How to Apply for Financial Aid

The FAFSA has changed


The FAFSA has changed! The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is implementing a major overhaul of the processes and systems used to offer federal student aid, starting with the 24-25 aid year. For those who have previously completed a FAFSA, the 24-25 application looks a bit different!

Before you complete the application, visit blogs.stockton.edu/stocktonfinaid and view our recorded presentations below for a list of updates being made to the 24-25 FAFSA and to learn more about how the changes will affect you!

On December 30, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education started a “soft launch” of the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The official “soft launch” period of the 2024-2025 FAFSA is over and the application is now available!

What does this mean for you? You can complete your 2024-2025 FAFSA today at fafsa.gov!

Although you can complete the FAFSA today and we do encourage you to try, we want you to be aware that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is continuing to work on and resolve several open issues with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, as a result of the updates to the application. This means that some FAFSA filers and contributors to their application are facing technical issues with the system. You can view the list of open issues and monitor ED’s progress in resolving them here.

ED has resolved two issues that will now enable most parents without social security numbers (SSN's) to complete their sections of the FAFSA.

Previously, some parents were receiving an error message on the “student information” page stating that a parent without an SSN who was attempting to start a 24-25 FAFSA for a student was “unauthorized to act on behalf of the student since they already have a 24-25 FAFSA form.”

The second error did not allow parents without SSN's to contribute to the FAFSA. Parent contributors without SSN's may now log in to FAFSA.gov to complete their section of the FAFSA, after they are invited to participate in the form by the student.

Please note, not all issues have been resolved. While addressing these glitches, ED uncovered an additional pair of issues that still need to be resolved.

First, any contributor without an SSN is unable to use the Direct Data Exchange (DDX), so they will have to manually enter their financial information into the FAFSA. There is currently no estimated timeline for addressing this issue, but once resolved, ED will attempt to retrieve federal tax information through the direct data exchange with the IRS and will reprocess the FAFSA when necessary.

The second issue occurs in two situations: 1. when the personally identifiable information (i.e. Name/Date of Birth/Social Security Number, etc.) the student enters for their parent(s) to invite them to contribute to the FAFSA does not match the information attached to the contributor’s StudentAid.gov account; 2.  when the person sending the invitation sends multiple invitations, often with different variations of personally identifiable information. In these cases, parents are not able to contribute to the FAFSA. For now, FSA is advising applicants receiving this error message to wait for the expected fix before inviting any contributors without an SSN to the FAFSA.

Update! In addition to these open issues, please also note that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has experienced additional delays in sending FAFSA data to schools and the state. ED has begun to slowly send data to select schools. This process will ramp up in the coming weeks and months. Please understand that once we receive student FAFSA data, our office and the State of NJ will work as quickly as possible to provide students and families with accurate financial aid offers and information on financial aid requirements.

If students have already filed their 24-25 FAFSA and it is in an “In Review” or “Processed” status, they have done everything they need to up to this point; however, updates will be coming. Students should continue to monitor their emails for updates.

If when completing the application, you or the contributors to your FAFSA experience any issues, please contact Federal Student Aid at 1-800-433-3243 for assistance. They will be able to provide support with technical glitches occurring with an FSA ID and/or the FAFSA.

Be sure to file before you miss any deadlines! Stockton’s Priority Filing Deadline for programs with limited funding is April 1, 2024 (extended)! Anyone who received TAG in the 23-24 academic year must file their 24-25 FAFSA by May 15, 2024 (extended)!


Prepare to Apply!
View our recorded presentations below!

 

Understanding the
New FAFSA

Understanding the New FAFSA


The FAFSA has changed and it will impact YOU!
This presentation discusses all of the updates to the 2024-2025 FAFSA and how these changes will impact students and families.

Stay up to date, learn more and prepare for the updates at stockton.edu/fafsa.

Financing your
Stockton Education

Financing your Stockton Education


This presentation discusses the financial aid process from start to finish. Learn about aid opportunities, including tuition & fee free programs, changes to the 24-25 FAFSA, how to apply & more!

