Filing Your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

You are required to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or renewal FAFSA each year, including any requests for verification of information.  Filing a FAFSA is required by the Foundation even if you do not qualify for any Federal student financial aid.  The Foundation cannot fund your scholarship for the coming school year until the FAFSA is completed and all verification requests are satisfied.

We encourage you to file it as early as possible.  If you delay in filing, you may not qualify for some grants and gift aid available.  The FAFSA serves as your application for government-based aid such as the Pell Grant.  If you appear to be eligible for a Pell Grant, your Terry award assumes that you will apply and receive that grant each year, so it is important that you remember to apply each year to establish whether or not you are eligible.

Many students wait until they and their parents have filed income tax returns before filing the FAFSA. Although this is recommended if the tax returns are filed early, it is not required.  You can estimate your family’s income and other required data and use that information on the FAFSA.