How to Apply for Financial Aid
Step 1: Apply for FSA ID (If student is dependent: BOTH student and one parent must apply for a FSA ID.
How to create an FSA ID
The FSA ID, a username and password, has replaced the Federal Student Aid PIN and must be used to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education websites. Your FSA ID confirms your identity when you access your financial aid information and electronically sign Federal Student Aid documents. If you do not already have an FSA ID, you can create one when logging in to fafsa.gov, the National Student Loan Data System, StudentLoans.gov, StudentAid.gov, and Agreement to Serve (ATS).
- Step 1: When logging in to one of the websites listed above, click the link to create an FSA ID.
- Step 2: Create a username and password, and enter your e-mail address.
- Step 3: Enter your name, date of birth, Social Security number, contact information, and challenge questions and answers.
- Step 4: If you have a Federal Student Aid PIN, you will be able to enter it and link it to your FSA ID. You can still create an FSA ID if you have forgotten or do not have a PIN.
- Step 5: Review your information, and read and accept the terms and conditions.
- Step 6: Confirm your e-mail address using the secure code, which will be sent to the e-mail address you entered when you created your FSA ID. Once you verify your e-mail address, you can use it instead of your username to log in to the websites.
You can use your FSA ID to sign a FAFSA right away. Once the Social Security Administration verifies your information in one to three days, or if you have linked your PIN to your FSA ID, you will be able to use your FSA ID to access the websites listed above. For help visit the FSAID page on the StudentAid.gov site.
You may not use the same E-mail, username, or personal information for both
If you forgot your username or password, click on "Edit my FSA ID"
If you don't remember your username or password click on "forgot my username" or "forgot my password": You can retrieve your username or password with either an email secure code or challenge question. Note: if you reset your password using the challenge question option, you will not be able to use your new password for 30 minutes.
Please watch the videos below which will help explain what you need to know to create your FSA ID.
Step 2: Complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
- Visit: the FAFSA website
- Click: "Start A New FAFSA"
- Click: "Enter your (the student's) FSA ID" and log in.
- Click: 2018-2019 FAFSA, and/or Start 2019-2020 FAFSA for (Fall 2019 & Spring 2020 semesters)
- Enter: A save key (Anything you want from 4-8 characters)
- Enter: The required information on the application*
- Click: "Agree", "Sign", and "Submit" after you enter all the information
- Click: "Start your state application" on the confirmation page to do your TAP application**
Our Federal School Code is: 008611
*You will use the 2016 tax return for the 2018-2019 FAFSA and you will use the 2017 tax return to file the 2019-2020 FAFSA. If you and/or your parents filed a tax return, you can link to the IRS when you reach the financial information section when applying for the FAFSA. Click on "Link to IRS" ** and use the IRS Data Retrieval option.
**On the confirmation page of the FAFSA, please click the TAP link to complete the application immediately after you finish the FAFSA, you must wait until the FAFSA is processed (3-5 business days)
Step 3: Complete your New York State TAP Application
- Create: A Username and Pin Number
- Click: "The 2018-2019, and/or 2019-2020 application" and enter the information
- Review: Review your information on the final page then click "Submit"
For changes and updates on the HESC Application:
- Visit: the HESC website: www.hesc.ny.gov
- Click: Student Access
- Click: Change TAP college code/address
- Login: HESCID, User ID and Pin