Visit our other websites

  • Fulton County Calendar
  • Pulaski County Calendar
  • Cass County Calendar
  • Miami County Calendar

FAFSA opens for 2019-2020 school year

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education announces today that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is open for the 2019-2020 school year. With over $300 million available in state financial aid—as well as billions of dollars in federal aid—it is more important than ever for Hoosiers to file the FAFSA on time by April 15, 2019.

This year, changes to the FAFSA will give students even more flexibility when filing for financial aid. The U.S. Department of Education recently revealed a new option for filing the FAFSA—a smartphone application. The myStudentAid app, available for iOS and Android devices, was designed to make it easier for the nearly 19 million students who file a FAFSA every year. Specifically, the app will benefit students who do not have a computer or high-speed internet at home.

It is important for all students to file the FAFSA regardless of family income. In addition to determining eligibility for state and federal financial aid, many colleges require a completed FAFSA to award merit and need-based scholarships. Filing the FAFSA is particularly important for Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars who must file on time to earn the state scholarship that pays for up to four years of college tuition.

Filing the FAFSA

Students can file the FAFSA online at FAFSA.gov or using the myStudentAid app. The first step for students who have never filed the FAFSA is to create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. Then, each student will need:

  • Social Security Number
  • Alien Registration Number (for non-U.S. citizens)
  • Federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned
  • Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
  • Records of untaxed income (if applicable)

The U.S. Department of Education provides email and live chat assistance for FAFSA filers as well as a helpline at 800-4FED-AID. Hoosier families can also find FAFSA help through INvestEd Indiana at www.investedindiana.org. For questions about state financial aid, students can contact the Indiana Commission for Higher Education by phone at 888-528-4719 or via email at awards@che.in.gov.

SOURCE: News release from Indiana Commission for Higher Education