Free Application for Federal Student Aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required to apply for any kind of financial aid for college or trade schools (work-study, federal and state grants and loans, as well as some funds and scholarships from schools). 

Fill out the FAFSA online at fafsa.ed.gov, opens a new window.

Yes! By filling out the form, you are not committing to going to school. You’re just asking the government to tell you how much funding would be available to you, if you do choose to go. 

Two- and four-year colleges and universities, vocational, trade, and career schools, online schools, and graduate schools.

No. Besides federal funds, schools use the FAFSA to determine state aid, institutional aid, work-study, federal student loans, and sometimes merit scholarships.

No. Some funds are in the form of scholarships, aid or eligibility for campus jobs.

The FAFSA becomes available each year on October 1. 

• Ohio: Oct. 1 of the following year. In other words, you have 12 months to fill it out. 

• Kentucky: As soon as possible after Oct. 1. Awards are made until funds are depleted. 
• Indiana: As soon as possible after Oct. 1 for the Adult Student Grant & Workforce Ready Grant. April 15 of the following year for the Frank O’Bannon Grant & 21st Century Scholarship.

No. There are no income limits for the FAFSA, and your family does not need to be in a certain tax bracket to be eligible for funds. Learn more at itsforyou.org, opens a new window

All US Citizens or Permanent Residents who have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency.

The form asks for a lot of information about you and your parents/guardians. To help you gather together what you need so filling out the online form is quicker, fill out this worksheet, opens a new window first.

Yes, if you want financial aid for each year.

Log into Homework HelpNow,, opens a new window free with your Library card, for live help filling out the FAFSA., opens a new window You can also check out the Help page on the FAFSA web site, opens a new window.