For the majority of students, financial aid is an integral part of successfully attending college and completing a degree. The FAFSA, which stands for Free Application For Student Financial Aid, is an application that college students can fill out and submit each academic year to determine their eligibility for financial aid toward their tuition and other relevant education expenses.
To properly complete this application, you must provide specific information from certain relevant documents. Below is a checklist of documents you should have in front of you before you begin this process to be sure you can answer each question and go through the form efficiently.
- Social Security card: You'll need to put down your Social Security Number (SSN) on the application, so have this card handy to ensure your memory of this number is correct.
- Your driver's license: If you have a license, you might need some information from this for the application.
- W-2 forms from the previous two years: These would be the 2016 and 2017 forms for the 2018-2019 FAFSA application. This also includes any other documents with records of any earned income from those two years. These income amounts must be reported on the application.
- Federal income tax returns from the previous two tax years: You should have either your own personal federal income tax return, your parents' returns (if they claim you as a dependent), or both on hand. For the 2018-2019 FAFSA, these would be your tax returns from 2016 and 2017. Depending on how you file, these forms might include IRS Form 1040, 1040-A, 1040-EZ, foreign tax returns, or a tax return from Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, or the Federated States of Micronesia.
- Records of any untaxed income: These should also be for the two previous years and might include records listing payments to tax-deferred pension and savings plans, tax-exempt interest, and child support payments. This income for 2016 would be required to report on the 2018-2019 application.
- Records of taxable earnings: These records might be from Federal Work-Study or other need-based work programs. This income from 2016 would be required to report for the 2018-2019 application.
- Grant, scholarship, and fellowship records: Money received through these means should be reported, and it would be included in either your or your parents' adjusted gross income (AGI) for 2016 when considering the 2018-2019 application.
- Any current bank statements
- Other records: Any current business or investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stocks, bonds, and any other investment information might apply to the requirements of the application.
- Resident documentation: You should have a record that you are a permanent U.S. resident or other eligible noncitizen (if applicable).
Saint Leo's Financial Aid Team Is Here to Help
If you currently attend or are planning to attend Saint Leo University, the Student Financial Services office is always willing to assist students with the FAFSA or any other applications required to maximize students' financial aid. Call 800.240.7658 or send an e-mail to sfs@saintleo.edu to learn more. You can also visit the financial aid page.
