We try to make applying for financial aid as simple as possible. Monmouth University uses only the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as its application for all aid programs; we do not require or accept the College Board’s CSS Profile. File the FAFSA using Monmouth’s school code (002616). The FAFSA must be filed for each year in which you want financial aid and can be filed on or after October 1 each year. Monmouth doesn’t have a deadline for filing the FAFSA, but there are some type of aid that are limited and are awarded on a “first come, first served” basis – you’ll want to get your FAFSA done sooner rather than later in order to be considered for those awards.
Steps to file the FAFSA
Get an FSA ID
This is the username and password that you will use to “sign” your FAFSA electronically. Students and parents of dependent students will need to have one. The FSA ID is also used throughout the financial aid process to e-sign loan documents and manage student loan accounts.
Tip: Parents who created an FSA ID as a student themselves do not need to create another one to complete their student’s FAFSA. The same parent FSA ID can be used on FAFSAs for multiple students in the household.
Gather your documents
You will need your social security number, driver’s license number, w-2 forms or federal tax returns, current bank statement(s), and other records of income and assets.
Tip: Use the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet for a preview of the FAFSA questions and guidance on what documents you will need. The worksheet is also available in Spanish.
Complete the FAFSA
Tip: Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) to access IRS tax return information and import it into the FAFSA. It’s the easiest way to get your income information and to ensure that it’s accurately reported on the FAFSA. The bonus is that you won’t be asked to provide a tax return later! Check to see if you are eligible to use the DRT.
Review the Student Aid Report (SAR)
After you complete the FAFSA you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). The SAR is a summary of the information you provided on the FAFSA and includes your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), eligibility for student loans and the federal Pell Grant, and an indication of whether or not you’ve been selected for verification. Review the SAR to make sure everything is correct and complete; go back to the FAFSA to make corrections or add missing information.
Tip: Provide an email address on the FAFSA to receive an email link to the SAR within 3-5 days of filing the FAFSA. Otherwise a paper copy of the SAR is sent to the mailing address and takes 7-10 days to arrive.
NOTE: Students who are New Jersey residents and are not a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen (aka NJ Dreamers) are ineligible to file the FAFSA, but can file the New Jersey Alternative Financial Application to apply for NJ state grants and scholarships. To file the application, students must meet all of the following criteria:
- Attended a NJ high school for at least three (3) years
- Graduated from a NJ high school or receive the equivalent of a high school diploma in NJ
- Are able to file an affidavit stating that you have filed an application to legalize your immigration status – or – will file an application as soon as you are eligible to do so
More information on the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application is available from the New Jersey Higher Education Assistance Authority (NJHESAA).