Free Application for Federal Student Aid

To determine financial aid eligibility for all federal financial aid programs, the U.S. Department of Education has developed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The State of Texas has also opted to accept the FAFSA, and the financial aid methodology it represents, to establish financial aid eligibility for state programs.

The FAFSA is the first step in the financial aid process and assesses a student’s or a family’s financial ability to pay for college. Responses to questions on the FAFSA go into a formula established by the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, called the Federal Methodology, resulting in a Student Aid Index (SAI). Colleges use the SAI to determine a student’s financial need and their state, federal, or institutional aid eligibility.