How to Apply

1. Create Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) at www.studentaid.gov.  Be sure that your name, SSN and date of birth are correct!!
   Here is a helpful FSA ID video from Federal Student Aid.
2. Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at www.studentaid.gov   A FAFSA needs to be completed each year you are in college. This application is free and is the first step in the process of applying for federal and state aid. The CLC financial aid academic year is Fall through Summer.
   Central Lakes College (CLC) federal school code is 002339 for both campuses.
   The FAFSA is available in alternative formats and languages. You may find alternative formats online at Financial Aid Toolkit. Click on “SEARCH TOOLS AND RESOURCES”.   From the next page, select your parameters and then click on “GET RESOURCES”.
3. IRS Data Retrieval Tool is now available for FAFSA.  It allows many students and/or parents to electronically upload tax return data from the IRS directly into the FAFSA.  This is a safe, secure and accurate way to insure the correct tax data is used.
   This video will offer a FAFSA overview from Federal Student Aid.
4. FAFSA processing time at the Department of Education (DoED) depends on how you apply:
   – A FAFSA on the web using an FSA ID, as fast as 3 days.
   – A paper FAFSA up to 6 weeks.
   “What Happens Next” video will give general information about processing after the FAFSA is submitted.
5. The DoED notifies you when your FAFSA has been processed. Your FAFSA is also sent to CLC. If corrections are needed, we recommend that you contact the Financial Aid Office.
6. CLC may be required by the DoED to verify your FAFSA information.  To inform you of verification the Financial Aid Office will use email (check your junk mail) directing you to your E-Services. Click on “Financial Aid” to view your “Aid Application Status” in Next Step(s).  Note: If you have not used your E-Services account you will have to work through the process of signing up for a StarID and password to view the “Aid Application Status”.
7. Students with a complete financial aid application on file by June 1^streceive priority consideration for campus based aid such as Federal SEOG and work study.  Files are reviewed on a first-come, first served basis. Students must be accepted for admission into an aid eligible program and be enrolled at CLC to be eligible for financial aid.
8. Separate or additional applications are needed for:
   – Loans for student and/or parent. For additional information see “Student Loans” on the left-hand menu.
   – Alliss Grant – Applications are available at the Campus Welcome Center.

Current and former foster youth seeking additional financial and supportive services may be eligible for CLC’s Connecting to Success Program

Summer Financial Aid
Summer semester is considered a trailer to the preceding financial aid year. For example for Summer Semester 2023, be sure to have the 2022-23FAFSA completed. The first run of summer aid award notifications will happen around mid-April and will be available for viewing in your E-Services.  If you have been enrolled both fall and spring semesters at full-time, you may have very little or no aid eligibility remaining for summer.

Summer process 1-2-3 Easy
1. Be sure to have a complete financial aid file for the current school year. If you have not done a FAFSA for the current year start with “How to Apply” step 1 above. If you received any grants, loans or work study for fall and/or spring semester you already have a complete financial aid file.
2. Register for summer classes. Registration for summer classes may begin as early as October. A Summer Award notification can’t be processed until you have registered for summer classes.
3. If you register for summer classes after mid-April, a Summer Award notification will be packaged and available on your E-Services for viewing within two weeks of your summer registration. Below is an explanation of how summer aid is awarded.

Grants
Eligibility for summer session grants will be based on any remaining eligibility after fall and/or spring semester.

If you are transferring from another college, the financial aid you received there will also be taken into account in determining summer eligibility.

Full-time enrollment for summer is the same as fall and spring semesters.
– Federal programs-12 credits or more
– Minnesota State Grant (MSG) and Post-Secondary Child Care grant-15 credits or more.

Loans
Summer award notifications will indicate your loan eligibility. Be sure to read all information as you review your award notification. Log into your E-Services or refer to the “Student Loans” web page to begin the process of applying for loans.  Summer enrollment of at least 6 credits is required to be eligible for loans.

If there is not any loan eligibility on your award notification review “Other Loan Options” on the “Student Loans” web page.

Work Study
Student employment for the summer is also available.
– Complete the “and are interested…” link on the “Work Study” web page.
– Complete upcoming years FAFSA by June 1st with an indication of interest in work study.
– Eligibility will be based on the upcoming year’s financial aid file.

The Financial Aid Office can’t guarantee that you will earn the full amount of your summer work award.

A student need not be registered for summer term credits, but must be registered for at least 6 credits in the fall term. Be aware summer work study awards may adversely affect fall work study and/or loan eligibility awards.

Confidentiality of Financial Records
The General Education Provision of the Act of 1974, as amended by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, provides for privacy safeguards for students and families by setting up guidelines for the disclosure of education records and personally identifiable information. The law provides that financial assistance records of a student may be inspected by that student only.