Montclair State University does not use or require the College Board CSS Profile.
Financial aid includes scholarships, grants, loans and work-study from federal, state and institutional sources. Applying for financial aid reduces the out-of-pocket cost of a college education to help make it an affordable reality.
Our aim is to provide clear options to assist you to stay enrolled and continue your college experience. The information below is meant to serve as a guide for you as you assess your personal financial situation now and in the future. All undergraduate and graduate students may explore the options described on the financial aid pages.
- The 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available. Please file your FAFSA as soon as possible.
- The 2025-26 FAFSA will be available in early December 2024.
- If you received a NJ TAG Grant in the 2024-25 year, you must file your 2025-26 FAFSA before April 15, 2025.
- New Jersey HESAA is offering FAFSA Completion webinars. Join a Webinar Today!
Things to Know about FAFSA
Some of the changes to the FAFSA include:
- A streamlined form with less questions you have to answer and how long it takes you to complete the application.
- The use of consent for the US Department of Education to import your (or your spouse’s or parents’) tax information instead of you having to manual import it.
- The Student Aid Index (SAI) is used to determine your financial aid eligibility.
If you already have an FSA ID, you will use that one. If you have any difficulty remembering or accessing that ID, please see the studentaid.gov website to retrieve your ID or reset your password.
If you do not have an FSA ID, you will create one first. You will have to wait three days to receive your valid FSA ID.
The ‘parent’ that should be included on the FAFSA is the parent(s) who provided the majority of the student’s support over the 12 months prior to filing the FAFSA, even if the student does not live with that parent. There is a ‘Parent Wizard’ to help you determine which parent(s) are included on the FAFSA.
Yes, if your parent(s)/step-parent does not already have an FSA ID, they need to obtain their own FSA ID at studentaid.gov. It can take three days for the request to be processed.
Check the status of your form starting in late January by logging into your studentaid.gov account and selecting your FAFSA submission in the My Activity section of the dashboard. Once ready, your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) including preliminary aid eligibility information will be emailed to you in late mid March (this is an approximate timeline).
Complete the FAFSA with your information and indicate that you have unusual circumstances (there is a check off box). Once the Financial Aid Office begins to receive and process FAFSA results (mid-March), you will be contacted to submit documents to continue the FAFSA process.
Please contact the FSA Help Desk at the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-433-3243.
Their hours of operation are:
- Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–10 p.m. Eastern time (ET)
- Saturday: 11 a.m.–5 p.m. ET
- Sunday: Closed
- Closed on all federal holidays.
OR Email at https://fsapartners.ed.gov/help-center/contact-customer-support
The 2024-25 FAFSA is now role-based and requires a student and/or parent complete their own sections using their own unique FSA IDs. The student should complete their section, then invite their parent as a contributor.
The Student Aid Index (SAI) is used to determine the amount of need-based financial aid a student is eligible to receive. The SAI more accurately reflects the amount of financial aid a student is eligible to receive.
Not only has the FAFSA changed, but the formula determining eligibility is changing. In many cases, students will be eligible for more grant aid.
In addition, filing the FAFSA should be quicker and easier for students and families.
Still have questions? Come see us in person at Red Hawk Central, email redhawkcentral@montclair.edu or call 973-655-7600.