How to Apply FAFSA

The FAFSA is Always A FREE application

You do not need to pay any money to complete a FAFSA! If you are asked to make a payment to complete the FAFSA then you are on the wrong site and should go directly to studentaid.gov

The 2025-2026 FAFSA is currently available. The FAFSA for 2025-2026 will use information from the 2023 tax year. The 2025-2026 FAFSA will be used for the Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026 terms.

Am I eligible to receive financial aid?

General eligibility criteria:

be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen;
have a valid social security number;
be enrolled as a degree-seeking student in an eligible program of study;
be enrolled at least half-time for Direct Loan program funds;
not be in default on a federal student loan, or owe a repayment of a federal student grant receive at any institution;
maintain satisfactory academic progress; and
demonstrate financial need for need-based financial aid student programs.

Applying for Financial Aid: 3 Easy Steps!

Step 1: Complete your FAFSA Application (FAFSA)
Toggle More Info

To apply for all federal, some state, and most FGCU aid programs, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online every year. FGCU has established a March 1st priority-filing deadline. Applications filed by March 1st, will receive priority consideration for limited funding sources. FGCU's school code for the FAFSA is 032553.

Get your FSA ID and Password: also referred to as your Federal Student Aid log-in credentials, must be used to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education websites. Your FSA ID confirms your identity when you access your financial aid information and electronically sign Federal Student Aid documents. If you do not already have an FSA ID, you may create one at studentaid.gov. Each person who requests an FSA ID must have their own email address. Students and parents (contributors) cannot use the same email address to create separate FSA ID's.

Students and their FAFSA contributors will need to create an FSA ID. Starting with the 2024–25 FAFSA form, a contributor refers to anyone (you, your spouse, your biological or adoptive parent, or your parent's spouse) who's required to provide information on the FAFSA form.

FAFSA Submission Summary: The federal processor will analyze the information you provided on the FAFSA, using a federally mandated formula. They will calculate your Student Aid Index (SAI) which is used to determine your eligibility for financial aid. If you included FGCU among the colleges that you reported on the FAFSA, we will receive an electronic record of your application information directly from the federal processor.
Step 2: Complete your Financial Aid file
Toggle More Info
Outstanding Documents: the “My Requirements” section of Gulfline will contain items you may need to complete/submit for the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships to finalize your financial aid package.

To review outstanding financial aid requirements:
- Log in to Gulfline
- Select the Financial Aid tab
- Click on My Requirements
- Select the correct aid year
- Click on each requirement for detailed instructions
FAFSA Verification - the Department of Education selects students to submit additional documents in order to determine eligibility for aid, this process is commonly called verification. Students who have been selected for verification will receive an email to their Eagle email account which contains a link to their online verification portal. The verification process must be completed in order for a student to receive any federal or state aid and need based institutional aid.
Step 3: Review your Financial Aid Offer
Toggle More Info
Financial Aid award letter are created for those students that:
- Have a complete financial aid file
- Have met eligibility requirements (you must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress) and have submitted all required additional documentation.
Newly Admitted Students - we will begin to send newly admitted students financial aid award letters in early spring. This gives you time to review your awards and make your Admissions deposit before the May 1st deadline.

Continuing students will be packaged after spring grades have been posted and reviewed. Students generally receive their award letters in late May or early June for the upcoming academic year. All notifications will be sent to your Eagle email, so be sure to check that account regularly.