FAFSA Form
Complete the FAFSA using Lasell University code 002158. 

Create a Federal Student Aid ID
Create your FASA ID, which is used for both the FAFSA and Federal Student Loan Applications.

IRS Data Retrieval Tutorial
Need help understanding how to use the data retrieval process in the FAFSA? Watch this quick video to get pointers. 

*NEW CHANGES FOR 2024-2025*

The FAFSA Simplification Act is going live!

Be aware that the Department of Education has stated the FAFSA may NOT be ready to launch by October 1, 2023 for the 2024-2025 academic year. Please check studentaid.gov frequently for updates.

Bear in mind Lasell’s FAFSA priority deadline to submit the 2024-2025 FAFSA is March 1, so as long as the FAFSA is received prior to March 1, you will be considered for the maximum potential for all forms of financial aid (for those who qualify).

What can I do in the meantime before the new FAFSA form goes live?

All students and parents (now referred to as contributors) will need an FSA ID (account username and password) to complete AND correct the FAFSA form moving forward. If students and all parents (biological and step-parents) at least create their own FSA ID as early as possible, once the FAFSA form is available it will offer a more efficient process to submit.

The 2024-2025 FAFSA will require the 2022 tax information to be used. When possible, the IRS will transfer tax information directly to the FAFSA form. FSA users will need to consent to providing their tax information going forward each year they apply.

What if I have more questions?

As always, students and families should ask questions to the financial aid offices at the colleges to which they are applying. But please be aware that the financial aid community—nationwide—is still learning this new process as well.

 What is the FAFSA Simplification Act? 

• FAFSA Simplication Act overview
• FAFSA Simplification FAQs (external PDF)

Federal Student Aid (FSA) Federal Student Aid Estimator

Federal Student Aid (FSA) has published its updated Federal Student Aid Estimator tool to help students and their families calculate the amount of financial aid they may be eligible to receive for the 2024-25 award year.

With the new FAFSA Simplification Act eliminating the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) in 2024-2025, the Aid Estimator Tool will estimate the Student Aid Index (SAI). FSA encourages students to use this tool prior to filling out their FAFSA to help inform them of their options for potential funding for college. FSA also reminded users that this tool is NOT a substitute for the 2024-25 FAFSA, which will be released in December 2023.

According to FSA the form should take students, parents, counselors, and prospective students about 5-10 minutes to complete.

www.finaid.org
Includes interactive calculators, estimators, discussion groups, scholarship search links, and a listing of financial aid resources.

www.collegeboard.org
Information available from the College Board on SATs and other standardized tests, college costs, and scholarship information.

www.fastweb.com
Provides free scholarship search with more than 400,000 scholarship sources.

https://www.mass.edu/osfa/students/forstudents.asp
Provides information on the college application process and financial aid from the Massachusetts Higher Education Information Center.

www.ed.gov
Provides links to information on federal financial aid programs from the Department of Education.

www.studentclearinghouse.org
Provides real-time information regarding loan borrowing history, where and how much a student has borrowed, and through what programs to assist students with debt management.

www.doe.mass.edu
Link to the Massachusetts Department of Education.

American Opportunity Tax Credit
https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/aotc
Did you know that you may quality for a tax credit to help offset your costs? The American Opportunity Tax Credit is a federal program that provides a tax credit towards the cost of tuition, fees, and course materials for eligible filers. Find out if you qualify by visiting the website of the Internal Revenue Service.

This document is required of all students seeking financial assistance, and should be included with the initial award letter. You can complete and sign it electronically. 

• 2023-2024 Verification Worksheet (New incoming students)
• 2023-2024 Verification Worksheet (Current/returning students)
  
  
• 2022-2023 Form (new and returning students enrolled in Fall 2022, Spring 2023, or Summer 2023)

If listed, this is being requested because your FAFSA has been selected by the Department of Education for verification, and you did not choose to use the IRS data retrieval process when completing the FAFSA, or did not qualify to use the retrieval process. We are required to collect a copy of the Federal Tax Return SIGNED or a Federal Tax Transcript for the student and parent as documentation of the federal tax return.

