Completing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

There is no income cut-off to qualify for federal student aid. You should complete a FAFSA if you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident seeking financial aid, even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for anything.

VIEW ALL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The 2025-26 FAFSA is scheduled to be available by December 1, 2024. Complete the FAFSA as soon as you can after it opens each year for the upcoming academic year. It’s for more than just federal financial aid. The sooner you fill it out, the sooner you will see what financial aid Westminster is offering you. The FAFSA will close on June 30 each year for the prior academic year (example: the 2024–25 FAFSA closes on June 30, 2025).

The FAFSA is free. You don’t need to pay anyone to prepare it for you. Many factors, including your household size and year in school, are considered. The FAFSA looks at yours' and your parents’ prior tax information. For the 2025–26 academic year, the FAFSA uses 2023 tax information and the information will be transferred directly from the IRS into the form. Use your permanent email address, not a school email address. After you fill out the FAFSA, you will receive an offer that may include grants and loans. This offer shows you your options; there is no obligation to use any amount of it.

Westminster’s FAFSA School Code: 003681

Step 1: Before you complete the FAFSA, you and your contributors (parent(s) or spouse) will each need to create a StudentAid.gov account. Remember or securely save your username and password so you can access and submit the 2025–26 FAFSA form when it's available.

Step 2: Complete the FAFSA online.

After you have submitted your FAFSA form, the U.S. Department of Education will process your application. Once the application has been processed, you will receive a copy of your FAFSA Submission Summary. Make sure all of the information on that report is complete and accurate. This report will be sent to the colleges you listed in your FAFSA.

While waiting for your financial aid offer, review your checklist and reach out to the Financial Aid Office if you have questions about missing FAFSA information or next steps. Your checklist will show if additional information is needed to complete your aid offer. Responding quickly to requests will speed up the awarding process.