We have made the process as intuitive and easy to navigate as possible. For those that need a little extra help, our Preferred service provides access to an expert Student Aid Advisor who can complete the process for you in 15–20 minutes. Using our self-service option online generally takes around 35–40 minutes.

Whether you get help from a personal Student Aid Advisor or complete your application online, you'll find understanding your student aid eligibility and how to pay for college a huge benefit when deciding which colleges to apply to and later, which one to attend.

Your College Cost & Planning Report^® will give you the knowledge to make the smartest choice possible.

It is helpful to have the following available:

• Student and parents' dates of birth
• Records of income earned, such as a recent paycheck or the latest income tax return
• Estimates of other income, such as child support and contributions to a 401k
• Standardized test scores and grade point average(GPA) results(if available)