Application Process: 2024-25
This guide will help you assist students and families through the application process for Title IV aid. Lessons cover the formats of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the information needed to complete the paper (PDF) FAFSA, features of the online FAFSA, application output, and changing application data. Completion of this self-study guide qualifies individuals to take the corresponding NASFAA Professional Credential test.
Free
Published February 2024
Learning Objectives
Lesson 1: The Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA)
- Know how to apply for Title IV aid for the 2024-25 award year; and
- Be able to identify and describe the versions of the FAFSA students may use to apply for Title IV aid.
Lesson 2: Application Process
- Provide general information on proper completion of the paper FAFSA; and
- Identify the features of the online FAFSA.
Lesson 3: Processing FAFSA Data and Application Output
- Understand how FAFSA data are processed; and
- Recognize the various application output documents.
Lesson 4: Changing Applicant Data
- Understand the difference between corrections, updates, and adjustments;
- Know how to submit changes to applicant data;
- Recognize when dependency overrides are not appropriate; and
- Understand when a school may accept a dependency override performed by another institution.