FAFSA FAQs
Please find answers to our most commonly asked questions below. Additional information about the 2024-2025 FAFSA and UNCG Financial Aid is available on 2024-2025 FAFSA Landing Page as well as the Applying for Aid section on Spartan Central.
Missed the FAFSA Priority Filing deadline? It’s not too late! We process FAFSAs all year round, but the sooner you file yours, the better your chances at a great aid package.
questions about completing the fafsa
Is the FAFSA now available?
Yes! After much anticipation, the 2024-2025 FAFSA became available on December 30, 2023. According to https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa, the application may occasionally be unavailable for maintenance. If it is unavailable, try again later.
What do I need to complete my FAFSA?
- You and each “contributor” must have verified account usernames and passwords, also known as FSA IDs.
- For each “contributor” you must provide names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and email addresses.
- You will also need to have information about your 2022 income and assets.
Can I list more than one college on my FAFSA?
Yes! You can list up to 20 schools on your 2024-2025 FAFSA (in prior academic years, the max was 10).
I keep getting stuck on a particular page/step on the FAFSA and cannot move forward. What should I do?
If you know you have entered correct information, but are encountering unresponsive buttons or repeating pages, this may be a glitch. Some possible solutions can be:
- Try using a different browser. Sometimes a switch may be what is needed to get past the glitch.
- Exit out of the FAFSA, restart your browser, and try again. There may be times that clearing your cache on your browser or deleting cookies may help.
- If none of these steps produce a solution, a final suggestion will be to exit the FAFSA completely and try again in a few days.
I already filed my FAFSA but need to make a correction. How can I do that?
The U.S. Department of Education has informed schools that students and parents may make corrections once the FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) has been sent to students. They expect this to occur by mid-March.
I forgot to list UNCG on my FAFSA. How can I correct that?
Log back into your FAFSA when updates are being accepted (likely after mid-March), and add our school code 002976. Once your corrected version with our school code processes, we’ll be able to access it. Your official filing date will remain the date that your first FAFSA was received.
Can a parent start the FAFSA before the student?
We do not recommend that this year, as many families have had issues with this new feature. Some are finding that the parent’s completed section does not connect with the student portion the way it is supposed to. If you have tried this and are having connection issues, the parent portion may need to be redone.
I am coming straight out of high school but have a substantial number of college credits already. What do I answer for which grade level I am in on the FAFSA?
We recommend that you select the option for first year student, unless you previously attended college as an admitted student to that college. Reach back out to UNCG after you have graduated and all class credits have been added to your final transcripts. If you have 30 transferable credit hours, we can update your FAFSA and reclassify you as a sophomore.
My student will be finishing her bachelor’s degree at the end of Fall 2024 and then be a graduate student in Spring 2025. Do we need to do anything with the FAFSA?
There are many factors that may impact students who are switching from undergrad to grad in the middle of the academic year. Contact your financial aid office to talk directly, especially if you will be at the same school for both programs.
Do you have any information or tips for graduate level students?
On the FAFSA, make sure you state that you are a graduate student and have earned your bachelor’s degree before the start of the aid year. Graduate students qualify for federal unsubsidized loans and can find other resources on the Graduate School website at https://grs.uncg.edu/financial/fellowships/#1567801142589-d014b1eb-0d0a.
I receive untaxed income (like veteran’s disability benefits or social security disability) and I don’t file taxes. Do I have to report that income somewhere on the FAFSA?
No, the FAFSA does not ask you to report untaxed veteran’s disability or social security benefits.
For the question about child support received, do you report what the court ordered or what you actually received?
You should report what you actually received.
Should I include my retirement accounts in my net investment?
No, retirement plans should NOT be included in your net worth or anywhere on the FAFSA.
Can my parent’s tax information be entered into the FAFSA manually instead of pulling it from the IRS?
While it is technically possible, doing so would make you ineligible for financial aid. The 2024-2025 FAFSA requires that all contributors must consent for their tax information to be used.
I am a single parent and the student applying for aid. My FAFSA does not show that I have any dependents. What do I do?
The 24-25 FAFSA is using 2022 tax information to show family sizes (filing status + dependents listed). Applicants can say that the family size is different than the information coming from 2022 taxes and manually enter their family size. There is also a question “Student Personal Circumstances” where students can indicate that they have dependents or children.
FSA told me to delete my form and start over but now the system us saying it can’t complete the action when I try to invite my parent as a contributor. What should I do?
Keep trying. FSA is actively working on resolving the system issues within the FAFSA. Be persistent about trying again on a regular basis, and consider changing the browser you are using. Most families are able to get through the process eventually.
I submitted the FAFSA but it would not accept my signatures. What happens now?
You might want to check their Knowledge Center page to see if the problem you’re having is an issue that they are working on: https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/topics/fafsa-simplification-information/2024-25-fafsa-issue-alerts# If it’s not there, you might want to try reaching out again or waiting for your current FAFSA to finish processing and then getting back in there then (mid-March).
