FAFSA Help
What is the FAFSA?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form determines a student’s eligibility for federal student aid such as federal grants, work-study funds, and loans. The FAFSA is also used to determine eligibility for state grants and institutional aid. All students should complete a FAFSA for every year they are enrolled in school.
When should I file my FAFSA?
The FAFSA opens each fall for the upcoming full school year. It will look at income information from the prior prior year. Filing the FAFSA as early as possible helps students qualify for their maximum award.
| FAFSA | Opening Date: | Uses Income From | Pays for Terms |
| 2024-2025 | December 30, 2023 | 2022 | Fall 2024, Spring & Summer 2025 |
| 2025-2026 | December 1, 2024 | 2023 | Fall 2025 & Spring & Summer 2026 |
| 2026-2027 | October 1, 2025 | 2024 | Fall 2026, Spring & Summer 2027 |
Where can I find answers to more FAFSA questions?
Feel free to contact our office for one on one assistance with your FAFSA questions. You can also find answers online at studentaid.gov or ISAC.org.
What do I need to start the FAFSA?
The following items are needed to complete a FAFSA:
Required Items
- Student Social Security Number or A-Number (if not a U.S. citizen)
- An FSA ID (account username and password) to log in to StudentAid.gov and start the FAFSA form electronically
- Federal School Code: Southwestern Illinois College – 001636
- If a dependent student, then parent(s) will need the above information as a FAFSA contributor
- If a married student who did not file a joint tax return with spouse, then spouse will need the above information as a FAFSA contributor
Recommended Items
- Federal income tax returns; records of child support received; and current balance of cash, savings, and checking accounts for student and contributors
- Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable) for student and contributors
- Records of net worth of investments, businesses, and farms for student and contributors
- Records of untaxed income (if applicable) for student and contributors
How do I start?
Begin the FAFSA process by visiting studentaid.gov. Start with creating your FSA ID, which needs one to three business days to process before completing the FAFSA. Then log in to get started when you receive confirmation your ID has been processed.
When is the deadline to file FAFSA?
Students should file the FAFSA early to be eligible for their maximum award. Deadlines vary by type of aid.
Federal Deadline
Online applications must be submitted by midnight Central Daylight Time, June 30 of the end of the aid year.
State Deadline
Illinois – As soon as possible after the FAFSA opens. Awards are made until funds are depleted.
College Deadline
Each college may have a different deadline. Check with the college(s) you are interested in attending. You may also want to ask your college about their definition of an application deadline – whether it is the date they receive your FAFSA, or the date your FAFSA is processed.
What happens after I file?
After submitting the FAFSA, allow at least 3-5 business days for the college to receive your data. Once we have received and processed your FAFSA, we will email your SWIC student email to let you know what additional items are needed to award your financial aid.