FAQ - Application Process

 

 

Do I have to apply for financial aid every year?

Yes. In order to be considered for aid programs administered by the Office of Student Financial Aid, you must file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) each year. For complete application instructions, see our Step-By-Step Process page.

Should I still file the FAFSA if I think my family's income is too high to be eligible for financial aid?

There is no automatic income level cutoff for financial aid eligibility. The only sure way to determine your eligibility for need-based financial aid is to file the FAFSA. A number of factors are considered in determining eligibility. There are non-need based loans available for those families in higher income brackets whose FAFSA information indicates they have no financial need. We encourage all interested students to apply for financial aid. The likelihood of being eligible for some form of financial aid may be better than you think!

When should I file the FAFSA for the upcoming academic year?

You can file the FAFSA beginning January 1 prior to the academic year for which you are applying for financial aid. We encourage you to file as soon as possible after that date. For complete details on applying for financial aid, see our Step-By-Step Process web page.

What if I (or my parents) have not yet filed our taxes when I want to complete the FAFSA?

You can file the FAFSA using estimated income amounts. The University of Iowa Office of Student Financial Aid will update those estimates to actual figures after you submit a photocopy of the federal tax return(s) to them. Your application for financial aid will not be reviewed by the Office of Student Financial Aid until the actual federal tax returns and the Iowa Verification Form (IVF) are submitted to the University of Iowa Office of Student Financial Aid. See our Information on IVF and Federal Tax Returns web page.

Is electronic filing really faster and easier?

Electronic filing is faster than completing a paper form. The process can be as much as 14 days faster if you electronically sign your FAFSA as soon as you complete it. Some of the benefits of filing the FAFSA on the web vs a paper FAFSA are:

  • eliminate possible mailing delays
  • your FAFSA is edited before you submit it, ensuring that the data you transmit to the U.S. Department of Education is ready to be processed
  • more thorough instructions are provided
  • you may skip questions that don't apply to you
  • extensive online help is available from a Federal Student Aid Information Center customer service representative. Click on the "Live Help" link on any screen of the FAFSA web site.
 

My family and I have unusual circumstances. How can I reflect that on my FAFSA?

You must complete the FAFSA accurately, giving the actual numbers requested. You will have the opportunity to provide information about your special circumstances to the University of Iowa Office of Student Financial Aid when you complete the Iowa Verification Form (IVF).

I reported on the FAFSA that I had $2,500 in savings. I have since spent that money. Can I correct that figure?

Assets must be reported as of the day you signed the FAFSA; therefore, these figures cannot be updated.

How will I know if my FAFSA has been processed by the federal processor?

You can check on the status of your FAFSA using the U.S. Department of Education FAFSA web site at: www.fafsa.ed.gov. Under the FAFSA Follow-Up heading (number 3), select the "Check status of a submitted FAFSA" option. You can also check your FAFSA status by calling 1-800-433-3243.

What is the definition of a self-supporting student for the 2009-2010 academic year?

The federal government has established criteria for classifying financial aid recipients as dependent or self-supporting. The University of Iowa Office of Student Financial Aid does not determine your status.

To be considered a self-supporting student for the 2009-2010 academic year, you must answer "yes" to one of the following questions:

  • Were you born before January 1, 1986?
  • As of today, are you married? (Answer "Yes" if you are separated, but not divorced.)
  • At the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year, will you be working on a master's or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, or graduate certificate, etc.)?
  • Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training?
  • Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
  • Do you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010?
  • Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, from the date you file the FAFSA through June 30, 2010?
  • At anytime since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?
  • Are you, or were you an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence at the time you received the determination?
  • Are you, or were you in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence at the time you received the determination?
  • At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
  • At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
  • At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?

If you answered "no" to all of the above questions, you are considered a dependent student for the 2009-2010 academic year and must provide parental information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Which parent fills out the FAFSA if my parents are divorced/separated?

The parent you lived with more during the last 12 months. If you did not live with either parent or if you lived with each parent an equal amount of time, provide information for the parent who provided the most support to you during the last 12 months or during the most recent calendar year that you actually received support from a parent. If this parent is remarried as of the date you are filing the FAFSA, provide information on the FAFSA about that parent and the person whom your parent married (your stepparent).