I have contacted FSA about the problems with my FAFSA but they haven’t responded. What should I do?
We expect that to occur in mid-March. Keep an eye out for an email communication from FSA indicating they have processed. You will likely need to make corrections to add signatures to your FAFSA results at that time.
This all seems too hard! Do I need to file a FAFSA?
We know this has been a challenging transition! Filing the FAFSA is still the first and most important step to funding your college education. And we are here to help!
Questions about contributors
Who is a “contributor”?
A contributor is anyone who is required to provide information on your FAFSA form. Dependent students must report parent information. Independent students who are married must report spouse information. The questions on the FAFSA will guide you through determining if you are a dependent or independent. It will also guide you through determining whose information is required.
If my parents are not married but live together, can just one parent be a contributor?
If you live with both of your biological and/or adoptive parents and they are NOT married, they will both need to be on your FAFSA. Because unmarried individuals cannot file their taxes as “Married Filing Jointly,” both of your parents will need to share their information on your FAFSA.
My contributor’s status has recently changed and I am not sure who needs to be a contributor now. How do I figure that out?
You can find helpful infomraiton including a chart regarding who is considered a contributor at https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/parent-info
My mother remarried just recently but she and her spouse did not file a joint tax return. How do I report that?
Both parent and your parent’s spouse will need to be contributors on your FAFSA and consent to have their tax information shared by the IRS. If they each filed individually in 2022 they should be able to get their information in and move forward. If one of them filed Married Filing Jointly in 2022 with someone else, that individual will have to manually enter their individual income information from 2022 excluding their ex-spouse’s income.
My parent does not file taxes because they don’t have income. How does that work?
When a contributor consents to have their tax information shared with the FAFSA, the IRS will share the tax information they have for that person. In the case of someone who hasn’t filed taxes, the IRS will essentially tell the FAFSA that the contributor is a non-filer, and you’ll be able to continue on with your FAFSA.
If my parents filed a joint tax return, do I have to invite both parents as contributors?
No, if they filed a joint tax return only one parent will need to sign in and consent to share their tax information. The FAFSA will still ask for information about your other parent (birthday, social security number, email address, etc.), but they will not have to set up an FSA ID or anything like that.
My parent does not have a Social Security number, and my parent has not been able to complete the contributor section. What do we do?
FSA has corrected the problem with the FAFSA for students whose contributor does not have an SSN. Once you have submitted your FAFSA and your parent has been invited to contribute to your application, they should be able to access their portion of the FAFSA using the invitation.
What do I do if my parents are separated and one parent refuses to complete the FAFSA as a contributor?
If your parents are separated, only one of them would need to be on the FAFSA. If the parent you put on your FAFSA has remarried, their new spouse’s information would need to be included, but not their ex-spouse.
I am the parent and it will not allow me to sign the FAFSA as the parent. What do I do?
Keep trying. FSA is actively working on resolving the system issues within the FAFSA. We have found that some families who were peristent about trying again on a regular basis, possibly changing the browser they were using, are able to get through the process eventually.
My parents filed a joint tax return in 2022, but only one of my parents received the invitation to the FAFSA. Is that ok?
Yes! If 2 people file their taxes as “Married Filing Jointly,” only one of those people needs to provide consent to contribute their tax information to a FAFSA.
My parent received the invitation email but nothing happens when they click on the link. What should they do?
They will want to log into studentaid.gov using their FSA ID and after getting to the FAFSA page, select the option that says “Access Existing Form” an contibute their information to your FAFSA that way.
I am a contributor to my student’s FAFSA and I completed my section, but I didn’t have to fill out any tax information. Did I do something wrong?
Probably not! The new FAFSA transfers tax information directly from the IRS to the FAFSA. If you consented to contribute your tax information on the FAFSA, then they’ve got the information they need to process your student’s FAFSA.
questions about DATES AND DEADLINES
When do I need to file my FAFSA?
We encourage UNCG students and future Spartans to complete the FAFSA by our March 1 priority filing date. This extension from our previous deadline aims to provide extra time for students and families facing challenges with the application, ensuring you have ample time to complete the FAFSA.
Why should I file by the priority filing date?
The UNCG priority filing date is designed to do two things.
- First, students who successfully file the FAFSA by the priority filing date are given maximum consideration for a variety of financial aid programs in addition to federal programs.
- Second, students who file early usually have plenty of time to complete necessary steps to ensure that aid is ready to go before the semester starts. It is important to check your UNCGenie account early and often to make sure your file is ready to go prior to arriving at campus.
What if I miss the priority filing date?
If you do not meet the priority date, you will still be considered for federal aid. We process FAFSA applications all year so there is not a true deadline, though we strongly encourage early FAFSA completion.
The Next NC Scholarship has a priority date of June 1st. See Next NC Scholarship (2024-2025 Academic Year) | CFNC for eligibility information.
