The FAFSA is the most important document relating to financial aid for college. Everyone seeking need-based or government aid of any kind must complete the FAFSA.

A. The FAFSA is Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students must complete the FAFSA every year to remain eligible for aid. Virtually all federal programs that use the FAFSA to determine eligibility, including Pell Grants and Stafford Loans. Colleges also use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for campus-based programs and other financial aid originating with or administered by the school.

The purpose of the FAFSA is not only to determine which families qualify for financial aid, but also to determine eligibility for particular programs and to estimate the family's own expected contribution to a student's education.

The FAFSA can be completed in traditional paper form, but is more quickly processed when completed online.

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