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Home > Students & Parents > About the FAFSA What is the FAFSA?
In Rhode Island, your FAFSA also serves as your application for state aid programs, including the RI State Grant Program and the Academic Promise Scholarship. When you complete your FAFSA and list Rhode Island as your legal state of residency, your FAFSA data will be transmitted electronically to RIHEAA so that you can be automatically considered for these programs. Why Fill-Out a FAFSA?The data provided by FAFSA allows your school's financial aid office to determine your eligibility for federal student aid programs such as Pell grants, federal work study, and student loans. They often use it to determine school-based awards as well. Your school's financial aid office cannot process your request for federal financial aid until you have completed the FAFSA. Note: Some schools require students to fill-out an additional financial aid application known as The CSS/Profile and/or a school-specific form. Be sure to contact your school's financial aid office to see what documentation you need to provide. How to Obtain and Complete a FAFSAThe FAFSA can be completed in one of two ways:
Note: The FAFSA is also available in Spanish on the web or in paper format. Don't Miss the Deadline - Apply On TimeThe priority deadline for applying for a Rhode Island State Grant for the 2008-2009 academic school year is MARCH 1, 2008. To apply for a grant, be sure to file a FAFSA electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov. If you do not have access to a computer you can obtain a paper FAFSA by calling 1-800-433-3243. Your school's financial aid application deadline may be earlier than March 1st. Complete your FAFSA by the earliest date - whether it is our March 1st priority deadline or your school's deadline. PreparationPrior to completing the FAFSA online, many students and their parents like to complete the pre-application worksheet. This will help you gather all of the information necessary to complete the actual application. The pre-application worksheet is available in English and Spanish from the FAFSA Web site. Instructional VideoFor further guidance with the FAFSA, please take some time to watch an instructional video which will guide you through the steps required to fill out the form. The video requires a Quick Time plugin which is freely available by Apple. When watching the video be sure to have your sound turned up. Last Modified: February 4, 2008 10:26:08 AM Contact RIHEAA | Privacy | Accessibility RIHEAA policy prohibits discrimination based upon race, color, sex, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, religion, handicap/disability status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.
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FAFSA stands for "Free Application for Federal Student Aid". In order to receive any type of federal financial assistance, you must complete a FAFSA for each year you are attending school.
