Yuma, Arizona - Thanks to the new Prior-Prior Year policy (PPY), beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, students will no longer need to wait until January to begin the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process. That’s because they’ll be able to file the FAFSA using tax information from two years prior (2015 tax info) and will now be able to apply for FASFA starting October 1, 2016.
In the current college application cycle, students have had to wait until January of their senior year to submit for federal student aid. This deadline was poorly aligned with the college application calendar, creating obstacles for students trying to meet priority filing deadlines and resulting in less informed enrollment choices.
Benefits of PPY:
AUTO-FILL
More students will be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, which accesses their previously accepted IRS tax returns and auto-fills the FAFSA form, so fewer families will be vulnerable to making mistakes on their applications.
INFO READY
All students will have their prior prior tax information ready when applications for FAFSA open, giving them equal opportunity to be considered for all available funds.
FINISH EARLY
Students who are eager to choose their college and lock in admission with colleges who offer rolling admission decisions can finish early and have peace of mind.
To help students with FASFA, Arizona Western College will be hosting College Goal Sunday on Sunday, October 14 from 3pm-6pm at the AWC Downtown Center (1351 S. Redondo Center Dr. in Yuma). There will also be a College Goal on Friday, November 18 from 3pm-6pm at the AWC San Luis Center. These events are for all new and continuing students that are planning to attend ANY college during the 2017-2018 school year that would like FREE assistance in completing their FAFSA application.
Please visit www.azwestern.edu/enrollment/financial-aid for more information or to find the FASFA application.