• If you are unsure which FAFSA year applies to the term in which you are planning to attend, please contact the CCAC Financial Aid office for assistance - Financial Aid Contact Information 
• The FAFSA becomes available each year on October 1st

  
  

SAVE YOUR WORK

NEED HELP?

At the end of each line item is a ? symbol.  By clicking on the ? symbol you will find additional information about each question.

If you are still unsure, contact the CCAC Financial Aid Office for assistance.

Below are sections you will be asked to fill out, some sections may not be available to you depending on the way you answer previous questions

Student Demographic Section Questions

•  This section will enter information about “YOU”
• Because the FAFSA belongs to the student, "you" and "your" always (unless otherwise noted) refer to the student
  
  

• Student Demographic Information

  
  

  1.  Enter your Personal Demographic Information 

     Pre-populated information

     Some of the information contained in this section will be pre-populated based on the FSA ID you have already created. Enter any information that is left blank if it pertains to you.

     
  2.  Click the Next button
  3. Enter Student Email and Phone Number
     Use an EMAIL address you check and have access to OFTEN
  4.  Click the Next button
  5. Enter your Mailing Address
  6. Click the Next button
  7. Enter “Yes” or “No” to indicate if you were considered a Pennsylvania resident for at least 5 years
  8.  Select your residency status using the drop-down box
     • Yes, I am a U.S. Citizen (or U.S. National)
     • No, but I am an eligible noncitizen (Enter your Alien Registration Number)
     • No, I am not a citizen or eligible noncitizen - if you are in the U.S and have:
       • Been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
       • F1 or F2 student visa
       • J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa
       • A G series visa
       • Other categories not included under U.S citizen and eligible noncitizen
     
  9.  Click the Next button 

  
  

  
  

  High School Completion Status

  1. Enter your High School Completion Status on your FAFSA

  Warning

  Make sure to answer this question. Please do NOT leave this drop-down box in "Select" status

  In order to qualify for federal financial aid....

  You must have a high school diploma, GED, or completed secondary level regulated by your STATE.

  Please contact the financial aid office if you have additional questions.

  

  Select the answer that describes your high school completion status:

  "High school diploma” - means you have received or will receive a U.S. high school diploma, or a foreign school diploma that’s equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma before the first date of your enrollment in a college or career school.

  “GED certificate or state authorized high school equivalent certificate”  - means you have received or will receive a General Educational Development (GED) certificate, or state authorized high school equivalent certificate before the first date of your enrollment in a college or career school. A state authorized high school equivalent certificate is a certificate that the issuing state recognizes as the equivalent of a high school diploma in that state. Note: A high school certificate of attendance and/or a certificate of completion are NOT the equivalent of a high school diploma.

  “Home schooled” - means you’ve completed home schooling at the secondary level regulated by your state.

  “None of the above”  -means you don’t have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent, and didn’t complete secondary school in a home school setting.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  College Grade Level and Type of Degree

  Reminder

  CCAC is only a 2-year institution.  We only offer up to a associate degree and maximum of a 2nd year/sophomore grade level.

  1. What degree or certificate will you be working on when you begin the XXXX-XXXX school year? 

     
     

  2. Select YES or NO if you have a bachelor’s degree PRIOR TO the school year you are completing the FAFSA for?
  3. What will your college grade level be when you begin the XXXX-XXXX school year?

         •  “Grade Level” does not mean the number of years you have attended college but refers to the grade level in regard to the number of credit(s) you have completed.

     

     
     
     
     
     

  
  

  Work Study Interest

  1. Choose Yes or No if you are interested in Work-Study on the FAFSA.
     The Federal Work-study Program provides jobs for undergraduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay educational expenses.
     
     

     Selecting YES does NOT guarantee that you will be offered Federal Work-study.

