Why college students should fill out the FAFSA

Paperwork, even if it’s online, is no one’s idea of a good time.

But by filling out their FAFSA now, students can take their next steps in the college experience. And at Columbus College of Art & Design, our goal is to prepare you as a creative and to ensure that you’re able to manage the payments for your education. As part of that, we require that all CCAD students complete their entire financial aid file before registering for fall 2021 classes.

You can begin the process at studentaid.gov. Here’s what students will need to do:

Use your FSA ID to access your account (you should already have one from last year).
Enter all of the required information and then use the FSA ID again to sign the form electronically.
If required, you'll need to include your parents' information, too. The best, easiest and most accurate way of doing this is by using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (aka the DRT), which will appear as an option midway through the FAFSA. If you want to use the DRT, say “yes,” when prompted, and then follow the instructions to transfer your info from your tax return onto your FAFSA.

Once CCAD’s Financial Aid department gets your FAFSA information, they’ll guide you on your next steps, so keep an eye out for a message from them in your CCAD email inbox.

Fall registration starts in February, but because there are a number of steps you’ll need to complete along the way to finishing your financial aid file, and some of those take a bit of time, you’ll want to start the process early. And if we don’t get your FAFSA info … well, we’ll continue to bug you unless you notify us that you won't be filing one. (But we really think you should do it.)

In short: Go to studentaid.gov and get your FAFSA started today!

Have questions? Email [email protected]