Q. Who can assist me with any FAFSA questions I might have?   A. You can call one of our FAFSA Student Aid Advisors on our FAFSA USA Hotline to get help with any question you might have right now at 1-800-317-FAFSA (3237).     Q. Why does the Department of Education ask for income information from the year before I go to school?   A. The law requires that this information be used, since studies have consistently shown that verifiable income tax information from the most recently completed tax year (2008 for the 2009-10 award year) is more accurate than projected (2009) information and provides a reasonable basis for determining family financial strength in calculating the Expected Family Contribution.   Q. Do I have to file a FAFSA?   A. Everyone interested in receiving federal aid must file a FAFSA form. Most states, colleges and universities also use the FAFSA to award other types of student aid, including state- and college-sponsored financial aid, such as grants, educational loans, and work-study programs.   Q. Do I have to submit a FAFSA every year?   A. Yes, you must file a FAFSA each year in which you request need financial aid. Don’t worry, once you are in our system, the process of filing future FAFSA applications is dramatically reduced. We even offer returning clients a 50% off discount.     Q. What if I don't think I qualify for assistance?   A. Nearly everyone can receive some form of financial aid, therefore everyone is advised to apply. You will more than likely be surprised to find the level of aid available to you!     Q. When should I file my FAFSA?   A. File as early as possible after the first of the year. We have database of deadlines for each state, but many colleges also have deadlines that are sooner than the state and federal deadlines. Many times, financial aid is awarded on a first come, first served basis, so you are urged to file your FAFSA as soon as possible! FAFSA USA will electronically file your application to avoid delays and to help put you up near the front of the line for financial aid.     Q. Should we file a FAFSA if we have not filed our taxes yet?   A. Yes. There is no penalty for filing a FAFSA using estimates. Any actual adjustments can be made after you file your returns, but filing early can help to put you closer to the front of the line for financial aid and is highly recommended!     Q. What if I waited until the last minute? Can I still meet my deadline?   A. No Problem!  We are experts at late filings, and can assist with even the worst time crunch deadline.     Q. Do I have to submit a FAFSA for each dependent student?   A. Yes. The Department of Education requires that a FAFSA be submitted every award year for each student seeking aid. Don’t worry, we have multi-student discounts and the parent information of the form is carried over to the other students automatically.     Q. How long does it take to complete the FAFSA?   A. According to the Department of Education’s website, it can generally take up to 2 frustrating hours for individuals using their electronic filing services. When you use FAFSA USA, we can complete your application in minutes—not hours. We provide you with personalized, hands-on expert service to guarantee a properly submitted FAFSA application that potentially guarantees you the maximum finanical aid available.

FAFSA Deadlines

Different types of financial aid have different deadlines. Because the FAFSA is the foundation of many need-based aid programs, it is critical to fill out and submit your FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1st. Many types of financial aid are given on a first-come, first-served basis, so delays could hurt you. Please see FAFSA Application Deadlines for details.