Learn more about aid opportunities at stockton and how to apply for aid at stockton.edu/fafsa.

To prepare for the updates to the 2024-2025 FAFSA, be sure to stay informed!  Visit blogs.stockton.edu/stocktonfinaid for more information and follow the Office of Financial Aid on social media @stocktonfinaid on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). Be sure to view the recorded presentations above and keep an eye out for updates!


Completing the FAFSA is the most important step for anyone applying for financial aid, but did you know there are other steps involved in the application process? Follow the below step-by-step process to ensure you complete all steps in the financial aid process. Let's get started!

*** Please note: New Jersey Dreamers are not eligible for federal aid and will not file the FAFSA. Anyone who identifies as an NJ Dreamer will complete the NJ Alternative Application at hesaa.org. ***

U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens should only follow the steps below to apply for Stockton scholarships, file the FAFSA and view their eligibility for state financial aid programs.

New Jersey Dreamers/DACA students should only follow the steps below to apply for Stockton scholarships and complete the New Jersey Alternative Application. Please note, all other undocumented students should only follow the steps to apply for Stockton scholarships. Learn more about applying for aid as an Undocumented student here.

Apply for Scholarships

Apply for Stockton Scholarships

...rewarding academic success!

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Apply for Stockton Scholarships

Stockton University offers incoming students the opportunity to apply for institutional scholarships based on academic and extracurricular achievement.

Accepted transfer students are considered for scholarships based on previous college performance.

Apply Today!

How Long Will It Take?

  • 15 Minutes

What Is An FSA ID?

Your FSA ID is used to confirm your identity when accessing your financial aid information, transfering your Federal tax Information into the FAFSA and electronically signing the FAFSA.

Who Needs an FSA ID?

Students: You’ll need one in order to log in to and electronically sign your FAFSA and to fill out a Renewal FAFSA each year. Students also need an FSA ID to complete loan requirements on studentaid.gov when accepting Federal Direct Loans.

Parents: One or both of the student's biological, adoptive or stepparents will have to create their own FSA ID in order to log in to and electronically sign the student’s FAFSA form.

Both parents will need their own FSA ID if they are married, living together and filed a separate tax return in the year for which the FAFSA asks or if they are unmarried and living together. Otherwise, only one parent/stepparent will need to create an FSA ID.

Parents also need an FSA ID to apply for a Direct PLUS Loan and complete loan requirements on studentaid.gov.

It’s important to understand that the student and the parent(s) may not share an FSA ID. Your FSA ID is your signature, so it has to be unique to you.

 

What's Needed to Create an FSA ID?

  • First Name
  • Last Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Social Security Number (if applicable)
  • Email (cannot have been used to create any other FSA ID)

NEW! Parents, stepparents and students' spouses who do not have Social Security Numbers will now be able to create their own FSA ID.

An FSA ID is required for students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

FSA ID's are also required for all contributors to a student's FAFSA including, parents, stepparents and the student's spouse (if applicable).

Beginning with the 24-25 FAFSA, parents, stepparents and student's spouses without Social Security Numbers are able to create FSA ID's. 

Follow the steps below to create an FSA ID if you do not have a Social Security Number.

Step 1: Visit studentaid.gov and click on "Create Account" at the top right corner of the page.

Step 2: Click "Get Started"

Step 3: Enter your personal information and select the option, "I don't have a Social Security Number." After the warning appears, click, "Continue without SSN"

Step 4: Create your Username and Password and click "Continue." Note that your email address needs to be unique to you. You cannot use an email address that has already been used to create an FSA ID.

Step 5: Enter your contact information and click "Continue." Please note that an address is required for anyone without an SSN. Leave the foreign phone number field blank if you have a foreign phone number.

Step 6: Select your communication preferences and click "Continue"

Step 7: Select the challenge questions you would like to answer if you forget your username or password and click "Continue"

Step 8: Review the information you entered, confirm that it is correct (making corrections if necessary), check the box to indicate that you agree to FSA's Terms and Conditions and click "Continue"

Step 9: Follow the instructions to enable two-step verification, then click "Continue"

Step 10: Answer all knowledge-based identity verification questions and click "Submit"

Once you complete all of the above steps, you are ready to complete the FAFSA!

