Your Guide to FAFSA

Funding Your Future

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is your gateway to access federal grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. At Carteret CC, we are committed to making education accessible to every student. Applying for and securing your financial aid package is a crucial step in every students educational journey. The sooner you apply, the better positioned you will be to receive scholarships, grants, and other funding.

Here’s an updated guide to help you navigate the FAFSA process effectively.

What is FAFSA & Why is it Important?

The FAFSA is a free application which determines your eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid. Completing the FAFSA is essential to unlock financial resources which can make your education at Carteret CC more affordable.

Remember: The FAFSA is always free—if a website asks you to pay, it is not the official government site.

If this is your first semester at Carteret CC, you must apply as a New Student before your FAFSA can be processed. The Financial Aid Office only reviews applications for officially enrolled students.

Step 1: Create Your StudentAid.gov Account

Before starting your FAFSA form, you and any required contributors, such as parents or a spouse, must create a StudentAid.gov account. This account allows each contributor to access and complete their section of the FAFSA form.

Your FSA ID, which consists of a username and password, is used to electronically sign the application. To avoid processing delays, ensure that your name and Social Security Number are entered exactly as they appear on your Social Security card. Contributors who do not have a Social Security Number can still create an account to complete their portion of the form.

To begin, visit the FAFSA website and select “Log In To Start.” Students should choose the “Student” option, while parents of dependent students should select “Parent”.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

Having these items ready will make filling out the FAFSA much easier:

• Your Social Security Number
• Parents’ SSNs (if you’re a dependent student)
• 2023 Tax Information (for the 2025–2026 FAFSA)
• Records of untaxed income
• Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts
• Net worth of investments, businesses, and farms

Keep these records readily available in case you are asked to provide verification at a later time.

Step 3: Fill Out Your FAFSA

Once you and your required contributors have created accounts and gathered the necessary documents, you are ready to complete the FAFSA form at studentaid.gov. Most applicants complete and submit their FAFSA in less than an hour. Before submitting, carefully review all entries for accuracy to prevent delays.

Helpful hints – Remember to use Federal School Code 008081 when submitting your FAFSA to Carteret Community College. If you are applying for a summer session, check with Carteret CC’s Financial Aid Office to determine which school year you should select.

Step 4: Determine Your Dependency Status

The FAFSA will ask a series of questions to determine if you are considered dependent or independent for federal aid purposes.

If you are a dependent student, you must provide parental financial information on your FAFSA. If you are unsure who to include, FAFSA provides resources to help determine who qualifies as a FAFSA parent, even if you do not live with them or have difficulty accessing their financial details.

Married students may need to include their spouse’s financial details if their situation fits one of the following scenarios:

• If you filed joint taxes with your spouse, their information will automatically be included
• If you are married but filed separately, your spouse will be considered a contributor and must provide their financial details separately

Students with significant changes to their family’s financial situation (e.g., loss of income) should submit a FAFSA as usual and then contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss possible adjustments.

Step 5: Financial Information & Automatic Tax Transfers

• The 2025–2026 FAFSA uses 2023 tax information.
• The 2024–2025 FAFSA uses 2022 tax information.

All contributors (parents, spouse, etc.) must provide consent for their tax information to be transferred into the FAFSA. If a required contributor refuses to provide consent, the student will not be eligible for federal aid — even if tax details are entered manually.

Step 6: Signing and Submitting Your FAFSA

After you (and any required contributors) complete the FAFSA, it must be electronically signed using your FSA ID.  Once submitted for processing, check your email for confirmation, which will include the completion date, your Data Release Number (DRN), and an estimated Student Aid Index (SAI). Keep in mind that the Student Aid Index shown is only an estimate, and the final amount will be available in your FAFSA Submission Summary.

What Happens Next?

After submitting your FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report summarizing your information. Carteret CC’s Financial Aid Office will review your application and determine your financial aid eligibility. If you are selected for verification, you may be required to provide additional documentation. It is important to check your email regularly, including spam folders, for updates from FAFSA or Carteret CC’s Financial Aid Office.

Why It’s Important to Apply Early

The FAFSA for the 2025–2026 academic year opened on December 1, 2024. Since some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, applying early increases your chances of receiving the maximum aid available. Completing your FAFSA as soon as it becomes available can help ensure you do not miss important deadlines.

Need Help? We’re Here for You

If you have questions or need assistance, visit the FAFSA website for frequently asked questions, chat support, and virtual assistant guidance. The FAFSA Help Tools provide additional support, including a question mark icon next to each section that offers explanations. For one-on-one guidance, reach out to Carteret CC’s Financial Aid Office, where our team is ready to assist you every step of the way.