FAFSA Application Process

FAFSA: First Step

To qualify for financial assistance including loans and some scholarships, you must first complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This can be done in one of two ways:

1. Complete the online FAFSA application found on the Complete the FAFSA ® Form section of the Federal Student Aid website (https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa), or
2. If a FAFSA application was completed the previous year, then when preparing to complete an online FAFSA application for the current year, elect to use the Renewal FAFSA option. This will allow much of the student’s information from the previous year to be carried over.

Electronic FAFSA

Applying online allows you to complete the FAFSA in an easy-to-use format. The online FAFSA application/Renewal FAFSA application can be found at the Complete the FAFSA® Form section of the Federal Student Aid website (https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa).

It is important to complete a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet as the gathered information will assist you in completing the FAFSA application process. The FAFSA on the Web Worksheet can be found in the FAFSA® Worksheet section of the Federal Student Aid website (https://studentaid.gov/help/fafsa-worksheet).

The Renewal FAFSA is a tremendous time saver as responses from the prior cycles' FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA are displayed, and you answer only those questions that are likely to have changed from the previous year.

The online application procedure is also available in Spanish, which is found in the Spanish-language version of the Federal Student Aid website (https://studentaid.gov/es/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out).

Recent Changes to FAFSA

The following FAFSA-related changes have recently been put in place:

• The FAFSA application is now available as early as October 1st.
• Students will use prior-prior year tax information (instead of previous year).

FSA ID

The FSA ID, which consists of a username and password, has replaced the Federal Student Aid PIN and must be used to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education websites. Your FSA ID confirms your identity when you access your financial aid information and electronically sign Federal Student Aid documents. If you do not already have an FSA ID, you can create one by visiting the Create an Account (FSA ID) section of the Federal Student Aid website (https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch).

Application Steps

The following are important steps that you need to follow to apply for financial aid:

1. Complete your FAFSA with your legal name as it appears on your social security card.
2. Complete the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA using the actual figures from your prior-prior year Federal Income Tax Return, annual statements you receive from Social Security, TANF and/or Child Support, and any other documentation of other sources of income. Accuracy is very important when completing this step of the FAFSA, especially these items. Accuracy can be maintained by using the IRS data retrieval option in place of your Income Tax Return:
   1. Adjusted Gross income from the IRS 1040.
   2. Income tax paid from the IRS 1040.
   3. Income received from other sources, such as gift money from family, private sources, housing, food, and other living allowances paid to members of the military, clergy, and others (including cash payments and cash value of benefits).
   4. Household size should reflect only those family members who are being supported by the student or the student's parents.
   5. Number of family members from the household who are in college. (Do not include your parents.)
   6. Cash and savings.
   7. Investment and other real estate net worth. (Do not include the value of the house in which you or your family live.)
   8. Dependent student's income.
3. After completing the FAFSA online, submit the application electronically and either mail the signature page within 10–14 days or utilize the FSA ID which serves as an electronic signature.
4. About a week after filing your FAFSA electronically, you should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail. If you provided an email address, the SAR will be emailed to you. If you listed Del Mar College on your FAFSA (DMC federal school code 003563), you are not required to bring the SAR to Financial Aid Services. Although we will receive an electronic Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) with your information, you must still contact Financial Aid Services for any other missing information.
5. The following documentation may be requested to complete your file:
   1. Prior-prior year IRS tax transcripts for parent(s) and/or student (if IRS data retrieval option was not used).
   2. Verification Status Worksheet provided by Del Mar College located in the Financial Aid Forms section of the Del Mar College website (https://www.delmar.edu/finaid_forms/forms).
   3. Academic transcripts from all colleges attended.
   4. High School transcript with graduation date.
   5. High School Equivalency Program (GED, HiSET, and TASC).

Either failure to complete any of these steps or if any of the information is inaccurate or missing may cause a delay in the processing of your file. If you would like additional assistance in completing the steps you’re your application, please call or visit Financial Aid Services.

You may request to schedule a personal interview with financial aid personnel.

Financial Aid Deadlines: Priority

Financial aid disbursement priority is given to students who show greatest documented need and who also complete their financial aid file by the corresponding priority deadline.

Priority deadlines are established to ensure timely processing of your file and refund disbursement.

Applications for financial assistance are accepted after October 1 of each year for the following academic year.

All applications received after the priority deadline are awarded according to the availability of funds on a first-come, first-served basis.