Please note: If any identity verification questions are answered incorrectly, you will receive an error message indicating that your account was created, but you still need to contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center to verify your identify before you can use the FSA ID to complete the FAFSA as a contributor (parent or spouse of a student).

If you receive an error when attempting to create your FSA ID, you will need to email FSAIDVerifyMe@ed.gov with the following information:

  • Attestation form (link will be included in the email)
  • One of the following:
    • U.S. Driver's License
    • U.S. State/city ID card
    • Foreign Passport
  • OR a utility bill (with the name and address matching what was entered in the FSA ID request process) AND one of the following:
    • Municipal ID card
    • Community ID
    • Consular ID card/Matricula Consular

Identify verification will be confirmed within 1-3 business days by email, after which the FSA ID will be created and you will be ready to complete the FAFSA as a contributor.

How to Get Started:

 Create an FSA ID

How Long Will It Take?

  • 10-45 Minutes

What Is The FAFSA?

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the application you will use to apply for federal student aid programs offered by the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

  • Apply after October 1each year 
  • Stockton Federal School Code: 009345

How to Get Started:

  • Go to fafsa.gov
  • Login using your FSA ID
  • Enter the required information
  • Provide consent to have your Federal Tax Information Transfered into the FAFSA (even if you did not file a tax return in the year for which the FAFSA is asking)
  • Invite contributors
    • Contributors can include one or both of your biological, adoptive or stepparents or your spouse (if applicable). Read more about contributors at blogs.stockton.edu/stocktonfinaid
  • Complete each remaining section of the FAFSA
  • Sign and submit

Please note: After the student submits the FAFSA, the application is not complete. All required contributors will receive an email asking them to log into and complete their section of the student's FAFSA. It is not until all contributors give their consent to have the Federal Tax Information and complete their sections of the FAFSA that it will be submitted for processing.

Complete the FAFSA

How Long Will It Take?

  • 10 Minutes

What is state aid?

Just as the federal government offers aid to qualifying students who file a FAFSA, the State of New Jersey also offers aid to qualifying New Jersey residents.

After a student files the FAFSA, the State of New Jersey receives a copy of the application and uses the information to determine their eligibility for state financial aid programs. No additional action is required unless the state requests additional documentation from a student. Students can view their eligibility and any requirements at njfams.hesaa.org.

How to Get Started:

  • Visit njfams.hesaa.org
  • Log in with your NJFAMS username and password 
    • First time users will have to create an account to log in.
  • View your eligibility and click on your To Do List

Click here to view your eligibility

 

Please note: Due to the delayed implementation of the 24-25 FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will not be sending FAFSA data to schools and the State of NJ until late mid-March at the earliest. As a result, students will not be able to view state aid eligibility or requirements right away. Students should monitor their emails for additional information and continue to check the “Financial Aid Requirements” section of their goStockton portal and their njfams.hesaa.org To Do List (NJ residents only) and complete all requirements as they become available.

How Long Will It Take?

  • 30 Minutes

What is the NJ Alternative Application?

New Jersey Dreamers students are not eligible for federal financial aid; however, these students could be eligible for state financial aid programs. To determine your eligibility, follow the steps below to apply. Learn more at hesaa.org.

How to Get Started:

  • Visit hesaa.org
  • Select the "NJ Dreamers" tab
  • Click "Apply Now"
  • Create an account to complete the New Jersey Alternative Application

Please Note: Qualifying New Jersey Dreamers students need to complete the application each year by the April 15 deadline to be considered for the grant.

Click here to Apply

Each year a student is eligible, they must submit an affidavit to the Office of Financial Aid. We will send the affidavit to all eligible students to complete and submit to our office. Eligible students must submit their high school transcript to the Office of Financial Aid the first time they receive the grant.

How Long Will It Take?

