The FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid -- is a major step toward getting financial help for college. It may provide you with Pell Grant and/or state assistance money based on your family income. It may also qualify you for Stafford or other loans. Subsidized loans mean you do not have to pay interest until have you graduate.

REMINDER---filing the FAFSA is FREE---BE careful about people that offer to help you for a fee.

The best way to complete the FAFSA is online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
You should obtain a pin number for you and for a parent by going to www.fafsa.ed.gov The pin is a four digit number with which you sign your application.


FAFSA worksheets are available in Guidance, but are not necessary. To obtain a paper copy, you must call1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243), but it is highly recommended to complete the online form. You can start it, save it, and return to finish later. You need your last year's tax returns to complete the FAFSA.


The FAFSA is also necessary to receive the HOPE Scholarship from the Tennessee Lottery. More information on that and a few other scholarships is available at www.collegepaystn.com

FAFSA4caster is a financial aid estimator you can use to help determine how much federal money you might get for education--go to www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov

If you qualify for a Pell Grant and have taken the University Path, you should also qualify for up to $ 750 for the Academic Competitiveness Grant.  This increases in the second year, and increases more if you are majoring in certain areas.  Be sure to ask your college financial aid office about this.