What is FAFSA?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form for US Citizens, permanent residents, or eligible non-citizens to get financial aid. Financial aid includes fee waivers, grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships. Submit the FAFSA each year you are in college – it only takes about 30 minutes to complete when you are prepared.
Beginning with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, anyone who's required to provide information on the FAFSA form will need to create a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID). This includes the student and, if applicable, the student's spouse, biological/adoptive parent, or parent's spouse (if remarried). All contributing individuals must provide consent to have information transferred to the FAFSA form. If consent is not given, then the FAFSA form will remain incomplete and the student will be ineligible for federal student aid.
Undocumented students cannot apply for aid through the FAFSA but may be eligible for state financial aid through the California Dream Act.
FAFSA Priority Filing Deadline
Submit the FAFSA as early as you can. This will help you figure out how to pay for college before classes begin.
| Academic year | FAFSA available | FAFSA Priority Filing Deadline | Tax filing year |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2023-2024
(Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024) |
October 1, 2022
|
March 2, 2023
|
2021
|
|
2024-2025
(Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025) |
January 1, 2024
|
May 2, 2024
|
2022
|
You can submit the FAFSA after the "FAFSA Priority Filing Deadline" date until June 30 of the following year, but priority is given on a first-come, first-served basis. You may not be considered for a Cal Grant if you submit your application after this date.
Federal School Code
American River College's federal school code is 001232. Make sure you include this on your FAFSA if you want to receive financial aid at American River College.