FAFSA Income Limits, Eligibility, And Application Guide

There is no specific cutoff for FAFSA income limits. However, there are various other factors considered in a FAFSA application for determining the amount and type of aid that you will receive.

There is information collected in the application that is used to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and thus determine if you qualify for federal or private student aid. The financial aid given to a student, who has completed and submitted a FAFSA, is calculated by subtracting EFC from the total Cost of College Attendance (COA). In 2023-2024, if the family income is less than $29,000 per year the applicant qualifies for automatic zero EFC which means that nothing is deducted from COA and the dependent student will be able to get the maximum aid. However, this automatic zero EFC is unavailable to independent students applying for federal aid who do not have any dependents other than their spouse.

Primary factors used to calculate Expected Family Contribution

EFC is the amount that your family is required to contribute. Main factors considered in determining the expected family contribution include:

• Family assets
• Untaxed income
• Benefits (social security, unemployment benefits, etc.)
• Family size
• Number of siblings attending college

Primary factors used to calculate the Cost of Attendance

COA is the amount of money that you will require to attend college. Main factors considered in its calculation include:

• Tuition
• Room and board costs
• Books and supplies, plus other associated costs.

There are no FAFSA income limits or a maximum amount to qualify for financial aid, as mentioned before. All undergraduate and graduate students mentioned below are required to fill out a FAFSA. FAFSA helps students qualify for need-based financial aid. Both need- and non-need-based aid is determined after evaluation of the information provided in the form.

A U.S. Citizen

Eligible applicants should be either U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or eligible non-citizens.

An Enrolled Student

Applicants should be accepted and enrolled as regular students in an eligible program and need to at least be enrolled on a part-time basis to qualify for Direct Loan Program Funds.

Those with Demonstrated Financial Need

Applicants need to have a financial need that directs them to turn to financial aid to help them cover their college education. A financial need is determined by the information filled out in the form.

Those Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress

Applicants must demonstrate that they have, and continue to maintain, the set minimum academic score that depicts satisfactory progress.

Those Qualified to Obtain a Higher Degree

Applicants must have a high school diploma or a state-recognized equivalent e.g. General Education Development (GED) Certificate.

Direct PLUS Loan

This loan has interest rates that are unsubsidized and are higher compared to direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans. Direct PLUS Loan is taken up by graduates, professional students, or parents of undergraduate students.

Federal Pell Grant

This is financial aid that does not need to be paid back. They are available to undergraduates and are only given to each individual for 12 semesters. The maximum Federal Pell Grant award for the year 2023-2024 is $7,395. The award keeps changing each year.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

This is a grant offered to students with exceptional financial needs. The grant is for extremely low-income students with dire financial needs.

Federal Work-study Program

These are government-funded part-time jobs offered by participating schools. The jobs are mainly related to the area of study and may involve community service work. They are offered to undergraduate and graduate students.

Direct Subsidized Loans

This loan is for undergraduates who still have a financial need even after receiving grants. The government pays the interest on a direct subsidized loan while the student is in school.

1. Create an FSA ID 
   You might not need an FSA ID but it is a good idea to create one as it makes it easier to track your application once it starts. Creating an FSA ID also helps you access other information concerning financial aid throughout your college years.
2. Collect & Prepare Your Documents
   To fill out the form, you need several documents. You need an SSN or Alien Registration Number, financial account statements, federal income taxes returns, W-2s, among other documents that show proof of income.
3. Fill out the Form
   It is possible to fill out the FAFSA application in less than 30 minutes if you have all the documentation and have gathered your information in its entirety. The application is filled out online and students can even do this from their phones through the myStudentAid Application.
4. Review & Submit
   This is the last step taken when completing filling in your application form. Ensure that you sign and submit your FAFSA. Review and confirm that what you have filled in is accurate and factual.
5. Edit & Update
   You can update your application if there is a significant change in your finances that affects your application. Update your application if there has been a change in your dependency status in your household or if there has been an increase in the number of people in your household who are attending college.

For receiving financial aid in the year 2023-2024, you can submit a FAFSA form between October 1st, 2022 to June 30th, 2024.   For the year 2024-2025, the federal deadline to submit FAFSA is June 30th, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to fill out their FAFSA as soon as possible as financial aid is limited and hence given out on a first-come-first-served basis.

In case you are unable to get federal financial aid, there are other options available to help you pay for college.

Private Student Loans

You can opt for private student loans to pay for college if you are unable to get federal aid. These loans come through private banks and lenders and may require a cosigner. A cosigner is usually needed in case you don’t have a good credit score or history. Undergraduates usually require a cosigner for these loans as they usually don’t have credit built up at such an early stage.

Private Scholarships

Scholarships are awards to students that do not need to be paid back. There are many scholarships that do not require FAFSA and are given on the basis of academic excellence, extra-curricular activities, the field of study, and other factors. Some even award students with amounts covering their whole cost of tuition.

Private Grants

Grants, like scholarships, are financial gifts to students to help complete their education. Grants usually are based on financial need but there are some that do not require a FAFSA and consider other factors too. Some grants are offered to those students who are single parents while others are given to those with low incomes.

Side Jobs

You can pay for college without any type of aid by working a side job. Side jobs can be taken up as part-time jobs and can be done alongside your college degree. They are usually quite flexible and fit well with any type of schedule. Some of these jobs can earn you enough to pay a big chunk of your college tuition fee and related expenses.

Community Colleges

Community colleges are cheaper and therefore are more affordable for students who have limited financial resources. Some students attend community colleges for the first two years and then transfer their credits to a university and complete their degree there. This helps make tuition costs more affordable.