Financial Aid 101: Get the Facts on Applying for Financial Aid
On this page:
- About Financial Aid 101
- Register for a Virtual Financial Aid 101 Presentation
- Financial Aid 101: Pre-FAFSA Worksheet
About Financial Aid 101
An affordable, world-class education is within your reach at Wright State University. Take advantage of the most financial aid available by applying for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The FAFSA is a free application that will determine your eligibility for:
- federal grants
- student and parent loans
- work-study opportunities
- scholarships
Join us for a live, virtual presentation and discover how to maximize your financial aid by completing your FAFSA.
Our RaiderConnect staff is ready to help you understand your financial options and provide you with the tips and tools you need to maximize your financial aid award.
To learn more about completing your FAFSA, select a date below and join us for a virtual FAFSA presentation through the WebEx virtual meeting platform. To get the most out of your presentation, we encourage you to review and complete our Pre-FAFSA Worksheet before attending the session.
Register for a Virtual Financial Aid 101 Presentation
Unable to attend a virtual presentation or need personal assistance with applying for financial aid?
Complete the following contact form and we will reach out to you to schedule a virtual one-on-one appointment.
Financial Aid 101: Pre-FAFSA Worksheet
To access and get the most out of your virtual Financial Aid 101 presentation or individual appointment, please review and complete the following worksheet before your virtual session.
Visit webex.com to install WebEx on your personal computer or mobile device. You will be using this online meeting platform to access your virtual presentation or one-on-one appointment.
Gather documents needed to apply.
- FSA ID: Visit studentaid.gov to create or manage your FSA ID. Students will need an FSA ID to sign their FAFSA and to fill out a FAFSA renewal. For dependent students, at least one legal parent must also have an FSA ID to electronically sign their student’s FAFSA or to apply for a Direct PLUS loan. Details on how to create an FSA ID can be found below.
- Social Security number
- Alien Registration number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
- Income and Tax information from two prior tax years. Example:
- When filing the 2023–2024 FAFSA (Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024), you will need income information from the 2021 calendar year.
- When filing the 2024–2025 FAFSA (Summer 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025), you will need income information from the 2022 calendar year (available December 2023).
- Federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned (Note: If you do not have access to these items, visit irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript for information on how to obtain a tax record transcript or you may be able to transfer your federal tax return information to your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
- Bank statements and records of investments
- Records of untaxed income
Dependent students will also need the above information for their parent(s) as well.
Create a student/parent FSA ID
Visit studentaid.gov, click on Create Account, and follow the instructions to create a student/parent FSA ID. You will need to know your Social Security number, full name, and birth date when creating the account. You will also be required to create challenge questions and answers.
We suggest you use your personal mobile phone number and/or email address* when creating your FSA ID for easier account recovery options if needed in the future. Both students and parent(s) will need to create separate accounts if the student is a dependent.
*Students should use their personal email or Wright State email address to create their FSA ID. Do not use a high school email address since it will most likely become inactive after graduation. Also, email addresses can only be associated with one FSA ID account. If you share an email address with someone else, then only one of you can use that account to create an FSA ID.
If you forget your FSA ID account credentials, visit studentaid.gov. Click Log In and then select either Forgot My Username or Forgot My Password. If you forgot your username, you will have the option to retrieve your account information via the email address, mobile phone, or challenge questions you entered when you originally created your account. If you forgot your password, you will need to enter the username, email, or phone number you entered when you created your FSA ID account.
If you have questions or need assistance with any of the items in this checklist, please contact RaiderConnect at raiderconnect@wright.edu or 937-775-4000.
