How to apply
The first step in the Financial Aid process is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA is used to determine your eligibility for federal and Indiana state aid programs, and some scholarships also require a FAFSA on file.
Before you begin filing the FAFSA, we recommend printing and completing a FAFSA worksheet. The FAFSA worksheet will help you assemble the information you'll need to complete the FAFSA.
When to file the FAFSA
The FAFSA must be submitted every year you need financial aid. The FAFSA is available after January 1st each year.
To be eligible for Indiana state aid programs like 21st Century Scholar, Indiana National Guard grant and Frank O'Bannon Higher Education award, you must file your FAFSA so that it is received by the Federal Processor by 11:59 pm on March 10th each year. If you miss the March 10th deadline, you will not be eligible for state aid until the following academic year.
Additionally, if you must make any corrections to your FAFSA, you must do so by 11:59 pm on May 15th each year or you will lose your state aid eligibility. You can access your state aid information any time at the state of Indiana's student aid portal, eStudent.
If you are unsure of which year's FAFSA to submit, use the table below:
Information needed to complete the FAFSA
To complete the FAFSA, you will need the following information:
Dependent Students:
- Student's federal tax return, if filed
- Parents' federal tax return
- School code (IPFW's school code is 001828)
- FAFSA PIN number for student and parent
Independent Students:
- Student's federal tax return, if filed
- School code (IPFW's school code is 001828)
- FAFSA PIN number
After you file the FAFSA
IPFW will receive your FAFSA within 3 to 5 business days. If you are already admitted to IPFW, your FAFSA will be processed at that time. The Enrollment tab on myIPFW will show a green checkmark if your FAFSA has been received. If you must provide any documentation, or if you were selected for verification, you will also see red flags. You must provide the requested information as quickly as possible, as you cannot be awarded any federal or state aid until the red flags are cleared.
Also, log on to the state of Indiana's student aid portal, eStudent to make sure the state of Indiana does not show any problems with your FAFSA that must be corrected.
Once any requirements have been cleared, you will be awarded your financial aid package. For more information on awarding, read about the How Your Aid Is Awarded.
Who is eligible for aid?
- The federal and Indiana state requirements for financial aid are:
- Be enrolled in an eligible degree-seeking or certificate program.
- Be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Have a valid Social Security Number
- Be registered with Selective Service (if required)
- Be in good academic standing and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress toward completion of a degree or certificate
- Not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a federal education loan
- Accept the Financial Aid Terms and Conditions
If the information you enter on your FAFSA cannot be verified by the government, you may be asked to submit documents to the Financial Aid Office. It is recommended to do so as soon as possible to prevent a delay in being awarded your financial aid.
Enrollment Requirements
Some financial aid awards have enrollment requirements where a student must be enrolled a minimum number of credit hours.
| Enrollment Status | Number of Credit Hours |
|---|
| Full Time |
12 Credit Hours or more |
| 3/4 Time |
9-11 Credit Hours |
| 1/2 Time |
6-8 Credit Hours |
| Less than 1/2 Time |
1-5 Credit Hours |
The Indiana Higher Education Award and 21st Century Scholars require full time enrollment.
Federal loans (PLUS and Stafford) require at least half time enrollment.
The Pell Grant is prorated for the amount of credit hours the student is enrolled in. To receive the maximum amount of the Pell Grant, a student must be full time. Some students may lose their eligibility for the Pell grant if enrolled less than half time.
Other factors in determining eligiblity for aid
Financial Need:
Your financial need is determined by the government with the financial information you entered on your FAFSA. Using a formula, the government figures how much it can expect you to contribute towards your education. This is called the Estimated Family Contribution or EFC. You're not required to contribute that amount, though. It's only a way for the government to decide if you need more help in paying for school than others. The lower your EFC, the more financial need you have. The lowest EFC you can have is 0.
Dependent or Independent?
When you complete the FAFSA, you are asked a series of questions to determine whether you are a dependent or independent student. Dependent students are required to include their parent's financial information on the FAFSA.
Please know that a student living on their own and paying their own bills is not enough to be considered independent unless there are other factors, such as having legal dependents, or if the student is married, to name just a few examples. In extreme circumstances, a student can submit a Dependency Appeal, If approved, the Financial Aid Office could change the student to independent.
More Resources
The FAFSA Forecaster will give you an early estimate of your eligiblity for financial aid. Anyone can use the FAFSA4caster, all you need to do is create an account.
The Department of Education has a College Preparation Checklist full of all the information you need to get your financial aid process started.
Visit TRIP to College for more information about federal and state financial aid for Indiana residents.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) FAQ
I probably don't qualify for aid. Should I apply anyway?
Yes, the only way to be sure if you qualify for financial aid is to file a FAFSA. Everyone is eligible for some kind of financial aid, even if it's only student loans. Many families make the mistake of not applying for aid and losing out on financial aid that is available.
