The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed each academic year. The paper applications become available in December and can be filed beginning January 1st each year. To be considered for grants from the State of Michigan, the federal processor must receive your FAFSA application by March 1st.

Paper applications are available in the Financial Aid Office. If you have access to the Internet, you can file your FAFSA electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Electronic applications take the federal processor a fraction of the time to process as paper applications. When filing the FAFSA electronically, make sure that you have completed all the steps and received a confirmation number. Print a copy of the confirmation number and your completed FAFSA before logging out of the Web site.

If you would like to sign your application electronically, apply for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) at www.pin.ed.gov before beginning to complete the FAFSA. You will need to apply for the PIN at least 24 hours before completing the FAFSA online. If you have an e-mail account, the PIN can be e-mailed to you within 24-48 hours. If not, you will receive your PIN in the mail in 7-10 days.

Before beginning the FAFSA, you need to have several pieces of information together. They are as follows:

• Your current year federal tax returns and W-2 forms.
• Your bank account balances and the value of your investments or business.
• The amount you received and/or paid in child support for the previous calendar year.
• The amount you received in welfare benefits, social security or any other type of untaxed income.
• If you are dependent, you will also need this same information for your custodial parent and their spouse. If you are independent, you will need this same information for your spouse.

Make sure you list St. Clair County Community College, school code 002310, in the section where it asks which schools should receive your information.

Please note the following when completing the FAFSA:

• Write legibly and complete all required questions.
• Round off all figures to the nearest dollar.
• If you and/or your spouse or parents have not completed your federal tax returns, you can submit
• the FAFSA using estimated income figures. If you choose this option, you should send us copies
  of your completed tax returns as soon as they are available.
• If you complete the paper application, do not add any additional enclosures when you mail
  the application to the federal processor.
• If your family has unusual circumstances (such as loss of employment) that might impact your
  eligibility for need-based aid programs, please send that information directly to our office.
• Make sure that your name and social security number are clearly indicated on all correspondence
  sent to our office.
• If you are mailing the paper FAFSA to the federal processor, the postcard included with the FAFSA
  should also be completed and submitted with your FAFSA. The card will be stamped with a
  received date and returned for your records as proof of when the form arrived at the federal
  processor.
• You should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) approximately 4 to 6 weeks after submitting a
  paper application. If you complete the application online, you should receive your SAR in
  approximately 2 weeks.
• Check the SAR for accuracy and notify our office immediately if you notice any errors.

If you have any questions when completing the application, please contact the Financial Aid Office. We are happy to help you.

Checking the Status of Your Application

You can check the status of your application by calling (800) 433-3243 or by going online at www.fafsa.ed.gov and using your personal PIN number.