Apply for Federal and State Aid (FAFSA)

There are major changes and improvements coming to the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.  As a result, the new FAFSA will be available in December 2023, not October 1.

  • The delayed launch date will only apply for the 2024-2025 FAFSA.
  • The changes to the FAFSA for 2024-2025 are required by the FAFSA Simplification Act and include:
    • expanded eligibility for federal student aid
    • a more streamlined application process
  • What can you do now?
    • If you don't already have one, create an FSA ID on the Federal Student Aid website.
    • Have all of your contributors(ex. parents or spouses) create an FSA ID if they do not already have one.
    • Complete the FAFSA as soon as it opens in December!
    • Learn more here about the changes to the FAFSA

SCHOOL CODE: 004937

To Mail a Paper FAFSA, print and complete the application (23-24 FAFSA), and mail pages 4 - 8 to: Federal Student Aid Programs, P.O. Box 4691, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864-0059

Verification:  Each year the federal Department of Education selects about 20% of submitted FAFSAs for a process called Verification.  Students selected for verification must complete additional forms and submit additional documents to qualify for financial aid.  Check your jWeb and your JSCC email often to see if you have been selected for verification, and complete all requirements as soon as possible.  Our verification forms are available for download.  Once all forms and documents have been received, the verification process can take 2-4 weeks to be completed.

Special or Unusual Circumstances:  There are sometimes unique situations that may impact your federal student aid eligibility.  If a change in your financial situation has occurred or if you have unusual circumstances that prevent you from including parent information on your FAFSA, please review the Special or Unusual Circumstances information for additional details.

Federal Pell Grant is money given to eligible students based upon the government's financial need formula. Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online to begin the financial aid process. Jackson State will receive the results of your FAFSA application, and will send you a letter in the mail asking for any additional documents that we may need. For priority consideration of limited funds for which you may be eligible, it is recommended that you submit the FAFSA by February 15th each year. See Financial Aid Deadlines

Limit on Federal Pell Grant Eligibility: Effective with the 2012-2013 award year, there is a new federal policy that limits the total number of years a student may receive Federal Pell Grant to the equivalent of six years. This limit may be referred to as “Lifetime Eligibility Used” or LEU. The calculation for LEU will include all years in which a Federal Pell Grant (or Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant – SEOG) was received. Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding a student can receive each year is equal to 100%, the six year equivalent is 600%. Once all past Pell Grant usage is totaled, any student whose LEU equals or exceeds 600% may not receive additional Pell Grant funds. The Department of Education will track and notify students when they near the maximum, and when they reach the 600% maximum. For example, a student who has attended full-time for a full year will have received 100% of his scheduled award for that year. If this student receives payments for half-time attendance for the next full academic year (e.g., two semesters), he will have received 50% of his scheduled award. At the end of the two years, this student’s “Lifetime Eligibility Used” is 150%. For additional information on how the Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used is calculated, refer to the following link:
https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell/calculate-eligibility.

Unusual Enrollment History: If the Department of Education determines that you have received federal aid at multiple schools within a short period of time, JSCC will be required to review your academic transcripts to confirm that you earned credit hours while you were receiving federal aid.

You may be asked to submit a college transcript from each school you have attended, even if it is not required by the Admissions or Records Office. If we confirm that you did not earn credits at one or more schools, you may appeal by submitting the following:

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
FSEOG is federal gift aid awarded by JSCC Financial Aid Services. Awards are made, as funds allow, to financial aid applicants who meet the March 15th priority filing deadline. According to federal regulations, only Pell Grant recipients are eligible for these awards.

Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation
If you are a Tennessee resident, and you complete the FAFSA, your information will automatically be sent to the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC). TSAC will use the results of your FAFSA application to determine if you are eligible for a state grant called the Tennessee Student Assistance Award. (TSAA criteria). The application deadline varies yearly depending upon funding from the Tennessee legislature. It is usually necessary to send in the FAFSA by February 15th to ensure access to available funding. To check the status of your state financial aid, go to the TSAC Student Portal.