  • 10 Minutes

Where Can I View my Financial Aid Offer?

After completing the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Application for NJ Dreamers, students will receive an email notifying them that their financial aid offer is ready to view. A link to view their offer notification will be provided to students within the email.

How to Get Started:

  • Check your email for an offer notification from the Office of Financial Aid
  • Click the link within the email to view your offer notification

 

Please note: Due to the delayed implementation of the 24-25 FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will not be sending FAFSA data to schools and the State of NJ until late January/early February. As a result, students will not be able to review aid eligibility or requirements right away. The university and the state are working as quickly as possible to provide students with accurate aid offers.

When a student’s aid offer is ready, they will receive an email notification with a link to view their offer. We will also contact students if any additional information is needed from them. Students should monitor their emails for additional information and continue to check the “Financial Aid Requirements” section of their goStockton portal and their njfams.hesaa.org To Do List (NJ residents only) and complete all requirements as they become available.

 

Instructional Video:


CTT Seal

 

 

Stockton University is committed to using the Principles & Standards of the College Cost Transparency Initiative in its student financial aid offer.

How Long Will It Take?

  • 10 Minutes

Why Do I Need To Accept Loans?

Unlike any grants or scholarships that may be included in your offer, there are additional steps you must take in order to receive your Federal Direct Loans.

How to Get Started:

  • Go to go.stockton.edu
  • Login with your goStockton Portal username and password

 

Accept/Decline Your Offer

Instructional Video:

Things you May Need:
  • goStockton Portal ID

Financial aid funding is not filalized until all outstanding requirements are complete! Learn how to view and complete requirements below.

Entrance Counseling

How Long Will It Take?

  • 20 Minutes

What Is Entrance Counseling?

The Federal Government requires you to complete entrance counseling to ensure that you understand the responsibilities and obligations you are assuming.

How to Get Started:

Complete Entrance Counseling

Instructional Video:

Things you May Need?

  • Verified FSA ID
  • School Name
  • Details on your income, financial aid, and living expenses.


Master Promissory Note (MPN)

How Long Will It Take?

  • 20 Minutes

What is an MPN?

The MPN is a legal document in which you promise to repay your federal student loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to your lender or loan holder.

How to Get Started:

 

Complete a Master Promissory Note

Instructional Video:

Things you May Need:

  • Verified FSA ID
  • Personal Information
  • School Name
  • Reference information for two people with different U.S. addresses who have known you for at least 3 years.

Any student with outstanding tasks must complete all requirements before any financial aid funding can be finalized. Learn how to view and complete Federal, State and Institutional requirements below.

Please note: Due to the delayed implementation of the 24-25 FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will not be sending FAFSA data to schools and the State of NJ until mid-March at the earliest. As a result, students will not be able to view aid eligibility or requirements right away. Students should monitor their emails for additional information and continue to check the “Financial Aid Requirements” section of their goStockton portal and their njfams.hesaa.org To Do List (NJ residents only) and complete all requirements as they become available.


Federal & Institutional Requirements:

Once a student files the FAFSA, they may be randomly selected by the U.S. Department of Education, for a review of their financial aid eligibility and/or financial aid application. Stockton University is required by federal regulations to verify all information required by the U.S Department of Education as well as the information reported on the application of each student selected.

In order to comply with these regulations, we may need to collect additional documentation and/or have students and/or parents transfer data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) into the FAFSA.

See below for instructions on completing federal and institutional requirements at Stockton University.

Viewing Requirements

  • Go to go.stockton.edu
  • Log in with your goStockton portal username & password (For new students, these will be in your admissions packet)
  • Click on the financial aid tab
  • Click on the "Financial Aid Requirements" graphic on the left-hand side of the page
  • Select the aid year
  • View your requirements

*Click on the requirement to complete the electronic form or get instructions on how to complete potential required electronic processes.

