FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is your first step in applying for financial aid. This is your application for federal grants, federal student loans and work-study funds. It is also used to determine eligibility for the WV Higher Education Grant and required for other state aid programs, such as the Promise Scholarship and WV Invests Grant. Many institutions also use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for institutional financial aid.
FAFSA Overview
Check out this overview of how the FAFSA can help you finance your education with money from the federal government, your state, and school; understand when to apply; and find out what you’ll need to fill it out.
You can learn more about the FAFSA and complete it at StudentAid.gov!
Applications
Make sure you complete the correct year FAFSA for the academic year you are attending college during.
- The 2024-2025 FAFSA for the 2024-2025 academic year is available until June 30, 2025.
- The 2025-2026 FAFSA for the 2025-2026 academic year is now live and available until June 30, 2026.
You’ll have a better chance of receiving money for college if you avoid several common mistakes when filling out your FAFSA. Such mistakes include not completing the form on time, not filling it out correctly or forgetting to sign and submit. Check out this short article to avoid the 10 most common FAFSA mistakes.
Corrections
If you need to make corrections or add signatures, learn how with these How to Correct or Update your FAFSA instructions.
StudentAid.gov Account (FSA ID)
If you have never completed a FAFSA, you must first create a StudentAid.gov Account at least 3-5 days before you complete your first FAFSA. Learn more about creating or accessing your account here.
Are you a dependent or independent student?
Knowing the answer to this before completing the FAFSA will make the process easier. Determine your student type at StudentAid.gov.
If you are a dependent student, use the Parent Wizard to determine which parent or parents will participate in completing your FAFSA as a contributor.
Who is eligible to apply?
Wondering if you’re eligible, check out this graphic to learn who is eligible for federal student aid.
Don’t get scammed!
Avoid scams and paying for free services when you’re searching for scholarships, filling out the FAFSA and sharing your personal information. Check out these tips to avoid financial aid fraud!