Financial Aid Documents

Gather these items and follow these steps before starting your applications for federal FAFSA or state WASFA financial aid.

1. First determine which application is right for you by completing this questionnaire on the ReadySetGrad.org website.
2. Then gather the following documents below and plan to take an hour or so to complete the application.
3. Next, start your FAFSA or WASFA application. 

Documents to Gather Before Starting Your Application 

• Your Social Security number (if you have one)
• Your parents’ Social Security numbers if you are a dependent student
• Your Alien Registration number if you are not a U.S. citizen
• DACA number if you have one and are completing the WASFA
• Federal tax information or foreign tax returns, for you; your spouse, if married; or your parents, if dependent student
  • IRS 1040;
  • Foreign tax return, IRS 1040NR, or IRS 1040NR-EZ
• Income from work or IRS W2 information for you; your spouse, if married; or your parents, if dependent student
• Records of your untaxed income, such as child support received, interest income, and veterans non-education benefits, for you, and for your parents if you are a dependent student
• Information on cash; savings and checking account balances; investments, including stocks and bonds and real estate (but not including the home in which you live); and business and farm assets for you, and for your parents if you are a dependent student.

Here's an example of what some of these documents look like.