More than $300 million in state financial aid for college is available this year for Indiana students who qualify for need- and performance-based scholarships. To receive financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by Saturday, April 15, 2017.
Indiana extended the FAFSA deadline in response to issues with the federal data retrieval tool that complicated the process for families attempting to submit the FAFSA.
“Every prospective college student—whether they’re a high school senior or a returning adult—should complete the FAFSA,” Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers said. “With the FAFSA deadline rapidly approaching, we’re encouraging high schools and community groups across the state to spread the word and help students submit the FAFSA before the April 15 deadline.”
Beyond determining eligibility for state and federal financial aid, colleges use information from the FAFSA to determine their scholarship awards. This deadline is particularly urgent for Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars who will lose their scholarship if they fail to submit an on-time FAFSA.
Filing the FAFSA
The fastest and easiest way to file the FAFSA is online at www.fafsa.gov. To complete the FAFSA, you will need: 1) Your Social Security Number; 2) Your 2015 federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned; and 3) An FSA ID to sign electronically. NOTE: Dependent students need this same information for their parent(s). The U.S. Department of Education provides email and live chat assistance for FAFSA filers as well as a helpline at 1-800-4FED-AID.
More FAFSA Help for Hoosiers
Hoosier families can find FAFSA-related help via phone at 1-888-528-4719, email (awards@che.in.gov), Twitter (twitter.com/learnmorein) Facebook (facebook.com/learnmorein), or online at LearnMoreIndiana.org/cost.
