The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a required application for all federal and some state and institutional financial aid programs. All students who wish to apply for need-based aid (Subsidized Stafford and Perkins loans, Federal Work-Study, and federal, state and Northwestern scholarship assistance) should complete a FAFSA as part of the annual application process. Those families interested in non need-based federal loan programs (Unsubsidized Stafford loans) should also file this application.

The FAFSA is available in both a paper and an online format. We recommend the use of the online version because the built-in edit checks not only make the form easier for families to fill out, but we have found that it results in fewer errors and faster processing. The Renewal FAFSA, an abbreviated version of the FAFSA based on information submitted for the previous year, is also available in both a paper and an online format. Those who completed a FAFSA last year should take advantage of the Renewal FAFSA application.

Students who filed a FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA for 2007-08 should have received 2008-09 Renewal FAFSA information directly from the U.S. Department of Education prior to January 2008. A paper Renewal FAFSA is sent to those who filed a paper application for the prior year. Those who filed online or made an online correction to their FAFSA information for the prior year will instead receive a PIN. The PIN is used to access the student's Renewal FAFSA information on the web, and can also be used to electronically sign the application. If you did not receive, or have lost or forgotten your PIN, you may either change it or request that it be sent to you again at the Federal Student Aid PIN Registration website.

To access the FAFSA online go to FAFSA on the Web. Returning students who do not have internet access may request a paper copy from our office. Prospective students may obtain paper FAFSAs from their high school college counselor. For detailed instructions on how to complete the FAFSA go to the Federal Student Aid (FSA) website or call (800) 4-FED-AID. There are no fees associated with filing a FAFSA.

When completing the FAFSA, be sure to designate Northwestern's Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid as a recipient of the information. Our federal school code is 001739. Once the FAFSA is processed you will receive a SAR (Student Aid Report) which summarizes the information you submitted. If any of the information is incorrect, corrections may be submitted for reprocessing by returning the corrected and signed paper SAR to the federal processor, or by making the corrections electronically via the FAFSA website.

Please submit the FAFSA at least two weeks prior to our application deadline to allow time for it to be processed and the information forwarded to our office. See Applying for Financial Aid - Application Procedures and Deadlines for more information on this and other required application materials.