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Your 6 Top FAFSA Questions, Answered
The information provided below has been reviewed by our financial aid experts to assist with students and families completing the 2024-25 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).
Update for Students Applying for Financial Aid for Fall 2024 Enrollment
For more than a year, the U.S. Department of Education has been implementing significant changes to the FAFSA that promise to make the financial aid process easier than ever. With the recent announcement that the 2024-2025 FAFSA will open on December 31, 2023, we want you to know that JWU is here to support you through the financial aid process.
Now that the release date is public, we are prepared to review financial aid applications as soon as we receive them. Some colleges and universities are responding to the FAFSA opening delay by awarding "estimated" financial aid packages before the FAFSA opens. Johnson & Wales University will not be among them. As a university that values offering an affordable educational experience, JWU is committed to only sharing official financial aid packages that you and your family can rely on.
Every new domestic first year or transfer Fall 2024 JWU applicant who completes the FAFSA by March 1, 2024 will be eligible for an additional grant of $1,000. “Johnson & Wales is here to support students and their families to really uncomplicate and unbundle the financial aid process,” said Dawn Blanchette, Director of Student Financial Services. Read on for the answers to common FAFSA questions, and we hope it inspires you to submit your application!
Important FAFSA Questions
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 FAFSA opens on December 31, 2023 for the upcoming academic year. 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 2022, 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 2022, 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
In 2022, 98.5% of JWU’s on-ground students received institutional scholarships and/or grants.
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.
After you complete the FAFSA, what’s next?
Submitting your FAFSA is just the beginning. Below is important information to assist you through the rest of the process.
5. 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.
6. 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 2024: We are here to help you navigate this important process. If you have questions about how the 2024-2025 FAFSA release will affect your application process, please contact us at jwuadmissions@admissions.jwu.edu.
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