FAFSA - Applying For Aid
Apply for financial aid early! The 2011/12 FAFSA is available for students to complete. The 2011/12 FAFSA is for Fall 2011- Summer 2012 and the 2012/2013 FAFSA is for Fall 2012 to Summer 2013 | Begin Now
The first step in applying for financial aid is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA has seven steps that ask about you, your financial information, your school plans, and more. You can either complete the FAFSA online or download and print the FAFSA and mail it to the central processor. You can also request a paper FAFSA to be mailed to you by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1.800.4.FED.AID [1.800.433.3243]. If you are hearing impaired, please contact the TTY line at 1.800.730.8913.
Download and Print the FAFSA | 2011-12 | 2012-13
The printed FAFSA can be completed and mailed to the federal processing center. Generally, it is available in November and you can begin to complete it in January during the recommended January application date mentioned previously. Most local high schools, colleges, and universities will have copies of the paper FAFSA available or you can download and print the 2011 / 2012 or 2012 / 2013 FAFSA in either Spanish or English and mail it. For completing your FAFSA application, see tips on completing the FAFSA
The FAFSA Online | Begin Now
The U.S. Department of Education offers a free online application process for your convenience. The online FAFSA is available on January 1 for the coming academic year. Be sure you select the correct FAFSA year for the time period you will attend Portland State University. For example, choose 2011 / 2012 if you plan to attend between fall term 2011 and summer term 2012. Choose 2012 / 2013 if you plan to attend between fall term 2012 and summer term 2013.
FAFSA Follow Up | Check Now
What happens after I submit my FAFSA? Once you submit your FAFSA either online or by mail, the Department of Education will process your application and forward it on to the school(s) you have selected. They will also send you a Student Aid Report (SAR). On this report, you will receive an official Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which is based on the processing results of your FAFSA. The EFC is a preliminary estimate based on the information you provided on your FAFSA application. The EFC is used by your school to determine your eligibility for federal student aid.
If you have not applied for admission to Portland State University you may apply online. Admission to the University is required before your financial aid eligibility can be determined.
