You Can Now File a FAFSA From Your Phone
The free Federal Financial Aid App , or FAFSA, opens today for the 2019-2020 school year, and college students now have the first opportunity to apply from their phones for the first time.
The FAFSA gives you access to federal grants, loans, and study opportunities, so it’s important to complete it on time. It’s easier than ever this year: you can download the myStudentAid app ( iOS and Android ) and use it to fill out a form and view all loan information, which is especially useful for low-income students who may not have Internet access … -connected computer at home. There are different settings for students, parents, and presenters.
Even if you do not think you are eligible for a grant, study, or other assistance as needed, you should complete the FAFSA. This will make you eligible for federal student loans (which are preferable to private loans) and some private colleges. “There is no explicit income cap. And different types of aid have different criteria for being awarded, ”Mark Kantrowitz, a college admissions and financial aid specialist, told US News . In fact, students who do not apply spend an average of $ 9,741.05 in aid, according to CNBC .
Here’s a detailed description of how to get started filling it out . Additional information on the process from the Ministry of Education.
Although the application will be open for 18 months, each state has its own deadline for submitting forms , and some states (including Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Vermont, and Washington) provide assistance on a first come, first served basis. base until it ends. So, for example, if you are interested in a work-study program, you should try to fill out the form as early as possible. However, it is possible to apply by the end of June 2020 and receive some Pell grants or retroactive federal student loans for the 2019-2020 academic year.
And remember, you must resubmit the FAFSA every year to continue to receive financial assistance. Therefore, even if you received a scholarship for this academic year, you should apply again.