If you are a high school student in Illinois, you are required to file either of the following to graduate and receive a high school diploma:

• The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 
• The Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application)

If you decide you do not want to file either of those applications, you must get a nonparticipation form signed by a parent or guardian. For questions regarding the waiver/opt-out form, you can email Illinois State Board of Education at [email protected].

FAFSA is an application that is required in order to apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, work-study, and loans. FAFSA information is also used by colleges to determine your eligibility for state and school aid. 

What information do I need to fill out FAFSA?

When you start your FAFSA application, the application will prompt you for certain information, including:

• Student Social Security number
• Parent(s) Social Security numbers, if you are a dependent student
• Student driver’s license number, if applicable
• Student Alien Registration number, if not a U.S. citizen
• Federal tax information (via W2 information or tax returns) for the student, student’s spouse, and student’s parents, if applicable
• Records of untaxed income, such as retirement plan withdrawals
• Other financial holdings, such as savings accounts or investments
• A list of the colleges and universities you would like to send your information to for financial aid consideration

You can start and save your application in your FAFSA account, so you do not need to fill it out all at once. You can return to it at a later time.

When is the FAFSA deadline?

The federal deadline to submit your FAFSA is June 30th, however it is better to submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after the application opens. The FAFSA application opens on October 1st. It is also important to be mindful of school deadlines, which are usually around January and February. 

FAFSA and citizenship

Undocumented students, including DACA students, are not eligible for federal student aid. However, they may be eligible for state or college financial aid, in addition to private scholarships. It is important to note that you do need a social security number to complete the FAFSA form. 

If the student is a U.S. citizen but their parent(s) are undocumented, the student can still file the FAFSA form. Your parents’ citizenship status doesn’t affect your eligibility for federal student aid. In fact, the FAFSA form doesn’t even ask about your parents’ status.

Resources to help you file FAFSA

Illinois requires state high schools to help students file FAFSA. Here is a list of other resources that may be helpful:

• FAFSA Website
• Funding Your Education
• My Future, My Way: First Steps Toward College

If you are a youth in foster care, you can learn more about where to get help with filling out the FAFSA and about what resources are available to you.