Getting the financial assistance you need all starts with you filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The federal government uses the FAFSA to determine how much your family can contribute to your educational expenses.
Students enrolling in the Fall of 2025 will complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA. This uses tax information from the tax year 2023. So, make sure your 2023 taxes have been filed.
You will need to know the student’s and parent(s)’ legal name, date of birth, social security number, and valid email address.
Contributors are the student, student spouse (if married), parent and other parent.
The “other parent” is needed if marital status is Not Married, but Living Together or tax filing status is Married and Filing Separately.
All contributors described above will need to create FSA IDs to sign and submit the FAFSA online.
Keep these tips in mind when creating your FSA IDs:
On the FAFSA, all contributors will give consent to have their tax data automatically transferred in an IRS Direct Data Exchange to all colleges and universities listed on the FAFSA. You can list up to 20 colleges. Make sure PC is one of them!
If the student starts the FAFSA and invites the parent to be a contributor, the student will have five sections to complete:
Your contributor will have 45 days to complete their section. If they do not, your student section will be deleted and need to be completed again. Contributors, when invited to complete the FAFSA only have three sections: demographics, financials, and signature.
If the parent starts the FAFSA and invites the student to be a contributor, the parent will complete the student’s four sections (personal circumstances, demographics, financials, colleges) and the parents sections (demographics, financials and signature). The contributor in this instance will be the student who will have 45 days to complete their section which will only include consent and signature.
On the FAFSA, all contributors will give consent to have their tax data automatically transferred in an IRS Direct Data Exchange to all colleges and universities listed on the FAFSA.
Review the form for accuracy before submitting it.
After submitting the FAFSA, you will receive a notification of processing email from the Department of Education.
At any time you are able to login to the FAFSA website to review the information you provided on your FAFSA and the results of your Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI is used to determine your eligibility for need-based programs.
Submit your FAFSA as early as possible, but also pay attention to state- and school-specific FAFSA deadlines.
Confirm all of the contributors have completed their individual sections and check the FAFSA website to confirm the FAFSA has been submitted.
You could be eligible for the following types of financial aid if you complete the FAFSA:
If you have questions about the new FASFA, here’s a handy resource that might help. April Baur, the director of financial aid at PC, held a webinar about the FAFSA and covered helpful information such as changes to this year’s form and known issues with the FAFSA. This recording of the webinar can serve as a valuable resource that explains the importance of completing the FAFSA.
Yes, FAFSA stands for “Free Application for Federal Student Aid,” so there is no cost to apply.
Generally, the answer is no. However, some non-U.S. citizens, including eligible non-citizens, can complete the FAFSA.
If you enter the PC code 003445 on the FAFSA, the Financial Aid Office at Presbyterian College will review the results and send you a complete financial aid offer electronically and by mail.
Also, make sure you check your emails regularly! The Department of Education will randomly select students for a process called Verification. This does not mean you did anything wrong. Financial aid offices are tasked with confirming the data is correct so that federal dollars are being spent appropriately. Please provide all documentation PC requests to ensure timely and accurate financial aid information.
Yes, you can list up to 20 colleges or universities to receive your FAFSA information.
The FAFSA is essential because it serves as the gateway to numerous financial aid opportunities. Many colleges and universities, along with state and federal government agencies, use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for financial aid.
Any student who plans to attend college should fill out the FAFSA. This includes high school seniors and current college students. Some financial aid programs, including scholarships, may require a FAFSA as part of their application process.
The FAFSA became available on January 1 for the 2024-2025 academic year. It’s best to complete your FAFSA as early as possible to maximize your eligibility for aid since some programs have limited funding. The deadline to submit the FAFSA to receive South Carolina needs-based funding is June 30, 2025.
Yes! You will complete the FAFSA every year if you are a recipient of any of the above Grants or Loans.
Amidst ongoing concerns about the security of financial aid information, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) affirms our support for all students seeking to access higher education. This resource is designed to help students from families of mixed immigration statuses understand eligibility for federal financial aid and how information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used.
Key Points About FAFSA Data Security
What the FAFSA Collects
The FAFSA asks for personal details, like your name, birth date, Social Security Number (SSN), and mailing address. It also collects similar information from your “contributors,” like parents (if you’re a dependent) or spouse (if you’re married). If your contributor has an SSN, they need to provide it, but they do not need to have an SSN to fill out their portion of the FAFSA. If a contributor does not have an SSN, they check a box saying “I do not have an SSN” on the online form, or enter all zeros on the paper FAFSA. Families can use a PO box for the mailing address if needed; just ensure it’s an address where they can reliably receive important documents throughout the year.
How FAFSA Information Is Protected
Your FAFSA data is protected by laws like the Privacy Act of 1974 and the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). These laws ensure your information is only used to assess financial aid eligibility and govern how FAFSA data can be used. This applies to both paper and online FAFSAs. You can read more about these laws here: https://studentaid.gov/notices/privacy. Concerns About Future FAFSA Data Use While the information provided on the FAFSA has not been used for immigration purposes in the past, there is a possibility that current or future administrations could attempt to use this data for immigration enforcement. Currently, we don’t have any specific information about proposed or actual plans to do this, and we are not aware of any cases where a parent or contributor has faced immigration enforcement due to FAFSA submission.
Which Students Are Most at Risk
If you’ve filled out the FAFSA before, reapplying won’t put you at any more risk since your data is already with the Department of Education. Similarly, if your family members—parents, siblings, or spouse—have filled out the FAFSA in the past, you are probably not putting your family at any additional risk.
Questions about FAFSA and Financial Aid
1. Does my family member’s citizenship status impact my eligibility for federal financial aid?
No! Every U.S. citizen and eligible non-citizen can apply for federal financial aid, no matter your parent or spouse’s citizenship status. Completing the FAFSA is essential to qualify for federal financial aid, and it may also be required to access state, institutional, or private scholarships.
2. What if I’m worried about my personal or family information being shared?
It’s completely normal to feel concerned about your privacy. Some students worry about sharing personal or family information due to safety concerns or uncertainty about how their data will be used. Your feelings are valid, and it’s okay to be cautious. Remember, while FAFSA data could potentially be used for immigration enforcement, we are unaware of any proposed or actual plans to do this.
3. Are there other financial aid options if I’m not comfortable filling out the FAFSA?
The FAFSA is the only way to access federal financial aid, but there are other ways to fund your education. You may qualify for state, institutional, or private financial aid. Make sure to ask your school’s financial aid office about your options.
Conclusion
If your family has mixed immigration status, you still have the right to apply for federal financial aid to help fund your college education. If you’re unsure about any part of the FAFSA process, don’t hesitate to reach out to your high school counselor or your college’s financial aid office. They are there to help guide you through the process and assist with any challenges you might face
The FAFSA is your ticket to financial assistance for college. Make sure to submit it on time and accurately, and explore all potential financial aid opportunities to make your higher education dreams a reality.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact the Office of Financial Aid at PC at 864-833-8288 or finaid@presby.edu. We’re here to help.
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