Application Guide

Your identity is verified through your StudentAid.gov account (sometimes called an FSA ID). It is applied for once, and used as necessary, for any transactions with Federal Student Aid. If this is your first time filing or signing a FAFSA, you must create an account online.

• All students filing a FAFSA must apply for a StudentAid.gov account.
• Parents of dependent students must use their own account to provide federal tax data on the application and for an electronic signature.
• Be sure to answer the basic questions about yourself correctly.
• Use an email address that you will always have access to; do not use your GCC student email address.
• Complete the security questions and account verification steps.

Having an account also allows you to:

• View the status and results of a processed FAFSA application.
• Make corrections to your FAFSA.
• Access all your Federal Student Aid information including aggregate usage of federal grant and loans.
• Make address corrections to a Direct Loan account, calculate a repayment schedule, and get interactive counseling on Direct Loans.
• Retrieve contact information for loan servicers, as well as details for Direct Loans from any college or university.
• Complete loan entrance & exit counseling.
• Sign your Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN).
• Request a duplicate copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR).

The FAFSA is administered by Federal Student Aid, a division of the Department of Education. Depending on whether or not you are a dependent or independent student, you may have to provide financial information for your spouse or your parents.

Once the Department of Education processes your application you will receive an email with information regarding your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS). You can then log back onto StudentAid.gov to review your FSS, make sure it’s correct and complete and/or make corrections to your FAFSA.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) offers financial aid grant and loan programs for state residents meeting residency, income, academic and/or other requirements, as established by state law and individual program rules.

• Review your own eligibility with OSFA by logging in to the OSFA Student Web Portal.
• Are you a Massachusetts resident?
  • If you are not a Massachusetts Resident, you can skip down to Step 4 below.
  • If you already have a Bachelor’s Degree (4-year degree), you can skip down to Step 4 below.

Your completed FAFSA is received electronically by OSFA if you are a Massachusetts resident and you have applied to any college or university in the state.

• OSFA utilizes the May 1 “Priority Deadline” as an eligibility criterium for some funding.
• OSFA communicates directly with student and institutions regarding specific eligibility for their programs.
• Deadlines for inquiry responses are strict. Be sure to respond in a timely manner to requests for information from OSFA.

OSFA manages the available funds and student eligibility. GCC certifies accuracy of FAFSA data and student enrollment for specific terms.

• Eligible students receive and aid offer for either a semester or a year at a time, depending on program rules and details provided.
• The funds are disbursed to the college for payment of tuition, fees, and other billed education costs.
• Review your own eligibility with OSFA by logging in to the OSFA Student Web Portal.