How to Apply

Apply for a FSA ID - Students, parents, and borrowers are required to use a FSA ID made up of a username and password, to access certain U.S. Department of Education websites. A FSA ID is used to confirm identity when accessing financial aid information and electronically signing federal student aid documents. Apply for a FSA ID.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - To apply for all federal, some state, and most FGCU aid programs, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after October 1st as possible. Complete the FAFSA on-line on the FAFSA website. Financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. FGCU has established a January 1 priority-filing deadline. Applications filed by January 1, will receive priority consideration for limited funding sources. FGCU's school code for the FAFSA is 032553. Keep in mind that applying for financial aid is an annual process. You must complete the FAFSA each year.

Student Aid Report - The federal processor will analyze the information you provided on the FAFSA, using a federal mandated formula. They will calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which is used to determine your eligibility for financial aid. The federal processor will send you a Student Aid Report (SAR) which includes your EFC as well as a summary of the information that you reported on the FAFSA. If you included your email address on the FAFSA, you will receive your SAR by email from the federal processor. Review this information carefully and make any needed corrections electronically. If you included FGCU among the colleges that you reported on the FAFSA, the Financial Aid office will receive an electronic record of your application information directly from the federal processor. If you didn't include FGCU on your FAFSA, but want to receive aid at FGCU, make the appropriate corrections electronically.

Verification - When FGCU receives an electronic record of your application information, the Financial Aid Office reviews you're application to determine whether or not it was selected for a process called verification.  If selected, FGCU will send an email to your Eagle email with instructions and a link to your verification portal. Students must provide all requested documents/forms  in order to complete the verification process and determine eligibility for financial aid.

Financial Aid Awarded - Your financial aid awards will be posted to your record in Gulfline after verification (if selected) has been completed and after you have been admitted to FGCU. Your award information will show all aid programs for which you qualified.