Cornerstone UniversityFAFSA Tips

1. Gather the following required documents for both students and parents (if undergraduate on-campus student):
   • Social security numbers.
   • Driver’s license numbers.
   • Federal tax documents and W-2 forms.
   • Information for untaxed income as requested.
   • Asset information.
2. Create a Federal Student Aid ID. You must save this ID for all future FAFSA applications.
3. Complete your FAFSA. Cornerstone’s FAFSA code is 002266.

Begin Your FAFSA

For priority consideration, complete the FAFSA by March 1. Use completed federal tax documents if possible when completing the FAFSA, keeping copies of all tax and income information for future reference.

• Answer questions as instructed. Failure to answer items accurately will cause delays and may result in exclusion from consideration for specific aid programs.
• Cornerstone’s Federal School Code is 002266.
• Indicate your gender. FAFSA can’t determine your gender based on your name.
• Do not leave question 23 blank. Enter “no” if you have never been convicted of an illegal drug offense.
• For question 26, indicate whether you graduated from either high school, home school or received a GED. If you select “None of the Above,” you will be required to provide additional information to your school.
• Use the IRS data retrieval option. You can elect to retrieve your tax information from the IRS. Allow about two weeks after you file your return for the information to be available. If you elect not to use the IRS data match, determine the type of tax form you filed (1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) and refer to line numbers as directed in the instructions.
• Print a copy of the FAFSA for your records prior to submission. If you do not receive a “Submission Confirmation,” the FAFSA has not been submitted and no school will receive your information.
• Submit the FAFSA by March 1 for priority consideration of state of Michigan aid programs during the fall semester. Forms submitted after March 1 will still be considered for federal and institutional aid. The final deadline for filing your FAFSA is June 30 or your last day of enrollment, whichever is earlier.

Estimate My Aid

The below resources are available to help you through the FAFA submission process.

Vocabulary to Know

FAFSA Facts and Fiction

FAFSA Checklist

Six Items and 22 Minutes: All You Need to Fill Out the FAFSA

Job Loss and the FAFSA