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 appropriate Award Year FAFSA: 

• Complete the 2019-20 FAFSA to apply for the 2019-20 Award Year, which includes Fall 2019, Spring 2020 and Summer 2020
• As of October 1st, 2019, students will be able to complete the 2020-21 FAFSA to apply for the 2020-21 Award Year, which includes Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021

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.

• UGA’s Federal School Code is 001598.

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

Step 2:  Complete Your FAFSA

• Prior to completing the actual FAFSA on the Web, we strongly encourage students and parents of undergraduate dependent students to review the U.S. Department of Education's StudentAid.gov website on filling out the FAFSA.
• Once you are ready to begin the FAFSA.
  • Go to the FAFSA on the Web and click on “Start a New FAFSA”
  • Once you Login with your Federal Student Aid ID,
    • Select "START 2019-2020 FAFSA" to apply for Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Summer 2020, OR
    • Select “START 2020-2021 FAFSA” to apply for Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021 (available October 1st, 2019).
    • The UGA Federal school code is 001598.

Step 3:  After you have submitted your FAFSA to the Central Processing System (CPS), watch for your Student Aid Report (SAR).

Step 4:  Provide the UGA Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) any of the following documentation they request from you.

• After OSFA receives your Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR), they will determine if you are required to provide any additional documentation to complete the FAFSA process.  If additional information or documentation is needed, 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 or documents you need to provide them.
• Examples of some of the reasons students or parents of undergraduate dependent students are asked to provide additional documentation.
  • Student and/or parent of undergraduate dependent student selected for Verification of FAFSA information
  • Proof of U.S. Citizen or Eligible Non-citizen status.
  • Confirm or clarify conflicting FAFSA information.
  • Proof of independent student status.

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.