College prep is about more than the classes that you take. It’s also about developing the skills that will help you succeed in college. One of those skills is learning to make the most of the financial aid and programs available to you. Learning how to use your financial aid options can mean the difference between finishing college with tons of debt or graduating without owing anything. So, understanding how financial aid works is vital to your financial well-being.

Watch: What is FAFSA? -Federal Student Aid on YouTube

To put it simply, the FAFSA is the application for federal student aid and it’s free to apply. The FAFSA is a form used by Federal Student Aid, a part of the U.S. Department of Education. They are the largest provider of student financial aid in the nation.

The information that students, or their parents, provide on the FAFSA is used by the federal government to calculate how much financial aid a student should get. It passes that information on to the student’s desired school or potential schools so the school can set aside an appropriate amount of financial aid for that student. It’s a “must” if you are planning to go to college!

Who is Eligible for Financial Aid?

To be eligible for federal aid, you must have a financial need, be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, and enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program at your college or career school. To see the full eligibility requirements for federal student aid, please see Financial Aid Eligibility on the Federal Student Aid website.

View the FAFSA Eligibility Infogaphic

Gather your Information Before You Apply

The FAFSA questions ask for information about you such as your name, date of birth, address, etc. and about your financial situation —your income and assets. The documents you will need to fill out the FAFSA application will depend on your situation. Watch this video to learn more about the required information

Foster Care Youth

You will be asked: “Are you a foster youth or were you at any time in the foster care system?” →Answer YES to this question, even if you were only in foster care for one day. Answering yes may give you access to more support to help you in college.

When to Apply

If you are planning to attend a college or university in the 2025-2026 school year, you can begin the application in December of 2024. It is best to apply earlier rather than later so that potential schools can get the information they need to calculate your financial aid offer and set those funds aside.

How to Fill out the FAFSA

See this video Start your FAFSA Application to learn how to fill out the FAFSA!

Questions about dependency / independence from parents? Look Here… Dependent or Independent When I Fill Out the FAFSA® Form? -Federal Student Aid

Appeals go to your COLLEGE financial aid office to consider special circumstances: Income Reduction or Dependency Overrides.

What School Are You Going To Attend?

Reach out to the Financial Aid office at the school you plan to attend - they can help you along the way and also may know about more opportunities for scholarships and programs for you! Find their contact information on their school’s website.

Help with FAFSA

ASK BENJI- AI Bot

If you would like additional help to fill out the FAFSA, you can “Ask Benji”. Benji is your digital FAFSA assistant, designed especially for Arizona students. Text 602-786-8171 to get started!

Help Over the Phone! Arizona FAFSA Hotline! Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm 1-833-AZFAFSA (English) or 1-833-MiFAFSA (Spanish) staffed by higher ed and college access experts from ASU, Be A Leader Foundation, AdviseAZ and AzCAN.

Need one-on-one Help?

Schedule a virtual meeting with a FAFSA expert! Appointments available in English and Spanish for Arizona residents.

What is the FAFSA® and why do I need it?