FAFSA Process

Step 1. Complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA.

• The 2024-2025 FAFSA asks for 2022 income values. If your/your parent's current income now is significantly less than 2022, see Step 2 below.
• The FAFSA is not required if you are applying  only for scholarships

• Here are some "helps" and videos to complete the application.

• Your contributor doesn't have a social security number  (new guidance, April 4, 2024)

Step 2.  Complete optional " Special Circumstance Forms" if applicable

First-Year fall semester applicants are encouraged to complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA by March 1, if possible.

Transfer applicants for the fall should complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA by July 1, although Illinois residents should do so by May 1, to help ensure consideration for limited IL MAP Grant funds. 

Applications are accepted after these dates, but available funding may be less.

Step 1. Complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA ("Free Application for Federal Student Aid")

• The FAFSA is not required if you are applying  only for scholarships .
• Review our “ Helpful Tools” section below.
• Both student and parent apply for an FSA ID (federal student aid)  which is a username and password the student and parent creates for him/herself.    See the “how to” video clip.  A common problem is not remembering your username and/or password, so keep this in a safe place you can easily find while at home, school, or work. 
• Questions with  “you” or “your” always refer to the student applying for financial aid.
• Do not leave any question blank unless told to do so. If you have nothing to report for a financial question, enter $0.    
• Step 5, Financial Information tends to have more questions and/or errors, so review this IRS DRT  info first. 
• The 2023-2024 FAFSA asks for 2021 income values. If your current income is significantly less, contact our office.
• Once you have completed and signed the application, you must click “Submit My FAFSA Now.” If you do not see a confirmation page, your FAFSA has not been submitted.
• FAFSA Notes:
  • The web address is  www.fafsa.gov.
  • Our Federal School Code is  001706.
  • Add Lake Forest to your existing FAFSA (click here)

Complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA and any other forms by December 1 if possible.

Late applications will be accepted.

Students entering in January should also plan to submit the 2024-2025 FAFSA available in December 2023.

• The federal student aid processing center will send an email confirming that your FAFSA was received, and then, a few days later, an email will tell you that your FAFSA has been processed. The second email will provide a link to a Student Aid Report or “SAR” which summarizes your application. Review this for accuracy and make any necessary corrections. 
• Did you (or your parent) not sign the FAFSA? Click here
• Create a file folder to keep all financial aid documents (ID #s, FSA IDs, confirmation pages, SAR, etc.).
• Our office will receive your FAFSA results within seven days of being processed.
• If the initial FAFSA you submitted included estimated values, correct those values after your / your parents’ tax return is completed (see “Data Retrieval Tool” under Helpful Tools in the right column).
• If you have been admitted to the College, we will prepare an Award Letter showing all financial aid you qualify to receive. This is sent by email to you and your parent, and -at a later time- by regular mail. Be sure to review important details on the page “How to Read Your Award Letter.“
• Provide any documentation we require, listed in Part 4 (pg 2) of the award letter. Many are found here. Most can be scanned/emailed, faxed or mailed. See “Contact” in the column on the right.
• Watch a video summary of “what happens next.”