FAFSA

What: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
When: Available beginning December 1
Why: To determine your eligibility for need-based financial assistance
How: studentaid.gov; North Park’s federal school code is 001735

The only financial aid application required for US students is the FAFSA. Along with your admission application, the FAFSA provides the details necessary to build your financial aid package. International students provide additional financial information as part of their application process. 

The FAFSA helps North Park determine your eligibility for federal, state, and/or institutional aid like grants and loans. By filing your FAFSA online, you can send your data to multiple colleges and universities.  

If you’re a returning student, you’ll file a FAFSA each fall to maintain your eligibility for any loans or grants that are part of your financial aid package.

What You Need

Before you fill out a FAFSA, you’ll need to get a few things in order:

1. Gather tax information for you and your parents (if you’re a dependent student). For the 2024–2025 academic year, you’ll need tax information from 2023. 
   1. Find out who counts as your parent when you file your FAFSA.
   2. Below are examples of information you may need.
      1. Tax returns
      2. Records of child support received
      3. Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts
      4. Net worth of investments, businesses, and farm
2. Apply for an FSA ID. Students and parents must apply for separate FSA IDs, which allow you to electronically sign your FAFSA when you submit it. Your parent must sign if they claim you as a dependent on their tax forms. 
   1. You and your parents need your Social Security numbers (SSN) to complete this process.
   2. If an individual does not have a SSN, they can obtain an FSA ID following these directions (Spanish version).

When to File

File the FAFSA as soon as you can. It will be available beginning December 1.

For undergraduate students from Illinois who may qualify for the Illinois MAP grant, filing the FAFSA is critical to be considered for available funds from this program. 

After filing, you can review your information through the FAFSA website and make corrections to it online if necessary (such as if you used estimated tax information). We will receive your updates electronically if you list North Park on your FAFSA. 

The FAFSA will generate a student aid index (SAI). The SAI measures your family’s financial strength, and the State of Illinois, the Federal Government, and the NPU Financial Aid Office use it to determine your eligibility for financial aid. Your SAI does not guarantee that you will only pay that amount for college.

Undergraduate Transfer Students

Financial aid packages are unique to each school. Be sure to add North Park University to your FAFSA online using our federal school code (001735) so that we receive your FAFSA report and can generate an accurate financial aid package. 

Graduate Students

Graduate students who do not need student loans to pay for their advanced degree do not need to complete a FAFSA (for example, if your continuing education qualifies for an employer-reimbursement program that will cover your total costs). 

However, if your circumstances change from year to year, you can file a FAFSA even after you’ve started your program to have the option of loans in subsequent years. 

Verification

The federal government selects about one-third of all students for FAFSA verification. If selected, you must send copies of your tax forms and other paperwork to NPU. We will inform you if you are selected for verification for any school year.