Fall is for FAFSA

Oct. 21, 2022
Author: Brittany McGovern M.A. / Communications Manager / Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid / University of Arizona
OSFA photo

October…  cooler evening and morning air, hayrides with family, pumpkin spiced everything, and…. the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)! Yes, we know the FAFSA is not as traditional and nostalgic as the others, but around here we still consider it an exciting part of the season for college students.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA opened on October 1st and the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) at the University of Arizona is encouraging students and families to file the FAFSA as early as possible. Filing the FAFSA now may seem a bit premature, but let us assure you, the earlier the better. We’ve listed some key information and helpful resources below to jumpstart your FAFSA filing process:

  • The FAFSA uses prior-prior year tax data. So, for the 2023-2024 FAFSA, all you need to provide is your 2021 tax information, which for most, is readily available by October 1st.
  • Some key reminders:
    • Students need to file a FAFSA every year if they plan to take advantage of financial aid.
    • Students should file as soon as possible as institutional funding is limited. 
    • Students should include Arizona's school code (001083) when submitting their FAFSA to avoid delays in the processing of their aid.
    • Students should use the same FSA ID they created to complete the FAFSA from previous years. They can file their 23-24 FAFSA here.
      • Dependent students will need their parents to sign the FAFSA with their own unique FSA ID. 
  • Arizona has specific priority dates for different student populations:
    • March 1, 2023 - Continuing students priority date
    • April 1, 2023 - Incoming Fall 2023 students priority date
    • November 1, 2023 - Spring 2024 admit priority date
  • OSFA’s Financial Literacy team is hosting workshops for students and families now through early December. During the workshop, you will be able to get a brief overview of the FAFSA or meet one on one directly with a financial aid counselor. See below for details:
  • Tuesday, October 25, 5 – 6:30 pm
  • Monday, November 7, 5-6:30 pm
  • Wednesday, November 16, 5 -6:30 pm
  • Looking for assistance in Spanish? Join us in early December for Taller para completar el formulario FAFSA. Martes, 6 de Diciembre, 5 - 6:30 pm

Once you file your 2023-2024 FAFSA, the Department of Education will begin processing it and then pass along a copy to our office. OSFA will reach out to students directly if there is anything else needed to complete the process. This could be something as quick as adding a missing signature to the FAFSA (usually the parent’s signature) or something a little more in depth like being asked to submit 2021 tax information for the Federal Verification process.

 

We are here to help students prepare financially for their academic journey, so please contact our office if you have any questions or concerns. Visit our contact page for the best ways to get in touch with us. Wishing you a happy Fall season!