Paying for College

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Completing the FAFSA isn’t required, but it’s highly recommended—even if you think you won't qualify for aid. Here are some important reasons to apply:

🏛️ State Aid Programs

Many states use FAFSA data to determine eligibility for their own financial aid programs, which may have different criteria. Submitting your FAFSA ensures you'll be considered for state-specific grants and scholarships.

🎓 School-Specific Aid:

Colleges and universities often use FAFSA information to award school-specific scholarships and resources. Even if you don’t qualify for federal grants, you may still be eligible for financial support directly from your school.

🌐 Access to a Range of Aid Options:

Even if you don’t qualify for need-based grants and scholarships, completing the FAFSA ensures you’re considered for the widest range of financial support. Other types of aid you may be considered for are federal loans, work-study, and scholarships that aren’t based solely on financial need. Federal Parent PLUS Loans also require a completed FAFSA.

🔓 Guaranteed Access to Student Loans:

While graduating debt-free is ideal, it’s not a reality for most students. Completing the FAFSA provides access to federal student loans issued directly in your name with no cosigner required. These loans offer flexible repayment options, deferment while you’re in school, and, for eligible students, subsidized loans where the government covers the interest while you are enrolled.

🔁 A Change Circumstances:

Financial situations can shift unexpectedly. Filing the FAFSA creates a safety net, ensuring support is available if your circumstances evolve during the academic year.

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No matter where you are in your college journey—prospective, new, current, or returning—filing the FAFSA is a must every Academic Year (AY) you plan to attend!

Here's what you need to know:

🔄 Academic Year ≠ Calendar Year
At MU, the academic year runs May–May, so plan ahead!

✅  Academic Year = FAFSA Year
FAFSA opens every October and for the upcoming AY. 

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FAFSA Start Dates

Scheduled to open every October! Pay attention to the dates on the application when applying!

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Key deadlines to remember: 

Mark your calendars and know your deadlines.

⚠️ Important: To secure financial aid on time—make sure your application is submitted, received, and processed by your school as soon as possible. Additionally, your financial aid requirements and your aid offer must be accepted and finalized before the academic year ends or your enrollment period finishes. 

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Set Yourself Up for FAFSA Success!

Get a head start on your FAFSA by preparing now. Here’s what you can do to make the process smoother:

1. Identify everyone who needs to contribute their information on your application.
2. Ensure each contributor creates their own Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID.
3. Collect the documents you will need for each contributor in advance.

When filling out the FAFSA, you might need help from others to provide the required information. These people are called Contributors. While they are not financially responsible for your education, their details are needed to determine your eligibility for financial aid.

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Who Needs to Be Included as a Contributor?

The following people may need to provide information on the FAFSA:

• You (the student)
• Your spouse (if you’re married)
• Your biological or adoptive parent(s)
• Your stepparent (if your parent is remarried)

Who is NOT a Contributor?

• Grandparents
• Foster parents
• Legal guardians
• Siblings, aunts, uncles, or friends

Even if these individuals helped raise or support you, they do not provide information on the FAFSA.

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how are contributors determined?

You are typically considered dependent if you are under the age of 24, which means you must include parental information on the FAFSA, even if you live on your own or support yourself.

• A student who is under the age of 24 and cannot answer YES to one or more of the dependency questions on the FAFSA will be required to provide parental information. 

You might be considered independent if you are under 24 but meet other specific criteria, such as:

• Being married, supporting children or dependents more than 51%, enrolled in a graduate program, a veteran, or qualifying under another FAFSA dependency question. 

You are automatically considered independent if you are 24 or older, which means you are not required to include parent information on the FAFSA.  

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I am Dependent—How Do I Know Which Parent to Include?

Here’s a quick guide! If your legal parents (biological or adoptive) are:

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What Happens If a Contributor Won’t Help?

Explain that being a Contributor doesn’t mean they have to pay for your education—it just helps determine what aid you qualify for.

• If a required Contributor (such as a parent or stepparent) refuses to provide their information, your FAFSA will be incomplete, and you won’t qualify for federal, state, and possibly some types of institutional aid.

