Steps for Applying for Financial Aid

To be eligible for scholarships, grants, work-study, and/or loans, students must complete each of the following steps.

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - This form can be obtained from high school guidance counselors or a financial aid office at a college or university. The FAFSA must be filed to determine students' financial need and eligibility for financial aid at Fayetteville State University. This form should be completed at Website: www.fafsa.ed.gov or mailed to the Federal Government Central Processing System (CPS) in accordance with instructions on the FAFSA.  Based on the FAFSA, the student will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR), and the student’s Institutional Information Report (ISIR) will be sent directly from the federal agency to the FSU Office of Financial Aid.
• Verification - The U.S. Department of Education randomly selects a certain percentage of financial aid applications for verification. Students whose applications are selected for verification must present the documents listed below to support the data reported on the FAFSA. These documents should be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid according to the deadline schedule.
  • Copy of the student’s (and, if married, the spouse's) Current Years Federal Income Tax Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ - A completed and signed copy of the students' (and, when married, the spouse's) Federal Income Tax Return from the current year must be submitted according the deadline schedule. Students who did not file an income tax return must complete the verification statement. The applicant’s full name and social security number must be PRINTED on the top of the tax return.
  • A Copy of the Students Parents' Federal Income Tax form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ (if the student is a dependent) - The parents' tax return is required of students who were instructed to complete the parents’ section of the FAFSA, and who are selected for verification. A copy of the applicant’s parents’ completed and signed Federal Income Tax Return must be submitted according to the deadline schedule. If the applicant’s parents did not file an income tax return, a verification statement must be submitted by the deadline. The applicant’s full name and social security number must be PRINTED on the top of the tax return.
  • Other forms of documentation may be requested after the application is reviewed. Students whose applications are selected for verification will be notified, in writing, by the Office of Financial Aid of any corrections that need to be made in the application. Please proceed to forms to download requested documentation.
• Award Letter - When the review process is complete, the student will receive an award letter in the mail and may view the award letter in Self Service Banner. The offer of financial aid will automatically accept your award unless you indicate "decline" of any fund that is listed on the award letter. The signed award should be sent to the Office of Financial Aid and a copy retained for your records.
• Summer School – Applicants must respond to the Summer School questions in Step #1 on the FAFSA.