What do I need to apply for a Federal Stafford student loan?

Checklist for a Federal Stafford student loan application

Applying for a Federal Stafford student loan is not difficult, but you should know the information you’ll need and make every attempt to complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) correctly the first time.

Whether you choose to use paper or the Web (often a better choice), you will need the following information, which falls in two primary categories.

Student information includes:

• Marital status
• Citizenship and residency
• Education history
• Major course of study and expected workload for the coming year
• Federal income taxes and deductions
• Spouse’s income (if you have one – spouse, not income)
• Assets and dependency status
• Household information
• School you’re enrolled in (or those you’re considering to attend)

Parent information includes:

• Education levels achieved
• Current income taxes and deductions
• Family assets
• Family member information
• Residency
• Age

Remember, the U.S. Department of Education will verify your FAFSA information with a number of other governmental agencies. Also, be sure to request a PIN (Personal Identification Number) from the U.S. Department of Education if you plan to complete your FAFSA online, which has become a very popular and efficient way to apply for Federal student loans.

This checklist should help you file a correct and complete copy of an FAFSA to obtain the education financing you need.