View your Requirements

Instructional Video:


requirements


*Look for this graphic in the GoStockton Portal


State Requirements:

Just like the Federal Government, the State Government can also select random students for a review process called verification. If a student is selected for State Verification, they will see outstanding items in their NJFAMS To Do List. Be sure to log on to your NJFAMS account regularly to check your To Do List for outstanding requirements.

Follow these instructions to navigate to your NJFAMS To Do List to view your eligibility and complete your incomplete tasks to be considered for state financial aid programs Remember, state aid, Stockton Promise and Garden State Guarantee (GSG) eligibility cannot be finalized until the verification process is complete.

Students who have previously created an NJFAMS account:

Step 1. Go to njfams.hesaa.org

Step 2. Login to your NJFAMS account

Step 3. Click on your “To Do List”

Step 4. Complete and submit any Outstanding Requirements (View upload instructions under "Grants and Scholarships" here).

Note: If you have never logged on to NJFAMS, you will need to create an account.

Students who have never created an NJFAMS account:

Step 1. Go to njfams.hesaa.org

Step 2. Click on the link next to the "New to NJAMS" section to create your account

Step 3. Enter your Information, create a Username and Password & click “Create Login”

Note: You will be logged in to your account.

Step 4. Click on your “To Do List”

Step 5. Complete and submit any Outstanding Requirements (View upload instructions under "Grants and Scholarships" here).

If you have any questions about the NJ State Tuition Aid Grant or other state financial aid programs, setting up your account or your eligibility, please contact NJFAMS at 800-792-8670.

*Please Note: Any student who does not comply with state verification requirements and complete the process by October 1 for the fall semester and March 1 for the spring semester will not be eligible for state financial aid programs.

After applying for financial aid, you may still have a balance with the Bursar's Office. You can view your bill through the Bursar tab on the goStockton Portal.

Here are three different options to help close the gap.

Instructional Video: How to View your Bill


Frequently Asked Questions

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is in the process of implementing FAFSA Simplification: a major overhaul of the processes and systems used to offer federal student aid, starting with the 24-25 aid year. In simple terms, ED is making updates to the look and feel of the FAFSA as well as to the methodology used to determine student financial aid eligibility with a goal of expanding eligibility for federal student aid and to create a more streamlined application process and a better user experience for the FAFSA.

Some of the changes that students and families can expect to see with the 24-25 FAFSA include:

  • Fewer questions used to determine a student’s aid eligibility
  • The number of students in the household in college will no longer be used in the formula to determine aid eligibility
    • Household size will be pulled from the parent’s tax return & can be manually updated.
  • The Student Aid Index (SAI) replaces the EFC in determining the federal aid for which students may be eligible
    • SAI = indexing number used to determine aid eligibility. Generally, a lower SAI increases a student's eligibility for need-based aid.
  • The Department of Education now refers to anyone who is required to provide information on the FAFSA as a contributor.
    • A contributor only contributes information into the FAFSA and is not required to financially contribute to the student’s education.
  • The Direct Data Exchange (DDX) will replace the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT). The DDX will import tax information into the FAFSA directly from the IRS after the contributor(s) consent to the data exchange. All contributors need to consent, even if they did not file a tax return. No consent = no aid.
  • Students & parents will complete their sections of the FAFSA separately. Dependent students will add their custodial parent(s) as "contributors" to their FAFSA (independent students will add their spouse, if applicable) by entering their name, date of birth, social security number and email into the application. Once the student signs and submits their section of the application, contributors will receive an email asking them to log into the FAFSA, using their own FSA ID (new users will need to create one).
    • If parents are unmarried and living together or are married, living together and filed their tax returns separately or unmarried, both parents will need to complete this process. Only one parent needs to complete the process if parents are married and filed a joint tax return. All contributors must complete their sections of the application for a student's FAFSA to be submitted to Federal Student Aid for processing.

Although you can complete the FAFSA today and we do encourage you to try, we want you to be aware that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is continuing to work on and resolve several open issues with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, as a result of the updates to the application. This means that some FAFSA filers and contributors to their application are facing technical issues with the system. You can view the list of open issues and monitor ED’s progress in resolving them here.

