Your 6 Top FAFSA Questions, Answered

Updated July 2025

The information provided below has been reviewed by our financial aid experts to assist with students and families completing the 2025-26 FAFSA.

Completing your college admission application is exciting — it puts your years of hard work in school, as well as your future aspirations and plans, into action. In the same way, taking the first steps toward figuring out how to fund your education can help make your future dreams a reality. Johnson & Wales University (JWU) strongly encourages you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 

1. Who should fill out the FAFSA?

Every student, every year. It’s the only way to determine your eligibility for federal, state and institutional aid, and you have the flexibility to accept, decrease, or decline your loan offer. Finally, it’s important to point out that the FAFSA is free to submit and only takes about 30 minutes to complete.

2. When should I fill out the FAFSA?

As soon as you can! The 2025-2026 FAFSA is now open, and filling it out as early as possible allows you to maximize your offer package. In addition, the sooner you complete this step, the sooner you can receive your financial aid offer letter.

3. What do I need to complete my FAFSA?

To start, you’ll need a FSA User ID if you don’t already have one (your parent will need one as well if you are dependent) and the school code for JWU is 003404 (this code is the same for all programs and campuses). It’s important for you to include this code in your FAFSA so that your information is sent directly to JWU within three to five business days. In addition, you’ll need the following information.

Student information:

• Driver’s license and social security number
• Federal income tax returns for the filing year of 2023, if you did not file but worked you will need your W-2 forms If the student is married, the same documents will be needed for the spouse
• Current cash, savings and asset information

Parent(s) information (if dependent):

• Federal income tax returns filing year 2023, if parent did not work and did not file a return W-2 forms
• Date of birth and social security numbers
• Current cash, savings and asset information
• Current information on stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.
• Current information on value and debt of rental property
• Business and farm information

4. What if I have questions while I’m filling out the FAFSA?

We’ve got you! Just contact the financial planning team at your campus. They are ready to walk you through any part of the process.

5. After I complete the FAFSA, what’s next?

Submitting your FAFSA is just the beginning. You may receive communications from the Department of Education to verify information before you receive an offer letter from JWU. It is important to keep an eye on your email for any updates.

6. What does “selected for verification” mean?

The Department of Education randomly selects students for a process called verification, which simply double checks information entered on the FAFSA. If you’re selected, an email will be sent to you requesting federal income tax returns for the student and parent(s) if they filed, a signed verification worksheet requesting household information and number of students in college. Student and parent(s) must sign the verification worksheet.

7. When I receive my offer letter, what will it contain?

After you submit your FAFSA, JWU will provide your financial aid offer letter in your online admissions portal, which contains federal, state and institutional awards. It also contains tuition and fees and next steps and important information about your personal financial planner.

We urge you to complete the FAFSA as soon as it opens. It can only help you in maximizing the financial aid you qualify for and may increase your total financial aid offer.

For students recently admitted for Fall 2025: We are here to help you navigate this important process. If you have questions about how the 2025-2026 FAFSA release will affect your application process, please contact us at jwuadmissions@admissions.jwu.edu.

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