From federal grants and work-study programs to low-interest loans and scholarships, the (Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps determine eligibility for financial aid that can make higher education more accessible and affordable.
Whether you’re an incoming freshman or a returning student, completing the FAFSA ensures you don’t miss out on financial support that can significantly ease the burden of college costs.
Please allocate one hour to complete the FAFSA. Collect the following information before completing the FAFSA:
- FSA ID (a contributor(parent) will also need an FSA ID if the student is dependent). If the parent/stepparent filed taxes separately from their spouse they will also need a FSA ID. For an independent student, a student’s spouse may also need a FSA ID if taxes were filed separately). Instructions on how to create an FSA ID are below.
- Social Security Number (if applicable). If you don’t have a SSN, an alternative method is available.
- Your own mobile phone and/or email address
- Permanent address
- Contributors/Parent’s Social Security Number (if the student is dependent)
- Alien Registration Number (if the student is not a U.S. citizen)
- Marshall University’s Federal School Code: 003815
- You will retrieve your federal tax information by using the IRS Direct Data Exchange (IRS DDX). If you are not able to use the IRS DDX, you will need your Federal tax information or tax returns, including W-2 information, for you (and your spouse, if you are married), and for your parents, if you are a dependent student
- Records of untaxed income, which include foreign income if that income was exempt from U.S. taxation or foreign income for which the individual received a foreign tax credit.
- Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts
- Net worth of investments, businesses, and farms
- Asset information, which includes but is not limited to child support received, vacation homes, value of family farms and businesses.
- On the studentaid.gov website, select create account. Once you’re on the create account page, select the get started button.
- Next, you will create a unique username and password, and enter your email address.
- Enter your personal information.
- Provide your name, date of birth, and Social Security Number.
- Include your permanent mailing address, email address, telephone number, and language preference.
- Select your communications preference, either by email or mail.
- Provide answers to 4 challenge questions.
- Enable two-step verification. You can choose email and text message, or an authenticator app.
- Once you enable two-step verification, a back up code will be generated. Store this code in a safe place in the event that you cannot use any other two-step verification method.
- The FSA ID is now successfully created.
- A confirmation email will be sent.
- Take note of your user name and password and keep them in a safe place.
Only the owner of the FSA ID should create and use the account. NEVER share your FSA ID or password. The FSA ID contains personal identification information you should never share.
Only the student should complete the FAFSA with the assistance of a contributor/parent if their information is required.
Filing the FAFSA gives you access to federal grants, loans, and work-study.
When you file the FAFSA, you will also be considered for state and institutional financial aid. State aid programs may require the completion of additional forms or applications.
WV residents refer to the WV State Level Application for instructions on applying for WV state aid.
Some scholarship applications may require you to include your Student Aid Index (SAI), which will show on your FAFSA Submission Summary.
You must include Federal School Code 003815 if you want Marshall University to receive your FAFSA.
The priority deadline is March 1st.
As a result of filing the FAFSA, you will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary by email. You have the ability to access your FAFSA Submission Summary by going to StudentAid.gov. You will need your FSA ID to access the summary.
Review the summary for accuracy. If you need to make any corrections, you may do so by going to StudentAid.gov. You will always need your FSA ID (and your parent’s, if dependent) to access, make corrections and sign electronically.
When you make corrections, Marshall University and, (if you are a WV resident) the WV Higher Education Policy Commission will automatically receive these updates electronically. It takes one to two weeks before the corrections are processed and received by the school and the state.
If you have already received an award notice from Marshall University and you make corrections to the FAFSA, you will receive a revised award notice if your eligibility has changed.
If you don’t receive confirmation of the FAFSA submission summary within a week of filing, you may access your summary by going to StudentAid.gov. You will need your FSA ID to access and print. You may also call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) to make an inquiry about your financial aid application.
