The FAFSA: Your gateway to grants, scholarships and other aid
Published February 04, 2026
The first step to secure financial aid is to file the FAFSA. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) unlocks federal grants, state grants and loans. It opens the door to work study programs and many scholarships.
To file the FAFSA, do the following:
#1 Create an FSA ID
The first step in filing the FAFSA is to create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID.
You’ll use your FSA ID username and password to
- Log into various U.S. Department of Education online systems
- Sign your electronic signature on your completed FAFSA
- Sign federal student loan documents, if you choose to accept them
If you are a dependent student, your parents or legal guardians also will need an FSA ID. If you are married, your spouse will need an FSA ID.
Your FSA ID is important. Be sure to remember your username and password and keep them safe from cyber criminals.
#2 Complete the FAFSA form
The next step is to complete the FAFSA form. To do this, you’ll need the following information:
- Your FSA ID username and password
- FSA IDs for any of your contributors (parents, legal guardians, spouse)
- Your social security number if you have not created an FSA ID
- Your driver’s license number, if you have one
- CLC’s federal school code for the FAFSA form: 007694
- Your federal tax information and returns, including IRS W-2 form, from 2 years ago
- Federal tax information and returns, including IRS W-2 form, from 2 years ago for your spouse if married or parents if you are a dependent student
- Records of child support received (if applicable)
- Current balances of cash, savings and checking accounts
- Net worth of investments, businesses and farms
Once the form is complete and you’ve included the FSA IDs for any contributors, hit submit. It takes 3 to 5 days to get your Student Aid Index or SAI.
Your SAI is calculated from data provided in the application. CLC uses it to determine how much federal student aid you can receive if you attend the school. Your SAI ranges from –1500 to 999999. Students with a negative SAI have greater financial need.
Your SAI is not the amount of aid you’ll receive. It is not what you or your family are expected to pay for school, or your final financial aid offer.
#3 Avoid common FAFSA mistakes
Unfortunately, small mistakes can block your FAFSA application.
CLC Financial Aid Coach Ashley Rico sees the same issues causing students to miss out on financial aid. She offers tips to overcome these barriers:
Make sure your name, birthday and social security number match in all places
The information used to create your FSA ID, FAFSA and CLC records must match. A common problem is using a nickname instead of your full legal name when you apply to CLC. For instance, using Vicky instead of Victoria or Ray instead of Raymond.
Another common problem is having a typo in your social security number (SSN) or birth date. Make sure your CLC student records list your full legal name and have your correct SSN and birthday.
“If the information does not match what is on the FAFSA — birthday, first name, last name, social security number — we cannot link your FAFSA to your student account,” explains Rico. That means you may not get financial aid.
Check your CLC email often
This is where important financial aid updates are sent. Like requests for missing documents. If you don’t check your CLC student email, you’ll never know this.
“We send many emails to students that go unanswered. Then they think, ‘Hey, I never got aid for fall and spring semester.’ It’s frustrating because the aid was sitting there waiting for them to follow through with the process,” says Rico.
Applying early improves your chance for aid
Starting the financial aid process early gives you access to more funding. This is especially true for federal and state grants that you don’t have to repay. Plus, you need time to gather all the information required to complete the FAFSA.
If you miss the application deadline – typically June 30 – your chance of getting aid is reduced. By delaying, you’re leaving money on the table.
“Start the process sooner rather than later,” advises Rico. “You don't want to miss out because you decided to wait.”
Don’t rush through the application
Everyone is busy. We get it. But making mistakes when creating your FSA ID or completing the FAFSA can create long delays and be a pain to fix.
Read through the application first so you’re familiar with the questions. Find a quiet, unhurried time to fill out the form. If possible, do this on a laptop or desktop computer. It can be more difficult to complete forms on your smartphone.
Good news: CLC financial aid experts will answer your questions. They can walk you through the FAFSA step-by-step.
Have questions? Get help from CLC experts. Call them at (847) 543-2062 or email finaid@clcillinois.edu. Pause the application by hitting the save button. You can pick up where you left off once your questions are answered.
Always read through your FAFSA for typos before hitting the submit button.
Get more tips for filing FAFSA
Artificial intelligence was used to organize and summarize this article. Guidance, tips and quotes from CLC experts and students are expressly their own.