     
     

     
     This question only serves to alert CCAC that you may be interested in work-study
     It is not required to be marked YES on the FAFSA to be considered for work-study
     If you marked NO or Don’t know on the FAFSA, there is no need to change your answer
     
     

  2.  Click the Next button
     
     

     Interested in Work-study or want more information?
     Fill out a Work-study Application found on the CCAC website

     
     

     
     

  
  

  Selective Service

  1. Choose Male or Female
     
     

     •    Your gender is used to determine if you need to register with the Selective Service System (SSS). Most male citizens and immigrants between the ages of 18–25 must register with the SSS to receive federal student aid. 

     •    This requirement applies to any person assigned the sex of male at birth.

  2. Click the Next button

  

  Do you want to register with the Selective Service System?

  If you’re a male between the ages of 18–25 and not registered with the Selective Service System (SSS), select “Yes” and the SSS will register you. You can also register online at the Selective Service website. This requirement applies to any person assigned the sex of male at birth.

  If you believe that you’re not required to register with the SSS, you should call the SSS office at 1-847-688-6888 for information regarding exemptions or visit the SSS website.

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  

  Foster Care and Parent Education Information

  1. Indicate if you were or at any time in the foster care system?
     1. Select “Yes” if you’re a foster youth or were at any time in the foster care system
        • You may be asked to provide proof by the school
     2. Select “No” if you
        • If aren’t a foster youth, or weren’t at any time in the foster care system
        • If you’re not sure if you were in foster care, check with your state child welfare agency

  

  2. Select Parent Educational Information using the drop-down box
     Select the answer that best describes your parent’s highest level of education completed
     

      For this question, parent means your birth or adoptive parent. Don’t answer this question about a stepparent, legal guardian, or foster parent.

     This question is used for state scholarship purposes ONLY. It doesn't affect your eligibility for federal student aid

     
     3. Click the Next Button
     

  
  

  School Selection Section Questions
  
  

  High School Selection

  1. Enter the complete name of your high school

     2. Enter the city that your high school is located
     3. Select the state that your high school is located in the drop-down box

     If you received a foreign school diploma that is equivalent to the U.S. high school diploma..

     Select “Foreign Country” from the “In what state is your high school located?” drop-down box

     
     4. Select “Confirm” rather than “Next” in order to identify your high school5. Click the Select button next to your correct high school on the left hand side

     6. Click the Next button

  
  

  Searching and Adding College School Codes

  1. Answer “Yes” - Do you know the college’s Federal School Code?
  2. Enter “003231” for CCAC’s Federal School Code
     
  3. Click the Search button
  4. Click on the box next to Community College of Allegheny County
  5. Click the Next button
  6. Select a Housing Plan(use the drop-down box)

     •    With Parent

     •    Off Campus

     •    On Campus  - CCAC does not have On-Campus housing7. Click the Next button

  
  

  Dependency Status Questions
  
  

  Student Marital Status and Household Size

  1. Enter your Current marital status on the Dependency Status section of the FAFSA
     If you are married, separated, or divorced, please make sure to enter a date
     
  2. Click the Next button
  3. Read the following questions carefully and answer regarding your dependents
  4. Click the Next button
  5. Fill in the number of dependents, if you indicated you are supporting someone other than a spouse during the dates listed on the FAFSA
     
     This should be the number of children (even if they don’t live with you) who will receive more than half of their support from you (and if married, your spouse). You can include any unborn children if they will be born during the award year
     
     (Grayed out areas are pre-populated or calculated based on prior information provided)
  6. List the number of students in college

     Include

     Yourself even if you’ll attend college less than half-time in 2021–22; and
     
     Other people in your household only if they’ll attend college, at least half-time in the year you are seeking aid, in a program that leads to a college degree or certificate
     
     
  7. Click the Next button
     
     
     
     

  
  
  

  
  

   

  
  

  
  

  Independent Student Information
  
  

  Independent Student Determination and Financial Information (including DRT information)

  If you are considered a FAFSA defined Independent Student...

