Need-Based Aid and FAFSA Resources
Clarkson is dedicated to helping finance your education through various sources of funding. We advise you to work closely with our financial aid support staff and the admissions office as you begin assessing costs and reviewing financing options. Aside from the generous merit-based scholarships Clarkson provides, there can be additional need-based aid/grants that are available to students.
These types of need-based grants are sourced by the Federal/State government and Clarkson University. Students are required to complete the FAFSA annually In order to be eligible for need-based aid.
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is an online form developed by the Department of Education and should be considered an essential part of the college application process. The purpose of the form is to gather personal and financial information to determine eligibility for need-based aid. Clarkson encourages all students to complete the FAFSA as it guarantees students are receiving the strongest financial aid package available to them.
We understand that the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) can be confusing, especially for students going through this process for the first time. Below are some resources and steps to help navigate you through the application from start to finish.
Resources and Steps
The FAFSA application is available online at studentaid.gov, and is free to complete. Clarkson’s school code for the FAFSA is 002699.
In order to start the FAFSA application:
- Student needs to create an Federal Student Aid-ID (FSA-ID)
- Parent(s) need to create an FSA-ID, (Parents who are married and filed taxes jointly can use one FSA-ID, if taxes were filed separately both parents will need an FSA-ID)
- 2024 Tax Forms (1040 and schedules)
(*Please note that the student must start the application on StudentAid.gov and then invite their parent(s) to provide their information. The student initiates the process, and then the system generates an invitation for the parent contributor to complete their designated sections and provide their signature and consent.)
Resources:
What is the FAFSA
Create an FSA-ID
What do I need to complete the FAFSA
Start the FAFSA Form
Review, sign, and submit your FAFSA form
FAFSA FAQ
Family Contributor Guide
- Use Parent Wizard to determine which parent(s) financial information is required.
- If remarried, the custodial parent and stepparent financial information must be included.
- Coordinate with your ex-spouse to avoid any conflicting or inconsistent information.
- Act as sole contributor and report financial information.
- Any child support or government benefits should be accurately reported on the FAFSA.
- If the parents filed taxes jointly, only one parent needs to create an FSA-ID and act as a contributor using their joint tax return information, which includes their combined income and asset information.
- If parents are married and filed separately, both parents will need to create an FSA-ID and act as separate contributors on the FAFSA.
- The FAFSA will ask you a series of questions to determine your status as a dependent or an independent student.
- You qualify as an independent student for FAFSA if you meet one of several criteria. Learn more about eligibility requirements here.
- Independent students do not require a parent contributor.
- If you are deemed independent it is important that you reach out to the financial aid office to see if additional supporting documentation is needed.
Clarkson University’s financial aid timeline for new incoming freshman students
- FAFSA Submission: 2026-2027 FAFSA application is available to complete October 1.
- FAFSA Deadlines: FAFSA application deadlines coincide with the Admissions Decision deadlines for Early Decision (December 1) and Regular Decision (January 15). We will accept FAFSAs after these dates; however, it is strongly recommended to file before the deadlines to ensure timely processing and receipt of your financial aid package.
- FAFSA Application Review: Once the FAFSA is processed and Clarkson receives the information, our financial aid officers will review the form. If there are any errors on your FAFSA, the financial aid office will contact you to resolve these errors or they may request additional information or documentation. It is important that you continue to check your email for these types of requests.
- FAFSA Packaging and Release: After the review, a financial aid package is generated for the student. This package may include a combination of grants, merit-scholarships, Clarkson special scholarships, loans and/or federal work study. The financial aid office will release the financial aid award notice (FAN) digitally into the students CU application portal. The student will be notified of the release via email.
Special Circumstances: If your family has experienced a change in financial aid circumstances not reflected on the FAFSA, we encourage you to contact us at newstudentfa@clarkson.edu for assistance.