate screen will appear when you select the option to apply for a PIN. You will be given the option of instantly receiving your PIN online, having it e-mailed to you, or having it sent to you via postal mail (7-10 days). If you choose to have it displayed on the screen, you can sign your FAFSA right then and there. If you choose to have your PIN sent by postal mail, you’ll need to save your FAFSA on the Web and sign with your PIN when you receive it. Or, you can print a “signature page” and mail it to the address indicated on FAFSA on the Web.
You can also select the option to process the application without a signature. If you select this option, you will be mailed a paper SAR that you must sign and mail back to us for processing. The process can take two or more weeks. This option is not recommended because it is the most time-consuming one.
Note: Initially, your PIN can be used only to sign your FAFSA. Your personal data (Social Security Number, name, and date of birth) must successfully match with the data the Social Security Administration has for you before your PIN can be used for other federal student aid purposes, such as signing a Promissory Note. After your data successfully matches with the Social Security Administration’s data you can use your PIN at other federal student aid Web sites. Your SAR will contain a comment that lets you know whether your data successfully matched with the Social Security Administration’s data or not. If your data does not match you will receive a notice with information to help you resolve the issue.
