What is the FAFSA?
The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is required to qualify for almost all types of financial aid, including loans. You must fill out a new FAFSA every year if you want aid. When you submit the FAFSA to the U.S. Department of Education, it estimates how much your family can afford to pay for college. An underlying premise of its financial aid policy is that it is the family’s primary responsibility to pay for college. Rarely does financial aid cover all your college expenses. The purpose of financial aid is to supplement what your family can afford to pay. Even if you think you won’t qualify for federal aid because your income is too high, fill out the FAFSA. Many scholarships require it. And you might be surprised by what you qualify for.
If you are not eligible to submit the FAFSA, you can submit the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA). The ORSAA is an alternative to the FAFSA for undocumented Oregon students, including students who have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status or Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Most international students are not eligible for federal financial aid and do NOT need to fill out a FAFSA. If you are an eligible noncitizen, you may qualify for federal financial aid. Complete the FAFSA to determine your eligibility. Learn more about international student scholarships.
Summer term is the last term in the academic year at Portland State University, learn more about summer term financing.
Who should complete the FAFSA?
Any student, regardless of income, who wants to be considered for federal, state, and PSU financial aid programs. This includes grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans.
How long will it take to complete the FAFSA?
It takes most people less than one hour to fill out the FAFSA form, including gathering any personal documents and financial information needed to complete it.
What do I need to complete the FAFSA?
- Verified account username and password (FSA ID)
- Parent or spouse contributor name, date of birth, Social Security number, and email address
- Income and asset information (if required)
If your parents/guardians are undocumented or non-U.S. citizens, you must complete a paper FAFSA and mail it to Federal Student Aid Programs. You can pick up a printed FAFSA at the PSU Financial Aid Office.
Do I fill out the FAFSA or my parents/guardians?
It’s your FAFSA. You need to fill out the application and must sign the form before submitting it. If you are a dependent student, your parent(s)/guardian(s) also have to provide financial information and sign the application. A series of questions on the application will help you determine if you’re a dependent or independent student. All graduate and professional students are considered independent.
What happens after I submit my FAFSA?
Once you submit your FAFSA, you will receive an email to access your FAFSA Submission Summary. If an email address was not supplied, a paper summary will be mailed to you. Schools will start receiving FAFSA information from the federal government in mid-March. Schools will then get information to students several weeks later.
How do I get help completing the FAFSA?
The Office of Student Financial Aid is available to help you complete your FAFSA. You can schedule a one-on-one appointment with a financial aid counselor. Contact Financial Aid to schedule an appointment.