What is the FAFSA?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid collects information about your financial circumstances to determine eligibility for federal aid programs. When you complete the FAFSA, you’ll be considered for federal grants, state grants, work-study jobs and federal student loans. Students unable to complete the FAFSA should review information about the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) Application.
If you plan to or are receiving financial aid, you need to be aware of the following rights and responsibilities.
Step 1: Choose your program of study or major
Most programs are eligible for financial aid but some are not.
Step 2: Complete Germanna's free application for admission
Be sure to include your social security number on the application in order to link your student account with your financial aid application.
Step 3: Create your federal student aid id (FSA ID)
Before completing the FAFSA, the student (and parent, if necessary) must create a federal student aid id (FSA ID). The FSA ID is used to sign your FAFSA electronically.
Step 4: Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The new aid year’s FAFSA will be available starting October 1 of each year for the following fall semester and should be completed as soon as possible.
- The school code for Germanna is 008660. The priority application date is April 1.
- Germanna must receive the results of your FAFSA by April 1 to meet the priority date.
Step 5: Review your FAFSA Submission Summary
After your FAFSA is submitted and processed, you will have access to your FAFSA Submission Summary, an electronic or paper document that summarizes the information you reported on your FAFSA form. The summary includes your estimated eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant and federal student loans, your Student Aid Index (SAI), and whether you’ve been selected for verification. The FAFSA Submission Summary replaces the Student Aid Report for the 2024–25 award year.
Step 6: Verification
Verification is a process in which information on a student’s FAFSA is reviewed by a school for accuracy and completeness. If your FAFSA is selected for verification, immediately submit all requested documentation to our office for review. Failure to provide required documentation may negatively impact your financial aid award package.