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In spite of all the acronyms, the student aid process is pretty straightforward if you take the time to see it through. After all, millions of students just like you apply successfully each year. So, go ahead. Apply. The results may surprise and delight you.
We’ve set everything up so you can apply and check the progress of your application online.
In the case of federal student loans, there are a few points we should make up front. One, interest rates for student loans are far lower than those for commercial loans because the federal government subsidizes them. Repayment terms are comfortable and, in most instances, you don’t begin to repay until you leave school. And if you’re worried about your credit history disqualifying you—don’t. The amount of your student loan does not depend on your past history with creditors.
So... you can go for it, or you can hang back. The how-to is right here, but you have to supply the drive.
DID YOU KNOW …
Applying for federal student aid grants, work-study and loans is FREE! Why pay a third party for help with the FAFSA? Help in completing the FAFSA is available from our office for free and there are no fees of any kind assessed by the government when you submit a FAFSA. |
Your PIN is an electronic access code that serves as your personal identifier. Your PIN allows you to:
- "Sign" your FAFSA electronically and complete the student aid process completely online—no paper is involved.
- If you’re a dependent student and one of your parents has a Federal Student Aid PIN, he or she can sign your FAFSA electronically online as well.
- Correct your FAFSA online.
- Access your Student Aid Report* (SAR).
- "Sign" a master promissory note* for a federal student loan.
- Access your federal student aid records online, including your student loan history information on NSLDS.*
DID YOU KNOW …
The Federal Student Aid PIN gives you access to personal information and therefore should be kept PRIVATE. You should not share your PIN with anyone, even if that person is helping you fill out the FAFSA. Counselors should not offer to hold onto students’ PINs. If you are concerned about forgetting your PIN you should go to www.pin.ed.gov and change your PIN to a number you will remember. |
We encourage you to apply online because that process is much faster and easier. The electronic FAFSA process has edits built into the application that dramatically reduce the chance for errors. That saves you time and trouble. But, even if you don’t apply online, you can use a PIN later to:
- View your SAR* online.
- Correct your application information.
- Complete subsequent FAFSAs online.
You, and your parents if you’re a dependent student, can apply for a PIN anytime at www.pin.ed.gov.
If you’re in FAFSA on the Web, a separate screen will appear when you select the option to apply for a PIN. You will be given the option of instantly receiving your PIN online, having it e-mailed to you immediately, or having it sent to you via postal mail (7–10 days). If you choose to have it displayed on the screen, you can sign your FAFSA right then and there. If you choose to have your PIN e-mailed to you or sent by postal mail, you’ll need to save your FAFSA on the Web and sign with your PIN when you receive it. Or, you can print a "signature page," sign and mail it to the address indicated on the page. You can also select the option to process the application without a signature. If you select this option, you will be mailed a paper SAR* that you must sign and mail back to us for processing. The process can take two or more weeks. This option is not recommended because it is the most time-consuming.
NOTE: Initially, your PIN can only be used only to sign your FAFSA. Your personal data (Social Security number, full name, and date of birth) must successfully match with the data the Social Security Administration has on file for you before your PIN can be used for other federal student aid purposes, such as signing a promissory note.* After your data successfully matches with the Social Security Administration’s data you can use your PIN at other federal student aid Web sites. Your SAR* will contain a comment that lets you know whether your data successfully matched with the Social Security Administration’s data or not. If your data does not match you will receive a notice with information to help you resolve the issue..
Yes. If you did not apply for a PIN before submitting your FAFSA, your personal data, such as your Social Security number, full name, and date of birth, will be matched with the Social Security Administration’s data. If the match is successful, we’ll automatically send you a PIN.
Go to www.pin.ed.gov or www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov. Or, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
No. You can only apply for a PIN online.
Safeguard Your PIN and Remember It!
www.pin.ed.gov
- Your PIN is used to sign legally binding documents electronically. It has the same legal status as a written signature.
- Don’t give your PIN to anyone—not even to someone helping you fill out the FAFSA. Sharing your PIN could put you at risk of identity theft!
- Remember your PIN! You’ll use this same PIN for future online FAFSAs and the many different actions regarding your student aid records.
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