{"id":2333,"date":"2026-03-18T12:05:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T16:05:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bridgeport.edu\/news\/?p=2333"},"modified":"2026-03-18T16:37:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T20:37:52","slug":"how-to-apply-for-financial-aid-and-fafsa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bridgeport.edu\/news\/how-to-apply-for-financial-aid-and-fafsa\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Apply for Financial Aid (including the FAFSA!)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Applying for college<\/a> can feel overwhelming. After all, you\u2019re searching for the right school, taking tests like the ACTs and SATs, filling out applications, and applying for financial aid. Now you have to also worry about how to apply for student loans and other funding? It\u2019s easy to get discouraged amid all the multi-step processes you\u2019re trudging through.<\/p>\n

During this process, you\u2019ll probably find yourself needing to know how to apply for financial aid in order to pay for your college education. Thankfully, with proper planning and the right resources, students can complete the college application process<\/a> and fund their education without undue stress or sleep loss.<\/p>\n

Below, we\u2019ll unpack one of the most common steps students take to procure financial aid when applying for college: how to apply for FAFSA \u2014 the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.<\/p>\n

What is the FAFSA?<\/h2>\n

The FAFSA is one of the primary sources of financial aid<\/a> for students and their families. It\u2019s how students access financial assistance from both the federal and state governments. Some colleges and universities also use it to help determine a student\u2019s financial need and need-based grants and scholarship eligibility.<\/p>\n

Financial aid obtained from the FAFSA, totaling $38 billion, comes through grants, work-study eligibility and opportunity, and federal student loans.<\/p>\n

One well-known type of funding is a Federal Pell Grant<\/a>, awarded to undergraduate students who display exceptional need. Although with updated Pell Grant rules \u2014 foreign income is now taken into account toward eligibility \u2014 some students with a higher SAI (Student Aid Index) may lose access to funding in the coming 2026-27 school year.<\/p>\n

All US citizens and eligible non-citizens must fill it out yearly to apply for federal financial aid.<\/p>\n

How to apply for FAFSA<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re wondering how to apply for financial aid or how to apply for student loans, applying for FAFSA is a crucial first step in finding the money needed to fund a student\u2019s education. This is why knowing how to apply for FAFSA and submitting everything properly is essential.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Gather information<\/h3>\n

Applying for financial aid is a multi-step process that will take a bit of elbow grease. As the FAFSA will ask you to provide specific information about demographics, parents, financial information, and school selections, you\u2019ll want to gather everything you\u2019ll need ahead of time to speed up the process of applying for FAFSA as much as possible.<\/p>\n

Luckily, things continue to get more organized and convenient for all involved. The 2026-27 application process even allows students to invite parents or spouses via email, which reduces errors in Social Security numbers.<\/p>\n

Students should have the following ready:<\/p>\n