Applying for Aid
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Whether you are a new undergraduate, new transfer student, or new graduate student, you only need one form to apply for financial aid at UMass Amherst - the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly called the FAFSA.
Returning students may be able to use the Renewal FAFSA.
Financial Aid Services and the federal government will use the information you and you family supply on the FAFSA to determine your eligibility.
You can submit your completed FAFSA in one of two ways, electronically or by sending a paper application through the mail.
Electronic Application
Through the FAFSA Web Site you can complete and submit your application online. We encourage you to submit the application this way, if you are able, because built-in edits will help you immediately detect and correct any errors you may make.
The online FAFSA will walk you through the application process with three sections:
- Before Beginning a FAFSA: This section delineates the steps you need to take and the documents you need to gather before filing out the application. It includes a FAFSA worksheet, information on school codes, how to apply for a PIN, and FAFSA deadline dates.
- Filling Out a FAFSA: This will guide you through the process of filling out the application itself, with questions about your school plans, your financial information, and more. It allows you to save your FAFSA and continue working later, as well as sign your FAFSA electronically with your PIN.
- FAFSA Follow-up: This section allows you to check the status of your submitted FAFSA, print a Signature Page, make corrections to a processed FAFSA, add or delete a school code, and view and print your Student Aid Report
Paper Application
The paper version of the FAFSA is available at your high school guidance office and from UMass Amherst Financial Aid Services. Call 413-545-0801 to request a copy. Send your completed application to:
Federal Student Aid Programs
P.O. Box 7001
Mount Vernon, IL 62864-0071
Your Personal Identification Number (PIN)
When you apply for financial aid you must also apply for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) at the U.S. Department of Education’s Web site. Parents of dependent students need a PIN as well.
The PIN serves as your electronic signature and provides access to your personal information in various U.S. Department of Education systems. It is like the Personal Identification Number (PIN) that gives you to access your bank accounts. Anyone who has a valid Social Security Number and is a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen may apply for a PIN. Because you can use your PIN to sign your financial aid documents, you should keep it in a safe place. Do not give or entrust it to anyone, even if that person or organization is helping you fill out your FAFSA.
After completing a FAFSA on the Web application, you and your parents (if you are a dependent student) will need to sign your application. The FAFSA cannot be processed without these signatures. Using a PIN to sign your application electronically is by far the fastest and most reliable way to sign your application. However, you can print, sign and mail in a signature page, or provide signature(s) on your paper Student Aid Report (SAR).
Your PIN will stay the same from year to year and you will not need to apply for a new one. You will be able to use it to access and electronically sign your FAFSA each year that you apply for financial aid.
The Renewal FAFSA
If you applied for federal student aid for 2007-2008, you may be eligible to file the electronic 2008-2009 Renewal FAFSA. It will already include most of your information, so you will only need to add new or updated information. Start at the FAFSA Web Site and follow the link for Filling Out a FAFSA to the sections on renewal.
