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THE FAFSA TOOLKIT | FOR PARENTS & STUDENTS

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA)
WHAT IS FAFSA?

It is the application that is required to be used by all schools in awarding federal and institutional student aid. Completing the FAFSA can qualify students for federal loans, federal grants, and federal work-study.

 
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Talk with RISLA's College Planning experts! They can answer any questions you may have and assist with the FAFSA completion process.

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FAFSA COMPLETION GUIDE

A step-by-step preview of the FAFSA form.

Take a detailed preview of the FAFSA form before completing it yourself. We have created a step-by-step preview of each section of the FAFSA with easy-to-read instructions regarding the information required on each screen.

FSA ID GUIDE

FSA ID GUIDE FOR STUDENT & PARENT

A step-by-step guide to creating your FSA ID.  An FSA ID is required by both student and parent.
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FAFSA GUIDE FOR DEPENDENT STUDENT

This guide is for dependent students beginning the FAFSA to invite parent(s) to complete.
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FAFSA GUIDE FOR PARENT

A preview guide for parents beginning the FAFSA on behalf of their dependent student.
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RISLA provides a free search tool for college scholarships.

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WHY SHOULD I FILL OUT THE FAFSA?

It's time to start applying for financial aid for college. This means FAFSA season is here and can be overwhelming to many. Let's break down the process into simple steps

FAFSA IS FREE! 
FAFSA IS FREE! 

FREE! It’s even included in the name — free Application For Federal Student Aid.

FILING EARLY
FILING EARLY

Filing earlier is better.  You may receive your school's award letters sooner, leaving you with more time to compare all your school offers and research options to help fill the “gap” for unmet needs.

INSTITUTIONAL AID
INSTITUTIONAL AID

Used to determine more than just Federal Aid.  Schools require the FAFSA when awarding institutional aid if they do not require completion of the CSS Profile.

WORK-STUDY
WORK-STUDY

Determines eligibility for Work Study.  Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial needs, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses.

YEARLY REQUIREMENT 
YEARLY REQUIREMENT 

FAFSA is required to be completed yearly. Federal aid (including eligibility for Federal student loans) is granted yearly. Therefore, FAFSA completion is required for aid to be granted each year.

RI PROMISE ELIGIBILITY
RI PROMISE ELIGIBILITY

Determines eligibility for the RI Promise Scholarship. Through the Promise scholarship, all Rhode Islanders coming right out of high school are eligible to pursue associate degrees at CCRI tuition-free.

COLLEGE PLANNING SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT
QUESTIONS ABOUT COLLEGE PLANNING?

Schedule an appointment with one of our experts.

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HOW TO PREPARE FOR FAFSA

Money for college starts with FAFSA

Everyone should complete the FAFSA which can qualify students for grants, scholarships, federal student loans, and work-study.

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ACCOUNT BALANCES

Balances of checking & saving accounts for parent(s) and student.

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COLLEGE LIST

A list of schools that students will be applying to.

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TAX RETURN
Printed copies are required for parent(s) and student.
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W2 OR PAY STUBS

Printed copies are required for parent(s) and student.

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MARRIAGE & DIVORCE

Parents are required to provide the date of marriage or divorce. 

IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START
COLLEGE PLANNING

If you need assistance at any point in the college planning process, free help is available.

Simply schedule an appointment with the RISLA College Planning Center. The counselors can walk you through every step of the way, help you access financial aid, and answer your difficult college planning questions.

For high school seniors, it's not to late, we can catch you up quickly with the college planning timeline provided below. 

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5 MYTHS ABOUT FAFSA

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FAFSA Resources

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONAL WEBSITES

RISLA PRODUCTS & SERVICES
COLLEGE PLANNING CENTER

Students and families can be overwhelmed with planning and how to pay for college.  We have experienced counselors that offer one on one assistance helping families understand all their options start to finish.

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EDUCATION LOANS

We have been offering low cost, fix rate education loans for almost 30 years.  Helping students and families borrower responsibly to help achieve their higher education dreams.

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REFINANCE

Refinancing may help you simplify and save when repaying student loans.  Combining outstanding balances, and securing a low interest rate with RISLA may reduce your overall repayment amount and possibly your monthly payment.

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EMPLOYER REPAY

Employer Student Loan Repayment assistance is a tax-free benefit allowing employers to contribute towards the repayment of employee student loans.  This newest in-demand employee benefit helps reduce financial stress for employees while increasing retention and loyalty to employers.

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