This may be obtained by requesting it online at https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript or by phone at 1-800-908-9946. The IRS will mail the transcript to the address listed on the return when it was filed. They will not mail it or fax it to anyone else. If you need to request a transcript, please make the request as soon as possible. You may try the IRS retrieval process on your FAFSA, by going into the FAFSA and making that correction. If successful we do not need to collect a transcript from you.

If listed, this is being requested because you have been selected for verification and either you or your parents did not file taxes. An IRS Verification of Non-Filing Letter provides proof that the IRS has no record of a filed Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ for the year you requested. Non Tax filers can request an IRS Verification of Non-filing of their tax return status, free of charge, from the IRS online, by phone or by mail. This may be obtained by requesting it online at https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript or by phone at 1-800-908-9946. If you are requesting the letter online, please note that the letter may not be requested online if you have never filed taxes before. Please call the IRS or put in a paper request via the 4506-T which may be downloaded online at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506t.pdf.

These are the wage statements sent to you by your employer(s). You should have one copy that was yours to keep. 

IF LISTED one or both student and/or parent signature is missing from the FAFSA and must be provided. Options on how to sign the FAFSA are available on the StudentAid.gov webpage: https://studentaid.gov/help/how-sign-fafsa

We strongly encourage electronic signatures as this is the preferred and most efficient method of ensuring your FAFSA form is completed. 

• To sign your form electronically, log in to fasfa.gov, and then select the “Provide Signatures” button. (Your parent will need to also provide their parent FSA ID and password). 

Alternatively, a slower option would be to submit the FAFSA form on paper:

• Print a signature page by selecting “Print Signature Page” on the “My FAFSA” or “Signature Status” page. Print and sign with all missing signatures as needed, and then mail it to the address on the page.  If you submitted a paper FAFSA form, your application will be processed within seven to ten days after your signatures are received.

The date of birth you reported for either your mother or father on the FAFSA does not match the date of birth the Social Security Administration has for that person. You must provide a copy of a birth certificate for the requested person. 

The date of birth reported for the student does not match the one the Social Security Administration has on file for the student. Provide a copy of the birth certificate for the student. 

Federal regulations require that any male between the ages of 18-26 who seeks to use federal financial aid (Pell Grant, Federal Direct Stafford Loans etc.) must be registered for the Selective Service. The Selective Service Administration cannot confirm that you are registered. You may complete the registration at your local United States Post Office, by going online at www.sss.gov and registering, or by answering Yes to the question on the FAFSA regarding Selective Service registration and processing a correction to your FAFSA.

The social security number reported on the FAFSA does not match the one the Social Security has on file for the student. A copy of the social security card is required. 

First time borrowers at any college who wish to make use of the Federal Direct Stafford Loan must complete Entrance Counseling. This should be completed online at https://studentaid.gov/.

Most students are offered a Federal Direct Stafford Loan as part of their financial aid package. Students who wish to use this loan must complete a promissory note the first time they borrow through this program. This should be completed online at https://studentaid.gov/. This a student loan, and the student should log into this site with his or her Federal Student Aid User ID and Password. Parents should NOT complete the Stafford MPN.

Legal Guardianship Documentation
The student indicated on the FAFSA that he or she is in a legal guardianship arrangement. A copy of the legal documentation establishing guardianship is required. 

Emancipated Minor Documentation
The student indicated on the FAFSA that he or she is an emancipated minor. This status is granted by a court of law. Copies of court documentation establishing emancipation must be submitted. 

Orphan/Ward of the Court Documentation
The student indicated on the FAFSA that he or she is an orphan, or was a ward of the court. Official documentation of this status is required. 

Homeless or Unaccompanied Minor Documentation
The student indicated on the FAFSA that he or she is homeless. Documentation of this status must be provided by the official representative from the student's school district responsible for handling homeless or unaccompanied minor students. 

Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose
Federal regulations require that any student selected to provide this documentation must do so in person at the college verifying the information. In the case of a student not being able to present themselves in person, the student must present proof of identity and the Statement of Educational Purpose to a Notary Public, and have the information certified by that individual.