The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the foundation we use to determine your eligibility for federal, state and institutional programs. The (FAFSA) is an application that collects household and financial information for the student and the student's parents/family. You will need an FSA ID to submit the FAFSA.

File the FAFSA

How and when do I apply?

You can file your FAFSA by visiting https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. Please see the chart below to reference which tax year information you will be using.

The priority deadline for FAFSA is March 1; filing after this date may reduce your financial aid eligibility.

Tips for Filing the FAFSA

• You may be required to include parent information on your application. To determine if you are considered a dependent student or independent student review the qualifications for independent status.
• Common errors can be avoided by reviewing FAFSA filing tips.
• In order to submit the FAFSA you will need to setup a studentaid.gov account (previously knows as the FSA ID). 

Am I eligible for financial aid?

Financial aid includes funds in the form of grants, scholarships, work study or loans that are made available to students and their families. These funds are designed to assist students and their families with college costs. Eligibility for financial aid is dependent on the type of aid for which you are applying.

Federal Aid

To be considered for federal aid programs, you must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA requires you have the following eligibility:

• be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

• be enrolled in an eligible program as a regular student seeking a degree or certificate

• have a high school diploma, General Education Development (GED) certificate, pass an approved "ability to benefit" test, or have completed a high school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under state law

• have a valid Social Security Number

There may be additional requirements. Our office will contact you by email if additional information is required.

State Aid

The State of Michigan has many financial aid programs for residents of Michigan. Each program has different requirements.

Institutional Aid

All students at Grand Valley are reviewed for scholarships at the time of admission. Additional scholarships are listed in myScholarships. In addition to scholarships, all students who file the FAFSA will be reviewed for need-based grant eligibility.

Follow Up Requests

On occasion our office will need additional information from you in order to process your FAFSA. The additional information verifies the information you listed on your FAFSA form. Below are the types of information we may request. Do not send us information unless you receive a request. This can cause confusion and delay your award notification.  If you receive a request for additional information respond as quickly as possible. We are not able to finalize your award notification until the process is completed.

Please note that your award eligibility will be reassessed as a result of required follow-up requests. This may increase or decrease the amount and type of aid awarded to you.