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What If I Can’t Contact My Parents?

If you can’t contact your parents or have left home because of abuse or other serious circumstances:

1. Answer “Yes” to the unusual circumstances question on the FAFSA.
2. Contact your school's financial aid office to confirm what documents you need to submit. 

Your situation and documentation will be reviewed, and you may qualify as an independent student. 

Need More Help? If you’re facing unusual circumstances, Millersville’s financial aid team can guide you through the next steps.
Learn more about the process for unusual circumstances at Millersville.

Each student and contributor must create their own Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID to sign the FAFSA electronically.

Steps to Create Your FSA ID:

1. Go to studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account.
2. Use your personal email and phone number (not shared or school/work accounts).
3. Provide your legal name, date of birth, and Social Security Number.

Important Notes: 

The Federal Student Aid Account, or FSA ID, consists of a unique username and password combination you use to log in to U.S. Department of Education (ED) online systems.

• The FSA ID is your legal signature and shouldn't be created or used by anyone other than you—not even your parent, your child, a school official, or a loan company representative.

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Who needs a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID and password?

Anyone who is required to contribute information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must create their own Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID and password.

• A person who needs to contribute information on the FAFSA can include the student, biological, adoptive, and step-parent(s). 
• The FSA ID serves as your electronic signature and is needed to complete the FAFSA and other federal student aid documents.
• Contributors without an SSN, contact out office at fa.mail@millersville.edu for assistance and to discuss your options!

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why do my contributors and i need separate accounts?

Each contributor must use their personal e-mail address, phone number, and other personal identifiers such as their legal name, social security number, and date of birth to create their account.

• Shared emails and phone numbers cannot be used for multiple people/accounts and you should not use work or school emails. 
• If you don’t want your financial aid to be delayed, it’s extremely important that each contributor create their own FSA ID and that they do not share it with anyone, even each other.

Preparing the necessary documents in advance will make completing the FAFSA easier and avoid delays with processing your aid.

It's also good to gather other important documents and information just in case you need to enter any information manually.

students will need

• Your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID and password to log into the application
• Your Social Security Number or your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
• Tax returns (if applicable), W-2 forms, and any other financial information
• The name, date of birth, Social Security number, and email addresses for each contributor.

contributors will need

• tax returns;
• records of child support received;
• current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts;
• net worth of investments, businesses, and farms.

 

DIRECT DATA EXCHANGE STUDENTS & CONTRIBUTORS

One you begin your portion of the application, you will be required to provide consent and approval to have federal tax information transferred directly from the IRS into the FAFSA. 

• If any required contributor does not provide consent and approval, the student will not be eligible for Federal Student Aid.

Learn more in the section below on Understanding Consent. 

When you’re ready, visit studentaid.gov/fafsa to begin your application.

• Log In: Use your FSA ID and password to access the FAFSA.
• Add Millersville’s School Code: Enter 003325 to ensure your information is sent to Millersville.
• Answer Questions: Provide details about your identity, income, and college plans.

Key Reminder: You will need to consent to share your tax information. This is required even if you don't file taxes.

After completing your portion, you’ll need to invite contributors (parents or spouse) to fill out their sections.

Steps to Invite Contributors:

1. Collect their name, date of birth, Social Security Number, and email address.
2. Send an invitation through the FAFSA platform.
3. Contributors will log in with their FSA ID and complete their portion.

Key Reminder: All contributors must consent to share their tax information. This is required even if they don't file taxes.

Consent is required from all contributors to transfer their tax information directly from the IRS into the FAFSA.

What Are You Consenting To:

The Department of Education and Federal Student Aid (FSA) to:

• Use a Direct Data Exchange and transfer your federal tax info directly into the FAFSA via the IRS.
• Use your federal tax info to determine student aid eligibility.
• Share your tax info with schools and state agencies for financial aid purposes.  

Why is Consent Important?

It ensures accurate information and simplifies the FAFSA process. Keep in mind that without consent, the FAFSA cannot be completed.

