Financial Aid
Filing Your FAFSA
The Federal Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) gathers information about your
financial resources and your family's resources.
Once you've submitted your application, the federal aid processing center uses a congressionally mandated formula to determine your expected family contribution (EFC), the amount you and your family should be able to afford to contribute toward college expenses. The center sends your EFC to the colleges you indicate on your FAFSA.
Some Helpful Advice...
Start Early
The financial aid process all starts with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. File the FAFSA as early as possible — Jan. 1, 2008 is the earliest day you can file for the 2008-09 academic year. You don't have to wait until your tax returns are complete to file your FAFSA; it is better to file early with estimates than to wait for exact figures.
Everyone's Eligible
Many families tell our financial aid staff that they haven't filed a FAFSA because they feel they won't qualify. The truth is, everyone who files the FAFSA — everyone — is eligible to receive some form of financial aid, whether it's student employment or low-interest loans. We can't offer anything other than merit-based scholarships to students who don't file the FAFSA. It's worth the effort.
Our School Code
Be sure to include Southwestern's Federal School Code, 003616, on your FAFSA.
Need Help with Your FAFSA?
For step-by-step instructions on filing your FAFSA, visit the Financial Aid Web site. You can also send us an email
at finaid@sagu.edu or give us a call at
1.888.YES.SAGU extension 4730.