Also, there are a few sources of aid such as unsubsidized Stafford and PLUS loans that are available regardless of need. The FAFSA form is free. There is no good excuse for not applying.
What is IPFW's school code?
001828
What is the priority deadline for Financial Aid?
The priority deadline is March 10th each year to be eligible for any Indiana state aid. You must have your FAFSA filed by midnight on March 10th. If you file your FAFSA after the deadline, you will still be eligible for federal aid, but not Indiana state aid.
Additionally, if you have any corrections that you must make to your FAFSA, you must do so by May 15th each year to keep your eligibility for Indiana state aid.
What is the IRS Data Retrieval tool and how do I use it?
The IRS Data Retrieval tool links your IRS tax return information (and/or your parents' tax return informaiton) with your FAFSA, making it faster, easier, and more accurate.
To use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool:
- When completing the FAFSA, enter your PIN* and click Link To IRS
- *You will not be asked to enter your PIN if you entered a PIN to begin your FAFSA.
- Your FAFSA will be saved and you will be transferred to the IRS Web site.
- On the IRS Web site, enter the requested information.
- Once the IRS has validated your identification, your IRS tax information will display. You can either transfer your information from the IRS, or choose to return to FAFSA on the Webfrom the IRS Web site. If you do not transfer your information or choose not to return from the IRS Web site, you will have to login to open your saved FAFSA.
- If you transfer your IRS tax information, questions that are populated with tax information will be marked with “Transferred from the IRS.”
Get more information
How do I correct information on my FAFSA?
If the information you entered on your FAFSA was incorrect as of the day you signed the FAFSA, you can use Corrections on the Web (FAFSA site) to correct your answers.
You cannot change:
- Your Social Security Number via the Corrections on the Web. If your Social Security Number is incorrect, you must call FAFSA on the Web Customer Service at 1-800-433-3243 or complete a new application with the correct Social Security Number.
- Your financial information, unless it was incorrect as of the day the FAFSA was submitted.
- Your marital status, unless it was incorrect as of the day the FAFSA was submitted.
Do I have to reapply for aid every year?
Yes. In order to receive financial aid, you must file a new FAFSA each year. Depending on how your financial circumstances change, you may receive more or less aid.
After your first year you will receive notification of a "Renewal Application" from the Department of Education which contains preprinted information from the previous year's FAFSA.
Note that your eligibility for financial aid may change significantly, especially if you have a different number of family members in college.
I sent in my FAFSA weeks ago, but I haven't heard anything. What should I do?
If you haven't received a Student Aid Report (SAR), you can check the status of a submitted FAFSA by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 (toll free).
If you have already been admitted to IPFW, you can check if IPFW has received your FAFSA or if you have any outstanding requirements by logging on to myIPFW and clicking on the Enrollment tab. The Financial Aid Requirements box will indicate if your FAFSA was received and if you have documentation that you must submit to the Financial Aid Office.
I'm transferring to IPFW from another school, what do I have to do?
You will need to add IPFW's school code (001828) to your FAFSA. Or you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 to add our school code.
You must also contact the financial aid office at your current school to cancel the aid you are receiving at that institution.
I'm a graduate student, can I still get financial aid?
Graduate students are eligible to receive federal student loans. They are not eligible to receive any federal or state grants.
Do I have to include parent information on the FAFSA, or can I be considered "independent"?
The guidelines to determine your dependency status are listed in step 2 (step 3 if paper) on the FAFSA.
Most students under the age of 24 who are not married, do not have children, have not served active duty in the military for reasons other than training, or who are not orphans or wards of the court will be considered a dependent student under federal guidelines. Living on your own and paying your own bills is not criteria to be considered independent.
If my parents are divorced and I am a dependent student, whose information do I report on the FAFSA?
You would report information about the parent you lived with for the greater amount of time during the 12 months preceding the date you file your FAFSA application.
If you didn't live with either parent, or if you lived with each parent an equal amount of time, then use information about the parent who provided the greater amount of financial support during the 12 months prior to the date you file your FAFSA application.
If you didn't receive any parental financial support during that time, you must report information about the parent who most recently provided the greater amount of parental support.
Do I report my stepparent's information on the FAFSA?
Your stepparent's financial information is required on the FAFSA if:
- the parent you received financial support from was a single parent who is now remarried.
- the parent you received financial support from was divorced or widowed but has now remarried.
This does not mean your stepparent is obligated to give financial assistance to you, but his or her income and assets represent significant information about the family's financial resources. Including this information on the FAFSA helps the Federal Processor form an accurate picture of your family's total financial strength.
My parents refuse to put their information on the FAFSA. What are my options?
Please call the Financial Aid Office (260-481-6820) or visit the Financial Aid Office in Kettler Hall room 102 for information on your options.
Connect with IPFW:
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd.
