Need Financial Aid FAFSA® Help?

We Are Here to Help!

Furthering your education is both a commitment and an investment. We understand that funding this investment can feel overwhelming, which is why Stanbridge University has a Financial Aid team that will walk you through your options and help you decide on the best financial aid package.

Financial Aid Process Completion Deadline: 14 days from acceptance (if eligible), or from date of first Financial Aid meeting, whichever comes later.

Learn about the FAFSA

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the application used to determine your eligibility for federal financial aid, including grants, student loans, and work-study. Schools and states may also use your FAFSA to award additional aid.

FAFSA Application Deadline: 3 days before your first Financial Aid meeting

Visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa to apply. Please add the following school code for Stanbridge University.

FAFSA Application School Code: 038893

For step-by-step guides, FAQs, parent information, and other resources, please scroll down and learn more.

Set Up Your FSA ID

If you haven’t already, visit www.studentaid.gov to create your FSA ID. This is required in order to complete and submit a FAFSA.

Complete All FAFSA Applications

Please complete the FAFSA at least three days before your first Financial Aid meeting. Visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa to apply. Please add the following school code for Stanbridge University.

FAFSA Application School Code: 038893

Who to Invite

Whether you are an independent or dependent student, invite your parents or loved ones to your meeting to help support you. Learn more about parents and contributors for the FAFSA application below.

What to Bring

Have the last two years of your taxes and W2's available. If you're married, please have your spouse's information available as well. For dependent students, have your parent's taxes and W2's available.

Your first Financial Aid meeting will be approximately 1 hour long. Your Admissions Representative will email you the Zoom meeting ID and password. Log into the Zoom meeting at the scheduled time and have access to a computer readily available, as you may need to complete online forms.

Financial Aid General Information

Federal Financial Aid Programs

Stanbridge University has the following federal financial aid programs available to those who qualify.

Federal Pell Grants
Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
Federal Direct Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

Read more about these options in the Stanbridge University Catalog.

Cal Grants

Stanbridge University also participates in Cal Grants. Cal Grants are awarded to those who qualify by the California Student Aid Commission. Read more about these options in the Stanbridge University Catalog.

Private Education Loans

Stanbridge University has partnered with various lending institutions that offer private loans to those who qualify. FASTChoice provides you with information about private loan options. Please visit their website to help you determine which is best for you. Learn more here.

Scholarships

All students have opportunities to apply for scholarships to support their educational investment. Learn more about scholarships offered by Stanbridge University and others here.

Need More FAFSA Support?

Check out the FAQ, videos, and article resources below for additional guidance on how to get started with your FAFSA.

Federal Student Aid

Preparing for the FAFSA Form
Federal Student Aid

Understand and Prepare FAFSA Form Contributors
Federal Student Aid

Create Your StudentAid.gov Account To Access the FAFSA® Form
Federal Student Aid

Gather Information Required To Complete the FAFSA® Form

Additional Resources

Article: Steps for Students Filling Out the FAFSA Form

FAFSA: Getting Started

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the application used to determine your eligibility for federal financial aid, including grants, student loans, and work-study. Schools and states may also use your FAFSA to award additional aid.
Yes, completing and submitting the FAFSA is completely free. You should never pay to file it.
Even if you’re unsure about taking loans, submitting the FAFSA:
- Determines eligibility for grants and low-interest federal loans
- May qualify you for state and school-based aid

You and your contributor (ex: parent, stepparent, spouse, if required) will need:
- A StudentAid.gov (FSA ID) account
- Basic personal information
- Access to 2-years-prior tax information (automatically transferred with consent)
Most students complete the FAFSA in 20–30 minutes, especially if they have their information ready.
Please submit your FAFSA at least 3 days before your financial aid appointment. This gives us time to review your information ahead of time and go over your Funding Estimate with you during your appointment.

Parents & Contributors

A contributor is anyone required to provide information on your FAFSA. This may include:
- You (the student)
- Your parent(s) or stepparent(s)
- Your spouse (if applicable)
Contributors must provide consent and sign their section, but this does not mean they are financially responsible for your education.
Yes. If you’re required to include parent information, each parent (or contributor) must create their own FSA ID to access and sign their portion.
You’ll enter their email in the FAFSA. They’ll receive:
- An email invitation
- A link and code to access their section
Yes. Your FAFSA is not complete until all required contributors sign.
FAFSA dependency is based on federal rules, not age or living situation.
You are typically considered independent at age 24, unless you meet specific criteria (such as being married, a veteran, or having dependents).
If you’re under 24 and don’t meet those criteria, you’re likely considered a dependent student and must include parent or stepparent information.

You’re not alone—this process can feel complicated.
Here’s the simplest way to explain it to them:
- The FAFSA is just an application for financial aid
- It does not require them to pay
- It helps determine how much aid you qualify for
If needed, your financial aid office can help walk both you and your parents through it.
No. This is a common concern.
Providing information on the FAFSA does NOT obligate your parent to pay and is only used to calculate your eligibility for aid.
Federal regulations require a parent or stepparent's information (for dependent students) to determine your financial need fairly across all applicants.
Even if your parent or stepparent doesn’t plan to help pay, their information is still required unless you qualify for special circumstances.
If you can't contact your parents, you may be able to submit the FAFSA without parent information and work with your school for a dependency override review.
You can still submit your FAFSA, but your aid will be limited to Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans only.
You would not qualify for grants or most other aid without parent information.

FAFSA Details & Next Steps

Yes. All contributors must consent to have tax data transferred from the IRS—even if they didn’t file taxes.
Without consent, you will not be eligible for federal aid.
The FAFSA uses prior-prior year tax information (for example, a 2026–27 FAFSA uses 2024 tax data).
You may also be asked about:
- Income
- Assets (cash, savings, investments, etc.)
If your current situation is different from your tax year (job loss, reduced income, etc.), please submit the FAFSA as-is and contact the Financial Aid Office. They may be able to review your situation and adjust your aid.
You’ll receive a FAFSA Submission Summary by email.

Yes. You must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen to receive federal aid.
You may still qualify for federal student loans.
However, you are typically not eligible for Pell Grants if you already earned a bachelor’s degree.
Yes. If you need additional funding beyond federal aid, options may include:
- Private student loans (credit-based)
- Scholarships and grants
You can visit the FAFSA Help Center at StudentAid.gov.

Need Financial Aid FAFSA® Help?

We Are Here to Help!

Learn about the FAFSA

Set Up Your FSA ID

Complete All FAFSA Applications

Who to Invite

What to Bring

Financial Aid General Information

Federal Financial Aid Programs

Cal Grants

Private Education Loans

Scholarships

Need More FAFSA Support?

Federal Student Aid

Preparing for the FAFSA Form

Federal Student Aid

Understand and Prepare FAFSA Form Contributors

Federal Student Aid

Create Your StudentAid.gov Account To Access the FAFSA® Form

Federal Student Aid

Gather Information Required To Complete the FAFSA® Form

Additional Resources

FAFSA: Getting Started

Parents & Contributors

FAFSA Details & Next Steps