This is the amount that the federal government has determined that you and your family can contribute to your education throughout the year. This amount is not due at one specific time and can pay your educational costs in a variety of ways, including payments from family income and/or assets, through some types of educational loans, or by taking a part-time job.

If you have an extremely adverse circumstance that prevents you from receiving assistance from your parents, you should contact your campus financial aid office. However, you should note that your parents' unwillingness to provide their financial information or to pay their expected contribution is usually not accepted as a reason to ignore your parents' resources.

If your family's financial circumstances change, contact the campus financial aid office to determine if this affects your financial aid eligibility. The campus financial aid office may request additional documentation to verify the change in circumstances.

Yes. Financial aid is intended both to remove financial barriers for families who cannot afford the cost of an education beyond high school, and to fill the gap for families who can afford only part of the cost.

If your family's financial situation changes significantly, contact the financial aid office to discuss how this may affect your financial aid eligibility.

If you don't meet one of the federal criteria to be an independent student, you will have to supply your parents' information on the financial aid application. If extremely adverse family circumstances prevent you from supplying your parents' information, contact the financial aid office to discuss your situation. Read the FAFSA instructions to help guide you.

Yes. Loans are available for both parents and students. Parents may borrow for their undergraduate students through the PLUS loan program, and there are numerous borrowing options available to students. However, the total amount borrowed (by you and your parents) cannot exceed the cost of your education.

The information on your Student Aid Report is from the initial data you submitted on your FAFSA. Sometimes the information is based on estimated income and the financial aid office has since updated the data according to documents you have submitted to them. Sometimes there is a data-entry error on your FAFSA that has since been corrected. These updates usually are what caused the expected contribution to change. The expected family contribution that is given by the university is the one that is used to determine your financial aid eligibility.

Specific information on how to borrow should be included in your child's financial aid award letter. Your child should receive information that specifically identifies how to apply for the loans, what forms you will need to fill out, and the terms of the loan. Questions should be addressed to your college's financial aid office.

Yes, there are many options. The campus financial aid office will first determine your child's eligibility for grants, student employment and then loans. If offered a loan, you may decline all or part of it. Your child also may consider a part-time job to help meet expenses, if student employment wasn't included in a financial aid award. It is wise to review your child's expenses to determine those areas in which costs can be reduced. Also, high grades increase a student's eligibility for scholarships. Parents also can take out a PLUS loan and, if available, utilize other financial resources.

No. Actually, those families that have saved for college may not have to borrow as much in student and/or parent loans.

Although parents' savings and investments are taken into consideration when determining how much aid a student may be eligible for, only a small percentage of the parents' assets are used in the calculation. However, more of a contribution may be expected from the student's savings and investments because the student is the direct beneficiary of the college education.

If you don't meet one of the federal criteria to be an independent student, you will have to supply your parents' information on the financial aid application. If extremely adverse family circumstances prevent you from supplying your parents' information, contact the financial aid office to discuss your situation. Read the FAFSA instructions to help guide you.

Parent information is required for all students who don't meet the federal criteria to be an independent student. However, in extremely adverse circumstances, personnel in the financial aid office may be able to provide assistance. Contact the financial aid office to discuss your situation. Read the FAFSA instructions to help guide you.

Do your parents speak or read Spanish? The FAFSA is available in Spanish; ask for a copy at the financial aid office or call 800-4-FED-AID to receive a copy. If your parents only speak and read another language, you will have to translate the questions for them. Check with the financial aid office at a local college; they may know of someone to help you.

Yes! If your parents are low income you can get significant financial aid including free government assistance! It's the whole purpose of the FAFSA — to show that your parents do not have enough money to put you through college. Please help them fill out the form so you can get the help you deserve.

First, fill out all your own information and sign the form. Then, if your parents have access to the internet, send them the paper form with your information and have them go to www.fafsa.ed.gov. They can enter your information and their own and apply on line. If they do not have Internet access, send them the paper form, have them complete their portion and send it to the government. If the deadline is near, send it by express mail!

Federal and state financial aid rules do not recognize emancipated minor status. Ask your parents to fill out the form. If it might be dangerous or harmful for you to contact your parents, seek advice at the financial aid office of the college you are most likely to attend.

First, you can help yourself! Read each question and the instructions for that question and you and your parents can fill out most of the form. You may also call 800-4-FED-AID for additional help. Your local high school may put on a workshop to assist with the form. If you are stumped by a particular question, call a financial aid office.