The FAFSA, or the Free Application for Student Aid, is a form that helps the government and the Financial Aid Office determine your eligibility for financial aid.

These factors may change throughout your education, and it is advised to fill out your FAFSA when needed.

If you plan on receiving any financial aid for your education, you will need to fill out a FAFSA form.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. Determine which Academic Year FAFSA application to complete.
  2. The FAFSA process will include questions for your parent to complete. If this part is difficult for you to complete, please refer to Apply With Special Conditions.
  3. Dependent Students: Get your tax return and your parent’s tax return.
  4. Create an FSA ID. You will need this to complete the FAFSA form.

Ensure you are enrolled in a financial aid eligible program and register for classes that meet enrollment status requirements.

Watch your student email and To-Do list in myMadisonCollege for the next steps after submitting your FAFSA form.

Financial Aid Workshops

For more comprehensive information regarding the FAFSA, Madison College offers several workshops you can attend to learn how to fill out a FAFSA. See when the next workshop is closest to your area here.

Learn More and Register

Tax Return Information Guide

You may be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on your FAFSA, however, if you are unable or choose not to use this tool, you may obtain a Tax Return Transcript by one of the following ways listed below.

  • Online Request For Mailed Copy

    1. Go to www.irs.gov
    2. Select Get My Tax Record
    3. Select the Get Transcript by Mail button
    4. Read the disclaimer and select the OK button
    5. Enter your Social Security Number, Date of Birth, Street Address, and Zip Code
    6. Select Continue
    7. For Type of Transcript, select Return Transcript
    8. For Tax Year, request the calendar year you need. For example, for the 2016-2017 aid year, request the 2015 calendar year
    9. Select Continue

  • Online Request For Printable Copy

    1. Go to www.irs.gov
    2. Select Get My Tax Record
    3. Select the Get Transcript Online button
    4. For First Time Users, select Get Started and follow the instructions to create a new account. Otherwise log in with your username
    5. Select a reason you need a transcript: Higher Education/Student Aid
    6. Ensure your pop-ups are not blocked for this site
    7. Under Return Transcript, select the appropriate year based on the instructions in your To Do List
    8. Save and/or print your Tax Return Transcript as needed

  • Phone Request

    1. Call the automated IRS system at 1.800.908.9946
    2. Listen to the welcome message and select English or Spanish
    3. Enter your Social Security Number (SSN)
    4. Confirm your SSN
    5. Enter your street address number (not the actual street)
    6. Request the Tax Return Transcript which should be option #2

  • Mail Request

    1. Go to www.irs.gov
    2. Select Get My Tax Record
    3. In the Related Forms box on the right hand side, select Form 4506T-EZ, Short Form Request for Individual Tax Return Transcript and then select the 4506T-EZ link
    4. Fill boxes 1a through 4 out on the form
    5. Do not fill out line 5, you should not be mailing this directly to us, have it mailed to you and then you can send it to us with your student account information
    6. Under 6, enter the calendar year(s) you wish to receive a Tax Return Transcript. For example, for the aid year 2016-2017, you need to enter 2015 to get your 2015 Tax Return Transcript
    7. Sign and date the form
    8. You may then send the form to the appropriate address listed on page two or fax it

FAFSA Completion Guide

Submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step required to apply for financial aid. Before starting the FAFSA, gather the documents that are needed to apply utilizing the list provided by Federal Student Aid. Take time to ensure that each field is filled out accurately. Use the Helpful Hints on the right side of the application as needed.

  1. Go to the FAFSA website and select "Start A New FAFSA."
  2. Login – Select “Enter your FSA ID” and “Create an FSA ID”.
    1. Enter and confirm your email and create a Username and Password REMEMBER THIS INFORMATION for future use.
    2. Enter your: Social Security Number, Date of Birth, Name, Address, and Phone Number.
    3. Create 4 security questions and answers and provide a significant date in your life.
    4. Agree to the Terms and Conditions and validate your email address.
  3. Choose the aid year for the FAFSA you are filing.
  4. Create a Save Key. Remember this Save Key; you will need it to access your FAFSA if you save it and return to it later. It is recommended that you regularly save your progress while completing the FAFSA.
  5. Introduction Page - Review additional information provided by the links.
  6. Student Demographic Information - Provide contact, demographic, citizenship, academic and previous aid information, and express whether you would like to be considered for work study funds.
  7. School Selection - Grant access to your FAFSA by adding school codes. The Madison College school code is 004007. Use the search function to add codes for other schools. Review school selection and indicate your housing plan.
  8. Dependency Determination - Answer questions to determine your dependency status. If you are considered a dependent student for financial aid purposes, continue with the next step in this tutorial. If you are considered an independent student, skip to step 11.
  9. Parent Demographics Information – Your parent(s) must provide their demographic information as of the date the FAFSA is completed. Depending on the answers, information may be required on both parents, a parent and step-parent, or a single parent.
  10. Parent Financial Information – Your parent(s) must provide their tax return filing information. If they have yet to file their taxes or are not going to file, they must manually enter this information. However, if their taxes have already been completed, they have a choice; manually enter tax information or load their tax information using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool see instructions for IRS Data Retrieval Tool below for assistance.
  11. Student Financial Information - Provide your tax return filing information. If you have yet to file your taxes or are not going to file, you must manually enter that information. If you have already completed your taxes, you have a choice; manually enter tax information or load your tax information using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool see instructions for IRS Data Retrieval Tool below for assistance.
  12. Sign and Submit – Indicate that you are not a preparer and agree to the Terms and Conditions. Click the sign button and then click “Submit My FAFSA Now”. If you are a dependent student, your parent will also need to sign with their FSA ID and agree to the Terms of Agreement.
  13. Confirmation Page – You can print this page for your records. In addition, at the bottom of this page FAFSA will provide you your Estimated Expected Family Contribution (EFC). It will also provide your estimated financial aid award. Note that both of these numbers are subject to change based on the information provided in your FAFSA and information provided at Madison College.

After Completing Your FAFSA

Your FAFSA will be processed and sent to the Madison College Financial Aid Office. Processing times vary, please monitor your student email and To Do list for updates and instructions. Once your FAFSA is received, we will review your information to determine if any additional information is needed or process your award.