Submitting Your FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step to getting you the financial assistance to make the cost of college—an investment in your future—affordable.

  1. Admissions & Aid
  2. Undergraduate Admissions
  3. Undergraduate Tuition & Financial Aid
  4. Submitting Your FAFSA

What is the FAFSA and Why is it Important?

Widener FAFSA Code 003313

The FAFSA is a free federal application that determines your eligibility to receive receive state and federal aid, as well as need-based aid from Widener, that can make a world of difference in paying for college and putting you on the inside track to a successful career.

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid offers billions of dollars in aid to qualified undergraduate students who plan to enroll in a two- or four-year college. Even if you think your family makes too much money to qualify for financial aid, you should still complete the FAFSA. There is no income cut-off and even families with a higher income may qualify for some type of aid.

You and at least one parent or caregiver will need a separate FSA ID to access the Federal Student Aid's online system and serve as your legal signatures. Make sure to create your unique FSA IDs before you get started. Our school code is 003313.

Submit the FAFSA

Priority FAFSA Filing Date: February 1

Submit your FAFSA by Feb. 1 to receive a priority financial aid offer—giving you more time to plan for college and make the decision that's right for you.

View the Latest FAFSA Updates Submit Your FAFSA Today

FAFSA Information & Next Steps

It is not a requirement to have applied to Widener before submitting your FAFSA - so knock the FAFSA off your list first and then submit your online application to Widener. You'll want to include Widener University in the section of the FAFSA that asks which schools you are interested in applying to. Our school code is 003313.

The FAFSA is an important part of the information necessary for Student Financial Services to prepare your financial aid offer. Your Student Aid Report will be sent directly to both you and to us after it has been processed.

The following items are needed to complete the FAFSA:

  • FSA ID and Studentaid.gov account
    • On the 2025-26 FAFSA form, every contributor—anyone (you, your spouse, a biological or adoptive
      parent, or your parent's spouse) who's required to provide information on the FAFSA form—needs a StudentAid.gov account before accessing and completing their section of the online form. Contributors can access their StudentAid.gov account by using their FSA ID (account username and password).
  • Your parents’ SSNs if you are a dependent student
  • Parents' and student's W2 and/or 1099 forms from two years prior
  • Parents' and Student Federal tax return from two years prior
  • Records of child support received for the last calendar year
  • Current balances of cash, savings, checking accounts, mutual funds, CDs, and Bitcoin 
  • Net worth of investments, businesses, and for-profit farm

If at any time you have questions or are unsure what to do, know that we are here to help. Please contact our Student Financial Services for assistance.

In order to receive a financial aid offer, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Have earned a high school diploma or have a GED
  • Be older than 17 years of age, Pennsylvania's compulsory high school attendance age
  • Not concurrently enrolled in an elementary or secondary institution

A simple formula shows how it works:

Cost of Attendance

– Student Aid Index (SAI)

______________________________

= Financial Need

You can review your process status online and will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary within a few days after submission. This will summarize all submitted information and allow you to review for any required changes.

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid will let us know once your FAFSA has been processed so we can begin our review.

If your aid offer includes a federal loan and you are a first-time borrower, there are a few more steps to take in order to receive the loan. Learn more regarding loan financing.

  • Cost of Attendance: Estimates direct and indirect costs for attending the university (e.g., tuition, room and board, technology fees, books)
  • Student Aid Index (SAI): An eligibility index number used to determine how much federal student aid you might receive
  • Financial Need: Cost of attendance less SAI as determined by your FAFSA; it is this gure on which your nancial aid offer is calculated
  • Financial Aid Offer: Lists the breakdown of cost, types and amounts of aid awarded, and expected out of pocket expense

Don’t Plan to Submit the FAFSA? There are Critical Reasons to Reconsider

The FAFSA is a crucial tool for navigating the costs of higher education. Even if you don’t think you’ll qualify, submitting the form unlocks resources that are vital to supporting you or your student through college. Here’s why FAFSA completion is so important:

  • Completing the FAFSA makes students eligible for Federal Direct Loans, which have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options compared to private or personal loans.
  • Many states and colleges use FAFSA information to award their own financial aid, including grants and scholarships. Some of these awards are not solely based on financial need.
  • Some colleges require a completed FAFSA to consider students for last-dollar scholarships. These scholarships can be applied toward any remaining tuition and fees after all other forms of aid have been exhausted, including federal and state grants, scholarships, and loans.
  • If a family's financial circumstances change unexpectedly, having a FAFSA on file can speed up the process of assessing whether a student qualifies for adjustments to their FAFSA information. These adjustments could make the student eligible for additional financial aid.
  • Completing the FAFSA ensures that families have explored all potential financial aid opportunities, providing peace of mind that they are not missing out on available resources

We want to have an informed conversation with your family about this important financial decision—and having a FAFSA on file enables us to do just that.

Questions? Contact us today.

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We've got a qualified team here who specializes in getting you the financial assistance you need. Don't hesitate to contact us with any and all questions.