The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required to determine eligibility to receive any federal money, but may also be used by individual colleges for awarding need-based financial aid. The FAFSA is also required to determine eligible for certain state financial aid program and can also be required by private scholarship providers.
Students can complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov as soon as the application opens in October of your senior year. Some Mississippi university scholarship programs require the FAFSA with deadlines as early as December 1. Attend your high school’s FAFSA completion event or make an appointment with a Get2College counselor to get our help completing your FAFSA.
Some colleges may require the CSS/Financial Aid Profile® in addition to the FAFSA.
What you need to complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA
In order to complete the FAFSA, you will need to bring information for the parent(s) and the student. If your parents are divorced or separated, bring the information below for the parent you have lived with the most in the last 12 months. If that parent has remarried, bring information for the step-parent as well. Do not bring information on a grandparent, aunt, or anyone other than a parent unless you have been legally adopted (even if someone else claims you on the federal tax return).
- Parent(s) and student’s legal names
- Parent(s) and student’s Social Security numbers
- Parent(s) and student’s dates of birth
- A parent’s MS driver’s license or MS issued ID
- Email addresses for student and parent
- Permanent resident card (if applicable)
- List of colleges (up to 10) that you want to receive your FAFSA results. Mark the college in Mississippi that you are most likely to attend (only one allowed on the state aid application).
- Access to cell phones for parent and student to verify phone number via text
- Info for parents with whom you live: marriage date, divorce date, or separation date
- If you are in a legal guardianship, bring court papers for the guardianship
- W-2 forms and other records of money earned in 2021 (student and parents)
- Entire 2021 Federal Income Tax Return (including the 1040 form and Schedules for student and parents) – If your parents or parent and step-parent file separately, bring copies of both tax returns
- Value of bank accounts and investments (separate out those in retirement accounts)
- Child support and other untaxed income
Parents who have completed the FAFSA for themselves or other children will use the same FSA ID (username and password) for all children. Please have this information and be available for an access code via email or call, this will be necessary to complete the FAFSA.
If your student is NOT with you, please have access to your student so that they can verify codes sent to their cell phone and their email.