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Getting Started

Students are responsible for completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is processed by the U.S. Department of Education and the results are sent to the school  and to the student in a document known as a Student Aid Report (SAR). The school cannot determine an award without an SAR. You do not need to wait until you have been accepted into a program to start this process. Please read the following instructions carefully.

  • Step 1. Gather items that will assist you in completing the FAFSA, for example: tax returns, W2s, Driver's License, SS#, bank statements, untaxed income, assets, child support, etc.
  • Step 2. Create an FSA ID (Pin numbers are no longer used.) 
  • Go to https://studentaid.gov and either login if you have a current FSA ID or click Create an Account to create a new user name and password.  WRITE THEM DOWN.  If you are a dependent student, a parent must also apply for a FSA ID.   It will take one to three days for you to be able to use this user name and password for some functions.  DO NOT TRY TO USE THE SAME EMAIL ADDRESS & PHONE NUMBER FOR BOTH STUDENT AND PARENT.
  • Step 3.  Once created, you can file your FAFSA by clicking on the Apply For Aid link, then Complete The FAFSA Form.   You NEVER have to pay to file your FAFSA!
  • Step 4. Complete a FAFSA on-line. For classes beginning July 1, 2020 or later, choose the school year 2020-2021.  Our federal school code is 012967.  Mid-East CTC- Adult Education.
    • PLEASE NOTE:  It is critical that you LINK TO IRS using the Data Retrieval Tool whenever possible located at the Financial Information area.  This will allow a data transfer from the IRS directly to the FAFSA.  The only people that should have an issue is recently separated/divorced or Married Filing Separately.  If you are in either category, you will need to have your tax information to file.
  • Step 5. Make sure you click the small SIGN button at the last step before you submit your FAFSA.  If you do not, you will not receive you Expected Family Contribution on the completion screen.  This paper is a summary of your SAR.
  • Step 6. If there are any FAFSA issues that need to be resolved, we will contact you and may ask you to schedule an appointment.
  • Step 7.
    • Once you have been accepted into the program and completed necessary paperwork for financial aid, students will receive a Funding Information 2020-2021 sheet which will show the Institutional Costs, Pell Grants and Federal Loans a student is eligible to receive.  If you need to make changes then you must notify the Financial Aid Office by the date on the form.  (Changes can be made at a later date, but your original Financial Aid Offer will show the original amounts.)  
    • After the date on the Funding Information paper has passed, the official Financial Aid Offer will be mailed to the student. 
    • Students will receive information on how to opt-out of books and supplies during the workshop/orientation. They must fill out the correct paperwork in order to process this deducation on his/her account. 
    • Signed Financial Aid Offers must be returned to the Financial Aid Office prior to the program start date.