New to the 2024-2025 FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education has now introduced contributors to the application. A contributor is anyone who is required to contribute their financial information to the FAFSA.

For a dependent student, contributors include the student and the student's parent(s). Both parents are considered contributors if they are married or unmarried and living together. If the student's biological or adoptive parents are divorced, separated or were never married to each other and do not reside together, only one biological or adoptive parent is considered a contributor to the FAFSA and must provide their information. This contributor is the parent who provides more than 50% of the student's financial support. If the parent contributor is remarried, their spouse is also considered a contributor to the FAFSA and must provide their financial information on the application.

For an independent student, contributors include the student and their spouse (if applicable).

Please note that contributors are not required to contribute to the student's educational costs. Their information is only required to determine a student's aid eligibility.

The Direct Data Exchange (DDX) replaces the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT). The DDX will import tax information into the FAFSA directly from the IRS after the contributor(s) consent to the data exchange. All contributors need to consent, even if they did not file a tax return. No consent = no aid.

Yes, every contributor to the FAFSA regardless of whether or not they filed a tax return is required to provide consent for the Department of Education to work with the IRS to retrive their Federal Tax Information and use the information to complete the FAFSA. Without consent from all contributors, the student will not be eligible for Federal Student Aid or to receive a Student Aid Index (SAI).

Learn more about consent at studentaid.gov.

You should use whatever date you became a legal resident of the state in which you currently reside into the  "State and Date of Legal Residence" question. If you were born in the state in which you currently reside, you would use your date of birth.

No, if a student's parents are married, living together and filed their tax return jointly, only one parent is required to create an FSA ID and complete the FAFSA. The information for both parents will be used within the application, but because financial information for both parents is reported on the tax return, only one parent needs to complete a section of the FAFSA and sign the application.

Yes, your parent needs to use the link in the email they receive from Federal Student Aid asking them to contribute to your FAFSA in order to access the application. They cannot log in to studentaid.gov any other way and access your FAFSA. The only way to contribute is for them to use the link they receive in their email.

Please ensure that your parent's are checking not only their inbox, but also their spam/junk folders for emails from Federal Student Aid. Please also ensure that you as the student complete your section of the FAFSA first. You must complete your section before your parent(s) can log in and complete their section(s).

If you have checked all folders and completed your student section of the FAFSA and your parents have not received an email from Federal Student Aid, please contact Federal Student Aid at 1-800-433-3243 for assistance. They will be able to provide support with technical glitches occurring with an FSA ID and/or the FAFSA.

Although you can complete the FAFSA today and we do encourage you to try, we want you to be aware that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is continuing to work on and resolve several open issues with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, as a result of the updates to the application. This means that some FAFSA filers and contributors to their application are facing technical issues with the system. You can view the list of open issues and monitor ED’s progress in resolving them here.

One significant open issue is that parents without social security numbers (SSN’s) are unable to complete their sections of the FAFSA. We encourage anyone whose parent(s) do not have SSN’s to wait to file until the issue is resolved, as they will not be able to submit the application until all contributors have completed their sections. In addition, if all contributors do not complete their sections within 45 days of the student starting the FAFSA, all data entered will be deleted and the student will have to start the process over.

If when completing the application, you or the contributors to your FAFSA experience any issues, please contact Federal Student Aid at 1-800-433-3243 for assistance. They will be able to provide support with technical glitches occurring with an FSA ID and/or the FAFSA.

To troubleshoot any technical glitches, you can try exiting the form, clearing history on your browser, closing and restarting the browser and re-entering the FAFSA. You can also try logging in with a different browser or exiting the form and trying again at a later time.

ED will not send FAFSA data to schools and the State of NJ until mid-March at the earliest. Once ED begins regularly sending FAFSA data to schools, we should receive your information within 3-5 days of your submission.

Processing for the 2024-2025 FAFSA has begun! Get to understand the meaning of the statuses below!

