FAFSA: What You Need to Know

Graduation cap adorned with the word "FAFSA" sits on top of a pile of money

Events | Featured | News | StudentsJanuary 31, 2024

FAFSA: What You Need to Know

Written By: Ian Silvester

As students settle into the spring semester, the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Financial Aid Office urges students to add one more item to their to-do lists: attend a “Mini FAFSA Workshop” in February.

The 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form was recently made available for students and contributors. This free tool allows students to see how much federal student aid is available to them for the upcoming academic year.

To make the process as smooth as possible, the UAFS Financial Aid Office broke down what information students need to know versus what information is good to know before filling out the FAFSA form. The office also has information on its website: https://uafs.edu/tuition-and-aid/fafsa-changes.php to help understand the 2024-2025 FAFSA changes.

Financial Aid Director Karen Jeffers and Assistant Director Cristina Castorena shared the following need-to-know information:

Anyone filling out a FAFSA form must first create a Student Aid Account, also known as their FSA ID.
- This includes all contributors – a biological or adoptive parent, a step-parent if a parent is remarried, or the student’s spouse if the student is married.
- Students will need to know their social security number.
- Complete at least three days before attempting to complete the FAFSA form.
Make sure your 2022 taxes are filed.
- Student and contributor(s) should be prepared with information on hand.
FAFSA is free; don’t pay.
- The U.S. Department of Education provides the application; no one should pay to fill it out or receive help.

Some things Jeffers and Castorena said are good to know are:

It’s a new form this year – “be patient,” Jeffers said. As the U.S. Department of Education continues to improve student and parent experience, there may be some website maintenance.
- Because of the new changes, more students may be eligible for federal aid. Even if you think you may not be eligible, “fill it out and find out,” Castorena exclaimed.
If a contributor doesn’t have a social security number, they can still obtain their FSA ID.

Students who attend a "Mini FAFSA Workshop" and complete their FAFSA form by midnight on Feb. 29 will be entered to win one of five $1,000 scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Additional questions can be directed to the UAFS Financial Aid Office at FinAid@uafs.edu or by phone at 479-788-7090.

*Visit the U.S. Department of Education website https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases for the latest news, updates, and any changes to FAFSA*

The UAFS Financial Aid “Mini FAFSA Workshops” are listed below.

All students:

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center, 129AB