Students studying in Hale library

Applying for Federal Aid

A one-stop shop for all of your financial aid resources about applying for aid.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed by all students who wish to be considered for federal, Title IV, forms of financial assistance. Forms of federal financial assistance include Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal TEACH Grant, Federal Work Study, as well as federal forms of student loans such as Federal Direct Loan, Federal Parent PLUS, and Federal Graduate PLUS.

IMPORTANT: Kansas State University, like many other institutions, also utilizes FAFSA information in awarding need-based financial aid that comes from non-federal sources in the form of hundreds of thousands of dollars in institutional and state scholarship/grants programs. This is because the FAFSA collects income and asset information from the student and their family. Examples of non-federal forms of financial assistance that are premised on FAFSA data at Kansas State University include establishing eligibility for the Land Grant Promise program as well as consideration for a Kansas Comprehensive Grant.

FAFSA = FREE

As noted in the name – the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is FREE! If you are completing an application that claims that it is the FAFSA, but it also requires a fee, you are not on the official Department of Education’s FAFSA application portal. Before paying any business a fee to complete the FAFSA because you have questions, K-State’s Office of Student Financial Assistance encourages you to contact us for free guidance.