Can I still receive aid if I miss the priority date?
Yes! We recommend filing the FAFSA well before the semester starts so financial aid can be used as a payment, but we can take FAFSAs even after the semester starts.
Does this priority “deadline” apply to all schools or just UNCG?
The priority filing date can be adjusted by individual schools. UNCG has extended its priority date from February 15th to March 1st.
I thought the priority date was February 15th, but now I hear it has been moved to March 1st. Is that correct?
Yes, we wanted to allow more time for students to get their FAFSAs submitted so it was moved back to March 1st.
If there are too many technical issues with the FAFSA will UNCG change the priority deadline again?
It’s possible! We’ve been able to move it back twice already (first to February 15th and then to March 1st), but we do not know at this point.
If my FAFSA was completed before the priority date, but not processed by FSA before that date, will I still get priority consideration for aid?
Yes! UNCG looks at the date that your FAFSA was received at FSA, not the date it was processed.
questions about fafsa processing
When will UNCG get my FAFSA information?
The latest updates from the U.S. Department of Education tell us that schools should expect to receive completed FAFSA results by mid-March. If we gain access to that information sooner, we will let you know.
How long does it take for FSA to process the FAFSA after it is fully submitted?
At this time, we expect FSA to begin fully processing already submitted FAFSAs in mid-March.
When we log in to StudentAid.gov to see the status of my FAFSA, it says “in review” even though it was submitted in January. Is that normal?
Yes. At this time, no 24-25 FAFSAs have been processed as the Department of Education is working through some issues and updates. Processing of applications is anticipated to begin in mid-March.
I heard that mailing a completed paper FAFSA takes longer to process than the online process. Is that true?
Yes. The date the paper FAFSA is received will be considered the filing date, but it will take longer for paper FAFSAs to be processed by the Department of Education than the online form.
I did my FAFSA but made a mistake. When can I make corrections on my FAFSA?
You’ll have to wait for your FAFSA to be fully processed before you can log back in and make a correction. Based on the latest information from Department of Education, we are anticipating this to be sometime in mid-March.
Once I can make a correction to my FAFSA, how long will it take for FSA to process it so that UNCG can receive the updated results?
We have been told that FAFSAs will first process is mid-March. After that point, corrections should process more quickly. For the current 2023-2024 academic year, corrections typically process within a few days and we’re hoping for a similar turnaround time for 2024-2025.
Can you share a little about how the SAI formula works?
The Student Aid Index (SAI) formula is pretty complex and is defined by federal law. The SAI formula takes into account family income and assets as well as the family size to calculate an index number which is then used to determine eligibility for federal and other types of aid. More information can be found at https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/how-sai-calculated.
What steps can a student take if the SAI comes back really high but the student still needs financial assistance?
If you believe your SAI to be too high because your family’s income has changed since 2022, then you can potentially benefit from a Professional Judgment. The 2024-2025 PJ application will be available on our forms page by May 2024, but it essentially allows us to recalculate your financial aid eligibility using more current information.
I had a lot more income in 2022 than I do now, which I think will make me less eligible. What can I do for additional consideration?
You can do a Professional Judgment (PJ) application! The 2024-2025 PJ application will be available on our forms page by May 2024, but it essentially allows us to recalculate your financial aid eligibility using more current information. We expect to have a page on our website dedicated to PJ information shortly where more detailed information will be listed, but until then you can review the PJ application for the 2023-2024 academic year to have a better idea of what our office will need from you.
questions about AID NOTIFICATIONS
When will I know what aid UNCG is offering me?
Based on the information we have now, we anticipate sending aid notifications to incoming students around mid-April, and continuing students beginning in mid-May.
How does my student view their award and get their UNCG Pin?
UNCGenie is the portal you’ll use to view your financial aid and required documents, register for classes, pay your tuition and fees, and also take care of other university-related business. You can use your your ID# number, last name, and birth date to create your PIN here https://getmypin.uncg.edu/pls/prod/bwzkpinr.p_request_pin
I have received aid notification offers from other institutions. Why can’t UNCG do the same before the FAFSA results are in?
Some institutions are using services like the CSS (College Scholarship Service) Profile to provide students with estimates of their financial aid. Our school does not use that service and we also want to provide you with an accurate picture of your financial aid eligiblity — not an estimate.
When will you cover more information about grants and scholarships?
We have a lot of information on our website about all kinds of financial aid programs including grants and scholarship at https://spartancentral.uncg.edu/financial-aid/types-of-aid/. If you have specific questions about your eligibility feel free to reach out to us after your 2024-2025 FAFSA results have been received by UNCG.
When will I get information on how to apply for scholarships in the Scholarship Universe platform?
Check out Scholarship Universe, UNCG’s new platform that matches you with scholarship opportunities from UNCG and the UNC system, as well as outside funding. We’ve already got scholarships for you and much more to come, so don’t delay!