The Steps to Applying for Financial Aid
Financial Aid is available to those who qualify.
The financial aid application process is detailed in the steps below.
Step 1: Complete the FAFSA online.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to determine your student aid eligibility based on your personal and family situation.
If you are a first-time user, you will be required to create an FSA ID and will enter your name, date of birth, Social Security number, contact information, and challenge questions and answers. The FSA ID, which consists of a user-created username and password, replaced the PIN effective May, 2015. It allows users to electronically access personal information on federal student aid web sites as well as to electronically sign a FAFSA.
Note: For those who have a Federal Student Aid PIN, you will be able to enter it and link it to your FSA ID; however, if you do not remember your PIN, you can still create an FSA ID.
View a step-by-step guide to creating an FSA ID.
To simplify the financial aid application process, we recommend that you use the data retrieval tool to transfer your financial information from the IRS into the FAFSA.
Note: Forrest College’s school code: 004924
Once the FAFSA application has been received by Forrest College (3-5 business days), you can complete the following financial aid application steps.
Step 2: Complete Entrance Counseling.
If you plan to use federal student loans, access studentloans.gov to complete Entrance Counseling. This step is required to ensure you understand your borrower rights and responsibilities.
Step 3: Complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN).
If you plan to use federal student loans, you will need to electronically complete and sign the MPN — a legal document that creates a contract between you and the lender to repay the loans. You will find the MPN at studentloans.gov.
Step 4: Complete any other Financial Aid documentation as required.
You may be required to complete or supply additional documentation before your financial aid can be awarded. Any required documents will be requested by your registered email.
Step 5: Complete the Financial Aid Process.
After completing the FAFSA, you will receive your personal Financial Aid Plan by email. After reviewing your Financial Aid Plan, continue the financial aid process by accessing the Financial Services section in your Student Portal to accept or change the recommended loan amounts. An award letter displaying your requested, or otherwise eligible, loan and grant amounts will be sent to your email address. At that time, the financial aid process is complete and no further action is necessary.
Financial Aid Application:
For new students, the deadline for completing the financial aid process is the 22nd of the month prior to your intended program start date. This deadline also includes submission and approval of any additional required documents by the Financial Aid Office. Failure to complete the process or submit the required documents will result in a delay of funding and may affect your start date.