No, you do not need to pay for assistance. If you apply using FAFSA on the WebSM at www.FAFSA.ed.gov, you will receive online instructions for each question, and you can chat live online with a customer service representative. Another source of free help is our online guide. Completing the FAFSA

Whether you apply online or use the printed FAFSA, you can get free assistance by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at the telephone number(s) listed below or by contacting CBT Technology Institute’s financial aid officer.

CBT Technology Institute Financial Aid Department: 305-273-4499
Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC): 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)
(TTY 1-800-730-8913)

Various Web sites do offer help filing the FAFSA for a fee. These sites are not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Department of Education or CBT Technology Institute. Therefore, we urge you not to pay for these sites for the assistance that we provide for free. Please contact your financial aid office at your campus for further assistance.

An FSA ID, or Federal Student Aid Identification, is a username and password combination that serves as your electronic signature for accessing and signing federal student aid documents online. It allows you to securely access and manage your personal information on various U.S. Department of Education websites, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), student loan applications, loan counseling, and more. The FSA ID helps protect your personal information and ensures the security of your federal student aid records.

Getting an FSA ID is essential for accessing and signing federal student aid documents online, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Master Promissory Note (MPN), and loan counseling. This ID serves as your electronic signature and provides secure access to your personal information.

Your FSA ID will not be sent to you; you must create it yourself. Visit the Federal Student Aid website and follow the steps to create your FSA ID. Make sure to keep your FSA ID secure and never share it with anyone.

If you've lost your FSA ID, you can retrieve it online by providing your username, email address, or mobile phone number associated with your account. Alternatively, you can contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center for assistance.

You can check the status of your FAFSA application by logging in to your account on the FAFSA website using your FSA ID. Once logged in, you can view the status of your application, make corrections or updates, and see if any additional information is required.

The Data Release Number (DRN) is a unique four-digit number assigned to your FAFSA application when you submit it online. It serves as a security measure and is required if you need to release your FAFSA information to certain institutions or organizations.

Yes, you can add a school code to your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. When completing the FAFSA, you have the option to list up to ten schools to receive your financial aid information. You can add a school code by entering the six-digit Federal School Code assigned to each institution you wish to send your FAFSA information to. These codes can be found on the FAFSA website or by contacting the schools directly. Make sure to list the schools you are considering attending or have already applied to so they can review your financial aid eligibility and provide you with an aid package if you are accepted.

The deadline for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application varies depending on the specific deadlines set by the schools and states you're applying to, as well as the type of aid you're seeking. However, it's important to note that many federal, state, and institutional aid programs have limited funds, so it is recommended that you submit the FAFSA as early as possible to maximize your chances of receiving aid. For federal aid, the FAFSA application opens on October 1st each year for the following academic year, and it is generally best to submit it as soon as possible after this date. Additionally, some states and schools have their own FAFSA deadlines, which may be earlier than the federal deadline, so be sure to check the specific requirements for each institution to which you are applying.

If you are facing a deadline and want to get the application in as soon as possible, you may estimate your tax amounts for now. Once you have completed your tax forms, make the corrections to your file either on the Web or by mailing in your paper SAR.

When you apply for federal student aid, your answers to the questions in Step 3 of the paper FAFSA or in Step 2 of the online FAFSA will determine whether you are considered dependent on your parents or independent. If you are considered dependent, your parents’ income and assets as well as your own must be reported on the FAFSA. Students are classified as dependent or independent because federal student aid programs are based on the principle that students (and their parents or spouse, if applicable) are considered the primary source of support for postsecondary education.

You should contact the holder of your loan. If you do not know who holds your loan, you can use the website (www.nslds.ed.gov) to find out about your federal student loans. The site displays information on loan and/or federal grant amounts, outstanding balances, loan statuses, and disbursements. To use the NSLDS Student Access Web site, you will need to provide your Social Security Number, the first two letters of your last name, your date of birth, and your PIN.

Contact the financial aid office at your CBT Technology Institute campus. Our financial aid administrator combines various forms of aid into a package to help meet your student need. Using available resources to give each student the best possible package of aid is one of the aid administrator’s major responsibilities. Because funds are often limited, a financial aid package might fall short of the amount a student is eligible for. Also, the amount of federal student aid in a financial aid package is affected by other sources of aid received (scholarships, state aid, etc.).

If you wish to speak with a person regarding a financial aid question, please call one of the telephone numbers provided below: CBT Technology Institute Financial Aid Department: 305-273-4499 Telephone: 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) TTY: 1-800-730-8913 Spanish speakers are available (se habla español)

Federal Pell Grants

A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are generally awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor”s or a professional degree. (In some cases, however, a student enrolled in a post- baccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Pell Grant.) Click hereto learn more about Pell Grants.

How much can I get?

The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2009-10 award year (July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010) is $5,350. The amount you get, however, will depend not only on your financial need, but also on your costs to attend school, your status as a full-time or part-time student, and your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less.

If I am eligible, how will I get the Pell Grant Money?

Your school can apply Pell Grant funds to your school costs, pay you directly (usually by check), or combine these methods. The school must tell you in writing how much your award will be and how and when you”ll be paid. Schools must disburse funds at least once per term (semester, trimester, or quarter). Schools that do not use semesters, trimesters, or quarters must disburse funds at least twice per academic year.

Age is not a factor in determining eligibility for the Federal Student Aid programs.

Under Federal law your family is primarily responsible to the extent they can pay for your college expenses. To determine how much your family can afford to pay towards your college expenses, we must collect your financial information and if you are a dependent student, we must also collect your parents’ financial information. Under very limited circumstances, an otherwise dependent student may be able to submit the FAFSA without parental information due to special circumstances. Before you proceed to skip the parental section of your FAFSA, consider the following: Examples of special circumstances where you may be able to submit your FAFSA without providing parental information include:

• Your parents are incarcerated; or
• You have left home due to an abusive family environment; or
• You do not know where your parents are and are unable to contact them (and you have not been adopted).

• Your parents do not want to provide their information on your FAFSA; or
• Your parents refuse to contribute to your college expenses; or
• Your parents do not claim you as a dependent on their income taxes; or
• You do not live with your parents.

• We will allow you to submit your FAFSA without parental information, however your FAFSA will not be considered complete.
• Because your FAFSA is not considered complete, we will not calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which is the index used by colleges to determine how much student aid you are eligible to receive.
• If you are approaching any deadlines for your state, college, or scholarship aid, you may want to contact your financial aid administrator (FAA) before submitting your FAFSA without parental data.
• Once you submit your FAFSA without parental data, you must follow up with the FAA at the college you plan to attend, to complete your FAFSA and receive an EFC. Also note the following:
  • Under Federal law, only your FAA has the authority to decide whether you must provide parental information on your FAFSA.
  • You will have to provide documentation to verify your situation. Gather as much written evidence of your situation as you can. Written evidence may include court or law enforcement documents, letters from a clergy member, school counselor or social worker, and/or any other relevant data that explains your special circumstance.
  • After reviewing your circumstances carefully, your FAA will decide if you must provide parental information or if your circumstances allow you to proceed without providing parental data. Your FAAs decision is final and cannot be appealed to Federal Student Aid.