FAFSA Guide

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

As a result of the FAFSA Simplification Act, Federal Student Aid is updating the FAFSA process to expand access to federal student aid and provide an easier, streamlined FAFSA experience for students and families. We will continue to keep you informed as new information is available.

Best Practices for Filing out the FAFSA – 2024-2025

Before You Start:

Create or reconfirm your FSA ID

Everyone who needs to provide information on the FAFSA needs an FSA ID.

Your FSA ID confirms your identity when you access your financial aid information and electronically sign Federal Student Aid documents. You may create an FSA ID online if you do not already have one. In order to create an ID, you must have a valid email address.

You will create a username and password as well as provide name, date of birth, Social Security number, contact information, and security questions/answers. You will receive a secure code to your email to verify the information before proceeding to the website.

Create FAFSA Account

How do I know who my contributors are?

Contributor: A parent, stepparent, student, or spouse of the student who is providing information to the FAFSA.

It may include:

Student
Student’s Spouse
Biological or Adopted Parents
Parent’s Spouse (stepparent)
My parents are divorced or separated. Which parent is a contributor? The parent who provides the most financial support to the student should be the contributor on the FAFSA.

Gather your tax information

You will need to provide tax information for the student and their parents or stepparents, if applicable. 2022 taxes will be required for the 2024-25 FAFSA.

The contributor will provide consent for the IRS to provide tax information. This consent is necessary for the Department of Education to request federal tax information from the IRS and to use that information in the federal student aid application process.
The IRS information will not be shown to the student on the FAFSA application.

Who is responsible for completing the FAFSA?

The student is the responsible party for completing the FAFSA every year. The student will be able to track when their contributors enter their information. Contributors have 45 days to enter information, or the process will need to start over.

When is the FAFSA due?

The State of Michigan priority deadline for state grants determination is currently July 1st, 2024. The State of Michigan is still determining the awarding criteria for state grants/scholarships based on the new FAFSA.

What is the FAFSA Simplification Act?

The FAFSA Simplification Act is a law that represents a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid starting with the 2024–25 award year, including changes to the FAFSA. Learn more about the law.

Is There a Way to Estimate My Out of Pocket Costs?

We know that the delay in the FAFSA is stressful! Don’t worry – everyone is going through the same thing right now.

If you want to get a sense of what it will cost to attend Northwood University you have a few options:

Check out our net price calculator – it will show you the cost after aid is factored in and takes just a few minutes.
Book a virtual or in person meeting with Financial Aid here.

Call Our Office for Assistance

Call our office with questions Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm EST at (989) 837-4230.

What is Northwood University Doing for FAFSA Assistance?

Northwood University understands the challenges students and parents face when completing and financing their college journey. We are here to provide as much assistance and information as possible.

The Financial Aid office will provide in person on campus FAFSA sessions to guide students and parents through the new FAFSA. There will be also verification webinars and financial aid loan webinars later on in the year to help you with the process.

Book a virtual or in person meeting with Financial Aid here. Call our office with questions Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm EST at (989) 837-4230.

Terms to Know

Student Aid Index (SAI)

Calculated by FAFSA data and will determine student aid eligibility. This replaces the EFC that was used in previous years.

EFC and SAI are both numbers that colleges use to figure out how much financial aid you can get. EFC stands for Expected Family Contribution, and SAI stands for Student Aid Index.
EFC was based on your family’s income and assets. SAI is based on your family’s income, assets, and other factors, such as your zip code and your parents’ education level.
While the words and the numbers are different, this number helps colleges determine your eligibility for different types of financial aid including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs.

Cost of Attendance (COA)

COA includes tuition and fees, food and housing, books and supplies (including course materials and equipment), miscellaneous expenses, and transportation.

More Information

Contributor

A parent, stepparent, student, or spouse of the student who is providing information to the FAFSA.

Consent

Required from all contributors in order for the IRS to share tax data directly to the FAFSA. If any contributor does not provide consent, the student will automatically be ineligible for aid.

Direct Data Exchange (DDX)

Previously known as IRS Data Retrieval; this tool imports tax data directly from the IRS to your FAFSA.

FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS)

A summary of your completed FAFSA information. This replaces the Student Aid Report (SAR) that was used in previous years.