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Each college has its own requirements when applying for financial aid. All colleges require the FAFSA, which is a federal form used to determine federal and state aid. This information is then used to calculate the Student Aid Index (SAI). Each college determines eligibility for financial aid by subtracting SAI from the Cost of Attendance (COA).
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Some private colleges, in addition to the FAFSA, also require the CSS Profile (see below) or their own form(s). Check each college’s financial aid website for its specific requirements.
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Each college establishes financial aid deadlines for completing the FAFSA and CSS Profile. Families should check colleges’ websites for their specific financial aid deadlines as they vary by college and decision plan (e.g., early decision, early action, or regular decision).
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For a detailed explanation, attend or watch the recording of the College Financial Aid Application presentation held each September with Julie Savino, Associate Vice President, Student Financial Assistance at Sacred Heart University.
FAFSA
If you plan to apply for financial aid, you must complete the FAFSA online. To fill out the FAFSA, you need to file your prior, prior year's taxes, as the information on that tax return will be used to determine your eligibility for aid. Completing the FAFSA is free. Make sure you complete the form on the website noted above as there are other websites that charge to complete the form.
Steps for Completion of FAFSA
1. Create Your StudentAid.gov Account and FAFSA ID
Both the student and every individual required to contribute information to the FAFSA form must first create a StudentAid.gov account and establish their own FAFSA IDs. Utilize this worksheet for guidance. To determine who qualifies as a FAFSA contributor, families can use this tool.
2. Student Initiates the FAFSA Form
Students, not parents or contributors, should begin the FAFSA form. After completing their sections, the student will be prompted to invite their contributor(s). Only the contributor's email address is needed for this step.
3. Submit and Review Your FAFSA Submission Summary
Once the contributor(s) complete their sections and the FAFSA form is submitted and processed, the student can access their FAFSA Submission Summary on the Dashboard of their StudentAid.gov account. If an email address was provided, the student will also receive a link to an online copy of the summary. This summary will include the Student Aid Index (SAI), which is used to determine eligibility for federal and non-federal aid. Colleges will then use this FAFSA information (along with any other required documentation) to formulate a financial aid package for the student.
4. Designate Colleges to Receive Your FAFSA Information
Students can list up to 20 colleges to which they would like their FAFSA information sent.
5. Update or Correct Your FAFSA (If Needed)
After the FAFSA has been processed, students can add colleges or make corrections to their FAFSA by logging into their account.
CSS PROFILE
Some private colleges require the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA. See the College Board website to obtain a guide to the CSS Profile with detailed information along with a list of colleges that require this form. You can complete the CSS Profile starting October 1.
- There is a $25 application fee to file the CSS Profile (which includes one college) and an additional $16 fee for each additional college. Colleges may be added at any time (for a fee). Students whose families earn less than $100,000 may qualify for a fee waiver and will be notified while completing the application.
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The CSS Profile goes into more depth than the FAFSA. Set aside 1-2 hours and gather your documentation ahead of time (most recently filed tax return, W-2 forms, other records of income, records of untaxed income and benefits, assets and bank statements).
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Check college websites for the deadline to file the CSS Profile (deadlines will vary among colleges).
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Changes cannot be made after submission, so check your information carefully. If mistakes were made, contact the colleges’ financial aid offices directly.
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Once you submit your application, your Dashboard will show the payment receipt and any next steps, such as submitting documents to the Institutional Documentation Services (IDOC).