  • Draft: Your section of the FAFSA is incomplete.
  • In Progress: You provided your consent, approval and signature to your section of the FAFSA, but it has not been submitted yet.
  • In Review: Your FAFSA was submitted, but it has not been processed yet.
  • Action Required: You are missing your consent and approval or signature, or the FAFSA was processed, but a correction is required.
  • Processed: Your application was processed successfully. No further action is needed.
  • Closed: Your FAFSA was never submitted and can no longer be submitted because the federal FAFSA deadline passed.

To view any updates to your FAFSA status, check the "My Activity" section of your studentaid.gov dashboard. Once your status is "Processed," you will receive your FAFSA Submission Summary. In addition, the U.S. Department of Education will begin sending FAFSA data to schools once it is processed. There are currently delays with this process, so the school may not receive your FAFSA data as soon as it is processed. Continue to monitor your studentaid.gov account as well as your goStockton email.

Receiving an "In Review" status after submitting the FAFSA is normal. It indicates that your application has been submitted and waiting for processing by the Department of ED. Once processed, you will receive your FAFSA Submission Summary, which will include your Student Aid Index (SAI) and an estimate of your federal aid eligibility. You will receive a separate aid offer from the university at a later date.

The Student Aid Index (SAI) replaces the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) in determining the federal aid for which students may be eligible. Similar to an EFC, the Student Aid Index (SAI) is calculated based off of information reported on a student's FAFSA. The difference between the two is the calculation. After filing the FAFSA, students will receive an SAI. The SAI is an indexing number used to determine aid eligibility. Generally, a lower SAI increases a student's eligibility for need-based aid.

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is calculated based off of information reported on a student's FAFSA and determines a student's eligibility for aid. A negative SAI generally indicates that a student has greater financial need.

Please remember that there are delays in the release of FAFSA data from the federal government to school as well as the State of New Jersey (HESAA). The university and the state are working as quickly as possible to provide you with accurate aid offers. When your aid offer is ready, you will receive an email notification with a link to view your offer. We will also contact you if any additional information is needed from you. Please monitor the “Financial Aid Requirements” section of your goStockton portal as well as your njfams.hesaa.org To Do List (NJ residents only) and complete all requirements.

The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) is New Jersey's state financial aid agency. Not only do they provide students and families with financial and informational resources for students to pursue their education beyond high school, but they also manage New Jersey State Financial Aid programs inlcuding the Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) and the Garden State Guarantee (GSG).

If you are a New Jersey resident, it is advised that you complete all HESAA requirements, as doing so will determine your eligibility for NJ State Financial Aid programs. If you do not complete all outstanding state tasks, you will not only be considered ineligible for state aid, but you will also not be considered for the Stockton Promise.

Learn more about HESAA and complete all outstanding items on your To Do List at njfams.hesaa.org. New users will have to create an account.

 

***Please remember that there are delays in the release of FAFSA data from the federal government to school as well as the State of New Jersey (HESAA). The university and the state are working as quickly as possible to provide you with accurate aid offers. Continue to monitor your email, your goStockton and NJFAMS portals for updates.

Please remember that there are delays in the release of FAFSA data from the federal government to school as well as the State of New Jersey (HESAA). ED will not send FAFSA data to schools and the State of NJ until mid-March at the earliest. This means that even if you filed the FAFSA already, neither the school nor HESAA will receive your data until mid-March at the earliest.

The university and the state are working as quickly as possible to provide you with accurate aid offers. When your aid offer is ready, you will receive an email notification with a link to view your offer. We will also contact you if any additional information is needed from you. Please monitor the “Financial Aid Requirements” section of your goStockton portal as well as your njfams.hesaa.org To Do List (NJ residents only) and complete all requirements.

Currently, students who completed the 2024-2025 FAFSA are unable to make corrections to the application. Once the Department of Education begins processing applications and the student receives their FAFSA Submission Summary, they should be able to log back into the FAFSA and make corrections to their application.

*Please note, the ability to make corrections is expected in late-March, ony after the student's FAFSA has been processed.

Learn more at studentaid.gov.


As always, all students with questions regarding financial aid are welcome to contact our office.

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