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FAFSA: Information and Resources

Learn about the FAFSA process and how you can apply for financial aid more easily.

  • The FAFSA is available annually starting October 1 at studentaid.gov.
  • Students and parents will need an FSA ID to complete the FAFSA. Get one now if you don’t already have one.
  • NC State’s priority FAFSA filing date is March 1 annually. Submit the FAFSA by that date to ensure you receive the maximum financial aid offer for which you are eligible.
  • FAFSA Issues. You can find updated information about known FAFSA issues here.

How Can I Prepare?

Frequently Asked Questions

Contributor is a term used as part of the FAFSA process.

  • A contributor is anyone who is required to provide information as part of a student’s FAFSA submission.
  • A contributor can be a student’s biological parents(s), step-parent, adopted parent(s) or student’s spouse.
  • The term “contributor” means the individual contributes information to the student’s FAFSA.
  • It does NOT mean the individual will contribute to the student’s educational expenses.

The answers provided in the FAFSA will determine if contributors are required to provide information in the FAFSA.

  • For students who are dependents of parents, a contributor can be biological parent(s) or adopted parent(s).
  • If parent(s) are divorced, the contributor is the parent and step-parent if applicable who provides the majority of the student’s financial support.
  • If the student is married, the spouse is a contributor if the federal income taxes were not filed jointly.

The term “contributor” means that an individual is contributing information on the FAFSA. It does not mean that a contributor will contribute to the student’s educational expenses.

  • If your FAFSA requires information from contributors and they will not provide information in the FAFSA, the result is an incomplete FAFSA and the student is not eligible for federal student aid.

Students and contributors who are reporting tax information as part of their FAFSA submission must provide consent for Federal Student Aid Programs to retrieve their federal tax information from the Internal Revenue Service. Failure to provide consent will result in the student being ineligible for federal student aid.

We expect newly admitted students to receive their aid offer in early April. Continuing NC State students will receive their aid offer in late May.

You can find information about correcting or updating your FAFSA here.

You can find helpful information here.

Resources