  You are NOT required to answer questions about your parents

  1. Mark YES OR NO to answering questions about your parents
     (Answering these questions won’t affect your eligibility for federal student aid, such as a Federal Pell Grant)
  2. Click the Next button
  3. Use the drop-down box to select if you have already completed, plan to (will) file, or not filing a tax return for the year requested
  4. Enter what Type of IRS income tax return you filed using the drop-down box
  5. Enter what Filing Status you used for that tax year using the drop-down box
     • Once you have entered your information for the indicated year using the dropdown box, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) Box will appear
       
       
  6. Read the IRS DRT Statement that has been created based on the information you provided about your:
     • Marital Status (enter earlier in the FAFSA)
     • Tax Completion Status
     • Type of Tax Return Filed
       
       
       

     • DRT Tool Available – Student

       1. Click Link to the IRS button
       2. Click the Proceed To IRS Site button
       3. Click the Ok button
          
       4. Click on the Ok button
       5. Review prepopulated fields and Fill In Blank Required fields

          Enter your address information exactly as it would have appeared on your tax return when it was filed

          Example: If you used Main Street when you filed, you cannot substitute Main St. or Main 

          
       6. Click the Submit button
       7. Click the box next to Transfer My Tax Information into the FAFSA Form
       8. Congratulations! You have successfully transferred your tax information from the IRS
       9. Click the Next button to continue

       
       If you would like more information on the DRT Tool, visit IRS DRT Information

       
       

       DRT Tool Not Available – Student

       1. Click the Next button
       2. Fill in the information requested based on the tax return filed
          • Each question has a "?" symbol on the right hand side which contains an explanation of what is being asked and where to find it on the tax return
       3. Click the Next button

       
       

       
       

  7. Enter your Adjusted Gross Income (unless Transferred from IRS)
  8. Click the Next button
  9.  Fill in your (and spouses') income from working (salaries, wages, tips, etc.)
  10. Click the Next button
  11. Indicate by marking Yes, No, or Don’t Know about filing a Schedule 1
      • Generally, taxpayers file a Schedule 1 to report income or adjustments to income that can’t be entered directly on Form 1040 such as unemployment, education expenses, IRA deduction, and student loan interest deduction

      • If you mark YES, to the Schedule 1 question, you will be prompted to answer some additional questions

        1. Mark Yes if you completed a Schedule 1 
        2. Click the Next button
        3. Indicate mark Yes, No, or  I Don’t know if you (or spouse) is a Dislocated Worker
        4. If you indicate NO, mark the boxes that pertain to your past or current situation
        5. Click the Next button
           
  12.  Enter your income tax (unless Transferred from IRS)
  13. Click the Next button
  14. List the values requested according to your tax records
  15. Click the Next button
  16. List the values requested according to your tax records
  17. Click the Next button
  18. List the values requested according to your tax records AND personal circumstances
  19. Mark Yes or No to completing the Additional Asset questions
      • If you decide to bypass these questions, CCAC may require answers to these questions to determine your eligibility for college aid after receiving the results

      • Asset Information

        1. Enter the requested values about your assets
        2. Click the Next button
  20.  Click the Next button

  21. Panel title

      Panel content

      
      

  
  

  Dependent Student Information
  
  

  Parent Demographics

  Who is considered a parent?

  A legal parent includes a biological or adoptive parent, or a person that the state has determined to be your parent.  Grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, older brothers or sisters, widowed stepparents, and aunts and uncles are not considered parents unless they have legally adopted you

  1. Enter your Parent(s) marital status
     
     If your parent(s) were Never Married, Divorced/Separated:
     
     Choose the parent that you lived with most during the last 12 months. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, provide information about the parent who provided more financial support during the last 12 months, or during the most recent year that you actually received support from a parent.

     Explanation of Parent Marital Status Options

     1. Never Married 
        • Select which parent information will be provided
     2. Unmarried and legal parents living together
     3. Married or Remarried
        • Enter the date your parents got married or remarried
     4. Divorced or Separate
        • Enter the date your parent became divorced or separated
          • Select which parent information will be provided
     5. Widowed
        • Enter the date your parent became widowed
        • Select which parent information will be provided

     
     

  2. Click the Next button
  3. Enter 1st parent information
  4. Click the Next button
  5. Enter 2nd parent information, if applicable
  6.  Click the Next button
  7. Click YES OR NO if your parent(s) have lived in PA for at least 5 years
     • If the answer NO to this question, it may prompt PHEAA to require more information from the student to determine if the student meets their PA domicile regulations.  This is between the student and PHEAA to rectify, it doesn’t have any bearing on how CCAC is charging the student.
       