What if Taxes Weren’t Filed?

Contributors still need to provide consent, even if they do not have a social security number, did not file taxes, or filed outside the U.S.

Some students and families may face unique situations when completing the FAFSA:

Contributor Refuses to Provide Information:

If a required contributor refuses, the FAFSA will be incomplete, and you won’t qualify for federal, state, and some forms of institutional aid.

• Try explaining that being a Contributor doesn’t mean they have to pay for your education—it just helps determine what aid you qualify for.
• If they still refuse to contribute their information, contact the financial aid office for guidance.

No Contact with Parents:

• If you’ve left home due to an abusive situation or have no contact with your parents, indicate this in the FAFSA. You’ll be considered provisionally independent, but you’ll need to work with Millersville’s Financial Aid Office to confirm your status.
• Learn more about the process for unusual circumstances at Millersville.

Financial Changes:

• The FAFSA asks for tax information from two years prior. Sometimes that information no longer accurately reflects your financial situation.
• There are ways that the financial aid office can re-evaluate your information and recalculate your Student Aid Index (SAI) to see if you qualify for additional aid.
• Learn more about the Special Circumstances process.

Your financial aid eligibility is determined through several steps, starting with your FAFSA submission and ending with your Financial Aid Offer from Millersville. Here’s how the process works:

FAFSA Submission Summary

Once you submit your FAFSA and all required signatures are complete, you’ll receive a FAFSA Submission Summary or confirmation page. This document provides key information, including:

• Your Student Aid Index (SAI): Formerly known as the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), this number is used to determine your eligibility for financial aid.
• Your Estimated Federal Aid Eligibility: A preliminary look at the federal grants and loans you may qualify for.
• Verification Status: Indicates if additional documentation is needed to complete your application.

Pro Tip: If you’re a Pennsylvania resident, make sure to complete your FAFSA by May 1 to be considered for the PA State Grant Application. You will also need to complete the State Grant Form in your GrantUs with PHEAA before May 1 to qualify for state aid.

FAFSA Information Sent to Schools

After submission, your FAFSA data is sent to the schools and institutions you listed on your application:

2024–2025 FAFSA:

• FAFSA data began reaching schools in May 2024. Millersville typically receives your information within 5–10 business days.

2025–2026 FAFSA:

• FAFSA opened December 2024. Millersville will receive your data within 5–7 business days of submission.
• Important Note: Millersville can confirm receipt of your FAFSA, but financial aid offers are not available immediately.

Financial Aid Offers

Once your FAFSA is processed and reviewed, Millersville will create your personalized Financial Aid Offer. This offer outlines the types and amounts of aid you’re eligible for, including grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships.

New, Prospective Students:

• If you haven’t confirmed your spot with Admissions, your offer will be sent to the email address listed on your FAFSA.
• If you’ve confirmed your acceptance, your offer will be sent to your Millersville University email.

Current, Returning Students:

• Offer letters for returning students are sent to Millersville email accounts starting mid-to-late June.
• If you’re taking summer courses and plan to use some of your fall and spring aid for those, you’ll need to complete a Summer Aid Application. In this case, offers will be sent beginning in late June/early July.

Pro Tip: Keep an eye on your email for updates and additional steps required to finalize your aid package.

Learn More About Financial Aid Eligibility

For more information on financial aid types and eligibility, visit Millersville’s Financial Aid website or contact the Office of Financial Aid for personalized support.

Lyle Hall, 2nd Floor, Room 241

Office Hours:
Standard: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (mid-August to mid-May)                                                                Summer: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (mid-May to mid-August)

Call Center Hours:
Available by Phone: Mon.-Fri. 8:00am to 6:00pm 

Phone: 717-871-5100                           
Fax:  717-871-7980 
Email: fa.mail@millersville.edu

USPS Mailing Address:
Office of Financial Aid
Millersville University
P.O. Box 1002
Millersville, PA 17551-0302

Address for UPS/FedEx:
Office of Financial Aid
Lyle Hall, 2nd Floor
40 Dilworth Rd
Millersville, PA 17551-0302