FAFSA FAQs

The 2025-2026 FAFSA form is now available. 

You will need the following to complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA Form:

• A StudentAid.gov account (account username and password)
• Your Social Security Number or A-Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
• Federal income tax returns, records of child support received; and your current balance of cash, savings and checking accounts (Note: You must provide consent and approval to disclose your federal tax information to be eligible for federal student aid.
• Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable), net worth of investments, businesses, and farms.
• Records of untaxed income (if applicable)

Visit StudentAid.gov to create an account.

If you don’t know your StudentAid.gov you can retrieve your username or reset you password.

If your StudentAid.gov account is locked, you’ll need to use  your verified mobile phone number, email address, or challenge questions to unlock it as there is a 30 minute wait using your challenge questions. Step by step instructions are available on the Federal Student Aid’s Recover Your Account website.

After all sections of the online FAFSA are completed and submitted, you will receive a confirmation email noting the submission date of your FAFSA, the estimated Student Aid Index (SAI),  and estimated Federal Pell Grant eligibility.  Your FAFSA will be processed in one to three days once submitted. You can then log into your StudentAid.gov account to view your FAFSA Submission Summary. This summary is not your financial aid offer, but it does include important information you need to review for accuracy and any actions you need to complete listed in the “Next Steps” tab.

After your 2025-2026 FAFSA form has been processed, you can make corrections by logging into your StudentAid.gov account, navigate to the "My FAFSA" page, and select the "Make Corrections" option to update your information as needed.

Both are index numbers used to determine the types of aid and how much aid a student is eligible to receive.  Due to the EFC’s name, it was often confused as the amount they would have to pay out-of-pocket to attend college.  The name change to SAI should help clear up some of the confusion.  There are also changes in how the number will be calculated.

PennWest’s anticipated time for new student financial aid offers to be sent out to students is February.

Your estimated financial aid offer will be sent to both the student’s personal email that we have on file and your PennWest email account. The email will come from financialaid@pennwest.edu and will have a link for you to click on to view your offer.

Each state has its own deadline. Visit the FAFSA State Deadlines site to see your state’s deadline.

PennWest’s scholarship application is currently available in your myPennWest portal.  Once you are signed in, select the “Manage PennWest Scholarships” tile.  Once redirected, click “Start Application.”  Select the application for incoming freshmen students, and only complete the sections that pertain to you and your major.

PennWest’s anticipated time for current students’ tentative financial aid package to be available is mid-March with priority given to students registered for summer. Once spring grades are posted in May, and financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is reviewed, packages will be updated.

When your financial aid offer is available, a notification will be sent to your PennWest email account instructing you to access your award in your “Financial Aid Self-Service” portal.

Each state has its own deadline.  Visit the FAFSA State Deadlines site to see your state’s deadline.

PennWest’s scholarship application is currently available in your myPennWest portal.  Once you are signed in, select the “Manage PennWest Scholarships” tile.  Once redirected, click “Start Application.”  Select the application for current students, and only complete the sections that pertain to you and your major.

PennWest’s anticipated time for current graduate students’ tentative financial aid package to be available is mid-March with priority given to students registered for summer. Once spring grades are posted in May, and financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is reviewed, packages will be updated.

To be eligible to receive federal unsubsidized loans, graduate students must be enrolled at least half-time, which is 4.5 credits for PennWest.

PennWest’s scholarship application is currently available in your myPennWest portal.  Once you are signed in, select the “Manage PennWest Scholarships” tile.  Once redirected, click “Start Application.”  Select the application for current students, and only complete the sections that pertain to you and your major.