What are the key deadlines incoming students need to know for filling out the FAFSA form?
Dec. 1 is Wichita State University’s priority date for submitting a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form. Not only will early applicants be considered for the widest range of eligible grants and aid programs, but these new incoming students can receive their aid offer letter from the Office of Financial Aid before the winter break!
Students can file after Dec. 1, but the opportunity to receive some types of aid programs will be greatly reduced. Eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant and/or Federal Direct Loans are not affected by this priority date. A comprehensive list of financial aid priority dates and deadlines is available here.
Additionally, high school seniors from Sedgwick County or the Shocker Neighborhood should get admitted by Feb. 1 and complete their FAFSA by March 1 to be considered for Wichita State’s Shocker Promise, which is a scholarship program that provides last-dollar funding to incoming first-time freshmen who are eligible for the Pell Grant and meet other eligibility requirements.
What documents do incoming students need to have ready in order to complete the FAFSA?
To complete the FAFSA form, students will need:
- Student and Parent’s Social Security Number
- Student’s Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
- Student and Parent’s federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: Families may be able to transfer federal tax return information into the FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool)
- Student and Parent’s bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
- Student and Parent’s Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
- Student and Parent’s FSA ID to sign electronically
In some cases, parent information may not be needed. Additional information is available here.
How do students know whether or not they qualify for Federal Student Aid?
Most students qualify for at least some type of federal student aid – it just depends on how much is need-based versus non-need-based aid! When students complete the FAFSA, it displays an estimate for possible eligibility for grants (need-based aid) and loans (which can be need-based or non-need-based aid).
New incoming students to Wichita State can expect to receive their official financial aid offers as early as late December if they are admitted, have completed their FAFSA, and have submitted any additional requested financial aid documents.
General eligibility requirements include that you have financial need, are a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, have/will have a high school diploma/GED, and are enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program at your college (i.e., Wichita State University).
Our advice – students should apply quickly to see what types of aid they can receive. They won’t know until they apply!
Why is it important for students to apply even if they do not think they qualify for Federal Student Aid?
Even if students don’t expect to get any free federal need-based aid (like grants), they may decide to take out federal loans. Often federal loans (subsidized and unsubsidized) have lower interest rates and will qualify for special loan forgiveness or repayment programs that are not available with private loans through a bank or other companies who offer educational loans. Also, completing the FAFSA form allows students to be considered for not only federal aid but also state and some types of institutional financial aid.
What assistance can Wichita State's Office of Financial Aid offer for students in need of help on their FAFSA? What is the best way to get in contact with the Office of Financial Aid?
Need help with the FAFSA? Our staff in the Office of Financial Aid can offer personalized, one-on-one appointments for students (and parents, too!) to come into our office where we walk through the FAFSA from creating the FSA ID to clicking the submit button. (YAY!) To set up an appointment with the Office of Financial Aid, visit wichita.edu/finaidappt. We’re happy to help!
Are there any tips you have for incoming students filling out the FAFSA? Is there anything else students should know in regards to the FAFSA?
- Complete the FAFSA every year of college – not just the first year. Pro Tip: Students and parents should put a recurring reminder in their phones for Oct. 1 to complete the FAFSA.
- Create the FSA ID (both students and parents each need their own) before you start the FAFSA form.
- The FAFSA uses taxes from two years ago to complete the form. (It sounds odd but it’s correct.) For example, the 2023-2024 FAFSA form will request the 2021 tax-year information.
- Wichita State’s FAFSA Federal School Code is 001950.
- It takes about 45 minutes to complete the FAFSA which could yield students some nice FREE money for college whether it’s in the form of scholarships and/or grants. Don’t miss out!
- Our time-saving list of Frequently Asked Questions addresses a wide range of general financial aid topics and concerns.