Application FAQs

• Submit a 2025-26 FAFSA or WASFA to receive aid between Summer 2025 and Spring 2026.
• Submit a 2026-27 FAFSA or WASFA to receive aid between Summer 2026 and Spring 2027.

Submitting a FAFSA/WASFA is not a one-time requirement! You must submit a new FAFSA every year to continue receiving aid throughout your educational program.

No. Students can apply for financial aid at any time, but we recommend applying at least 60 days before the quarter starts to allow enough time for the Financial Aid office to review your application. You should complete any next steps listed in your student portal 45 days before the quarter starts.

Yes. However, if you apply after the priority date, the Financial Aid office may not be able to review your application until after tuition is due, but you may be reimbursed later by financial aid, if eligible. You will be responsible for paying tuition on time while the Financial Aid office reviews your application and determines eligibility. You can sign up for a payment plan before the quarter starts. If you do not pay by the tuition deadline, you may be dropped from your classes. Check your tuition deadline with your college’s Registration office: North, Central, South. 

Remember, submitting a financial aid application does not guarantee that you will receive funding for college. It’s a good idea to apply for financial aid and complete your to-do items early so that the Financial Aid office has plenty of time to calculate your award before tuition is due.

FAFSA and WASFA guidelines assume that a dependent student receives parental support, so the form includes both the student’s and parents’ financial information to provide a complete picture of the family’s resources. Being a dependent student doesn’t require your parents to pay for your education; their information helps determine your maximum eligibility for financial aid. 

The FAFSA and WASFA have very specific rules about when students can be considered independent, and they may differ from how you would otherwise describe yourself. Living apart from your parents or not being claimed on their tax return doesn’t make you an independent student for financial aid purposes.

Independent students meet one of 13 Independency criteria the most common of which are:

• 24 years old or older by December 31 of the current academic year
• Legally married
• Veteran of the armed forces
• Have children or other people (excluding your spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you
• Unaccompanied homeless youth or formerly in foster care

You can review the Dependency Status guide on the Federal Student Aid website for more information. If you need help, or if you have unusual circumstances that prevent you from providing contributor information, contact your Financial Aid office for assistance.

All students and contributors (i.e. parents, spouses, legal guardians) can use the tools below to help determine whose information needs to be included in a financial aid application. 

• Contributor Calculator
• Am I a contributor on the FAFSA (PDF)

If your contributors are married, only one will sign your financial aid application, but both contributors’ information will be included in your application.

It can take a long time to review your financial aid application. Generally, the Financial Aid office reviews applications starting 90 days before the first day of the quarter, in the order they were received. When your application is reviewed, you will receive an email and your ctcLink student portal will be updated.

Submitting a FAFSA and WASFA is not a one-time requirement! You must submit a new FAFSA or WASFA every year to continue receiving aid throughout your educational program.