       

     • If your parents haven't been Pennsylvania residents for at least 5 years

       1. Use the drop-down box to list your parent(s) legal state of residence
       2.  Mark Yes or No if they became of legal resident by the date provided
       3.  If No, mark the month and year (MM/YYYY) for your parent who has lived in the state the longest
       4. Click the Next button
  8. Fill in the number of dependents, if you indicated your parent(s) are supporting someone other than a spouse and you during the dates listed on the FAFSA
     
     
     • The number of children (even if they don’t live with you) who will receive more than half of their support from your parent(s) (and if married, your spouse).   You can include any unborn children if they will be born during the award year.  DO NOT COUNT CHILDREN THAT ARE CONSIDERED TO BE INDEPENDENT BASED ON FAFSA DEPENDENCY STANDARDS
     • Grayed out areas are pre-populated or calculated based on your previous answers.
  9. Enter the number of people in college. You should include yourself for at least 1 in college.  
     • DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR PARENTS
  10. Click the Next button
  11.  You will move on to complete the Parent Financial Section

  
  

  Parent Financials (including DRT information)

  
  

  1. Use the drop-down box to indicate your parent(s) tax return completion status for the tax year noted on the FAFSA
     
  2. Click the Next button
  3. Use the drop-down box to select what type of tax return your parent(s) filed
  4. Use the drop-down box to select what type of filing status tax return your parent(s) filed
  5. Click the Next button

     Data Retrieval Tool

     Based on your answers in most cases, NOT ALL, you will be offered the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT).  The easiest and most accurate way to have your parent(s) tax information entered into your FAFSA is using this tool offered directly from the IRS.  

     There are some circumstances that require you to enter your information manually, if so, you will need to have your parent(s) taxes available

     
     

     Parent DRT Tool Available

     Click the Link To IRS button

     Click the Next button

     1. Select Parent 1 or Parent 2 - iyou will have this option if you listed both parents information on prior questions

        Choose the Parent 1 or 2 that created or is creating the FSA ID that you are using for the DRT tool

        The parent number (1 or 2) used should match how you listed your parent(s) in the previous demographic information.

        
        

     2. Enter the parent FSA ID and Password
     3. Click the Next button
     4. Click on Proceed to the IRS Site button
     5. Click the Ok button
     6. Click the Ok button
        
     7.   Fill in the items marked that are left blank
     8. Click on the Submit button
     9. Click the box next to Transfer My Tax Information into the FAFSA form
     10. Click the Transfer Now button
     11. Make sure your you receive a Successful Transfer Notice
         If you would like more information on the DRT Tool, visit https://finaid.org/fafsa/irsdataretrievaltool/

     Parent DRT tool NOT Available

     

     1. Click the Next button
     2. Fill in the information requested based on the tax return filed
        • Each question has a "?" symbol on the right hand side which contains an explanation of what is being asked and where to find it on the tax return
     3. Click the Next Button
  6. Enter your parent(s) Adjusted Gross Income (unless Transferred from IRS)
  7. Click the Next button
  8.  Fill in your parent(s) income from working (salaries, wages, tips, etc.)
     
  9. Click the Next button
  10. Enter your income tax (unless Transferred from IRS)
  11. Click the Next button
  12. List the values requested according to your tax records
  13. Click the Next button
  14. List the values requested according to your tax records
  15. Click the Next button
  16. List the values requested according to your tax records AND personal circumstances
  17. Click the Next button
  18. Enter the requested values about your assets
  19. Click the Next button
  20. You will move to the next section

  
  

  
  

  Signing and Submitting

  
  

• A preparer is anyone who charges a fee for helping you fill out your FAFSA
• If you’re a student filling out your own FAFSAform OR a relative or friend helping a student complete his or her form for free, then you’re NOT a preparer.

  

• You may print this page for your records at the bottom of the page