The Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Introduction

 

Each year, students and parents of undergraduate dependent students wishing to apply for federal grants, loans, and work-study must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): 

  • Beginning October 1st, 2020, students can complete the 2021-22 FAFSA to apply for the 2021-22 Award Year, which includes Fall 2021, Spring 2022 and Summer 2022
  • Beginning October 1st, 2021, students can complete the 2022-23 FAFSA to apply for the 2022-23 Award Year, which includes Fall 2022, Spring 2023 and Summer 2023

The FAFSA can also be used to apply for the HOPE Scholarship and the Zell Miller Scholarship, but remember the FAFSA must be completed each Award Year.

Step 1:  Get Your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID

Step 2:  Complete Your FAFSA

  • Before starting the FAFSA, we strongly encourage students and parents to review the U.S. Department of Education's helpful information on filling out the FAFSA.
  • Once you are ready to begin the FAFSA:
    • Go to www.studentaid.govand click on "Start Here"
    • Once you Login with your Federal Student Aid ID,
      • Select "START 2021-2022 FAFSA" to apply for Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Summer 2022, OR
      • Select "START 2022-2023 FAFSA" to apply for Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Summer 2023
      • The UGA Federal school code is 001598.
  • OSFA strongly encourages you to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import your tax information into the FAFSA.

Step 3:  After you have submitted your FAFSA, watch for your Student Aid Report (SAR) from the Department of Education. Look over your SAR carefully, make sure you didn’t make a mistake on your FAFSA form, and make corrections to your FAFSA data if necessary.

Step 4:  Provide the UGA Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) additional documentation if it is requested.

  • Often times the Department of Education requires schools to obtain additional information from you to complete your FAFSA. If additional information or documentation is needed, UGA OSFA will send an e-mail to your UGAMail account directing you to Log in to Athena to access your unsatisfied financial aid requirements and view the information needed.
  • Some examples of items that could be requested are:

Step 5:  Once all of your financial aid requirements are satisfied, and if you meet the Basic Student Eligibility Requirements OSFA will be able to award you the federal financial aid for which you are otherwise eligible.

See Your Award Status to access your Application Status on Athena, or your Awards on Athena.