Chaminade University of Honolulu

Office of Financial Aid

Filing the FAFSA

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All students—whether you’re starting college, an undergraduate or graduate student, or are currently enrolled—should complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Be sure to include Chaminade University’s school code: 001605.

FAFSA helps you get federal grants, loans, work-study opportunities, as well as outside scholarships—it’s your biggest funding to help you pay for college.

Prepare to File Your FAFSA

Completing the FAFSA will establish your eligibility for financial aid and institutional scholarships. Even if you think you may not qualify, it is a good idea to file. FAFSA should be filed each year.

Note: FAFSA is free; there is no cost associated with filing. If you are on a website that charges for filing the FAFSA, do not pay. Be sure to file only on the FAFSA website.

What you’ll need to complete the FAFSA

The FAFSA asks for a record of all income and savings for students and their families. Dependent students must include their parents’ information. When completing your FAFSA, you must have:

  • Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID)–You and one parent will each need an FSA ID, which serves as an electronic signature. Your FSA ID will be used each year you file a FAFSA. You may apply at https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch
  • Chaminade University school code: 001605
  • Social Security number and your parents’ numbers (if you are a dependent student)
  • Federal income tax information. We recommend all eligible students/parents use the IRS Direct Data Exchange. Dependent students must provide their parents’ tax information
  • Current bank statements (checking & savings)
  • Information pertaining to the value of any owned businesses and investments
  • Information pertaining to the value of non-taxable income that is not reported on the tax return, e.g. social security benefits, etc.

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) allows students and parents who filed a U.S. tax return with the IRS to access the IRS tax return information needed to complete the FAFSA form and to transfer the data directly into their FAFSA form.

You can use the Federal Student Aid Estimator before filling out your FAFSA to see how much federal aid you could receive and explore your options for paying for college.

Important Dates

The first day to file a FAFSA is October 1. You should try to complete and submit your FAFSA for the coming school year by April 1.

You may complete a FAFSA after the recommended filing date, but filing by April 1st allows you the best opportunity to receive funds that may be limited.

Reminder: returning students must complete a FAFSA every year.

After Filing Your FAFSA

After filing your FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will process your form based on your method of submission:

  • Electronic Submission: processed within 1–3 days
  • Paper Forms Submission: processed within 7–10 days

When your FAFSA is processed, the information will automatically be sent to the colleges you listed.

Follow the steps below to ensure you receive all the aid you’re eligible for. Have questions? We’re happy to help! Reach out to a Financial Aid Counselor at [email protected] or (808) 735-4780.

Check Your FAFSA

After your FAFSA is processed, check your email for any messages regarding your FAFSA. You can also log into StudentAid.gov to review your FAFSA Submission Summary to make sure all the information is complete and correct. If you have any missing or incorrect information, be sure to complete or correct your FAFSA as soon as possible.

It may take about 1–2 weeks for Chaminade to receive your FAFSA report. Once we have it, we’ll start putting together your personalized financial aid package (after March 1).