FAFSA

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  The application is the first step in receiving federal aid including Pell Grant, Perkins Loan, Stafford Loans and work-study.  The FAFSA application provides schools with the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which is used to determine the types of financial aid to be offered. 

The Financial Aid office cannot begin your aid package until you have been admitted with a fully processed FAFSA on file.
Some tips for a successful FAFSA application:

• Apply early to get the most aid possible (our priority aid deadline is February 15)
• Prior year income information may be used before Feb 15th and corrections made later
• For faster processing-file electronically and sign with the FAFSA PIN
• Include the UM school code #002536 (Mountain and COT)
• To avoid partial filing, continue to the confirmation page
• FAFSA is a free service-do not pay to process the application

Students who are under the age of 24 must file as a dependent student unless they meet certain criteria. This means they must supply their parents’ information when they file the FAFSA. To be considered independent, a student must meet at least one of these criteria:

• Be born before Jan. 1, 1988.
• Be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program.
• Be married on the date of application.
• Have children who receive more than half of their support from the student.
• Have dependents (other than children or spouse) who live with the student and receive more than half their support from the student at the time of application.
• Both parents are deceased, or the student is or was in foster care, or the student is or was a ward or dependent of the court at any time since turning 13.
• Be on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training.
• Be a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Be an emancipated minor as determined by a court in the student’s state of legal residence.
• Be in legal guardianship as determined by a court in the student’s state of legal residence.
• Be an unaccompanied youth who is homeless.

The University of Montana recommends students file your FAFSA electronically to speed up the processing time. Both the student (and a parent of a dependent student) will need a Department of Education PIN in order to electronically sign the FAFSA application. PIN processing takes a couple days, so apply for one early.