Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is one of the most important steps in making college affordable for your student.
The FAFSA is an application that students need to complete to receive any federal financial aid, most state financial aid and some institutional financial aid.
Kent State students who complete the FAFSA are reviewed for federal aid and need-based aid – both state and institutional aid. This includes programs such as the Pell Grant, Ohio College Opportunity Grants (OCOG), and Flashes Go Further Scholarship, just to name a few.
Students attending Kent State in fall 2025 should complete the 2025-26 FAFSA. The 2025-2026 FAFSA will be available by December 1, 2024. Financial aid funds are limited, so completing the FAFSA early helps ensure you receive the maximum available financial aid and allows time to provide any additional information needed to process your aid package.
Why is completing the FAFSA so important?
1. You might miss out on free money.
Many types of aid, like federal grants and certain scholarships, don’t have to be repaid, and the FAFSA is required to determine eligibility for these.
2. Completing the FAFSA is faster and easier than ever.
The 2025-2026 FAFSA removed questions that do not apply to you and the ability to import your tax information directly from the IRS into your FAFSA. This improvement will save you time, improve the accuracy of your FAFSA and help you get your financial aid as quickly as possible.
Kent State’s Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center also offers virtual appointments to help guide you through the financial aid process and answer any questions you have.
3. The FAFSA is free!
Remember, the first “F” in FAFSA stands for “free!" Filling out the FAFSA costs you nothing.
By filling out the FAFSA, you gain access to grants, scholarships, low-interest loans and work-study opportunities—at no cost to apply. Even if you think you might not qualify, it’s worth completing because many aid options are available based on varying factors, and the FAFSA is the only way to access them.
What are my next steps?
To be prepared for the 2025-26 FAFSA opening by December 1, here's what you can do:
- Create a StudentAid.gov account if you do not have one already. Students and contributors must each have their own account(s).
- Make sure you have your Social Security number (unless you are a citizen of the Freely Associated States).
- Gather your 2023 tax record information.
- Gather records of your assets, including any child support received; current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts; and net worth of investments, business, and farms.
- Each contributor will need their name, date of birth, Social Security number (if they have one) and email address.
- Know which schools your student would like to send FAFSA information to.
For more FAFSA and financial aid information, check out the resources available on the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center website.
If you have questions about the FAFSA, scholarships or other forms of financial aid, please reach out to us. We are here to help!
Brenda Burke
Associate Vice President, Student Financial Aid
Kent State University