Financial Aid Application Tips

Navigating finances, FAFSA, loans, and scams can seem daunting. Here are some tips to make the process easier and more understandable.

General Financial Aid Tips


Complete Forms by the Deadline

Getting all of the financial information organized to complete the FAFSA & CSS Profile can be daunting. Don’t make it worse by having to organize twice. Plan ahead, and block out some time to focus on the FAFSA and CSS Profile to complete them together, if possible.


Have Tax Information Handy

Both FAFSA and CSS Profile will require the tax information from two years ago. Have this tax information nearby when completing the financial aid applications. You may need to reference it more than once.



CSS Profile Tips

Syracuse University requires undergraduate students interested in applying for any Syracuse University Grant funding to file the CSS Profile. Students are only required to complete the CSS Profile once during their undergraduate career (generally in their first year). Use the guide below to assist you when filing your CSS Profile.


FAFSA Tips

Syracuse University requires all students interested in applying for federal financial aid to file the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually. To avoid common mistakes, check out the following resources.


Warnings about Financial Aid Consultants and Scholarship Scams

How to Avoid Scholarship and Financial Aid Scams  (FTC)


Special Circumstances

Sometimes special circumstances can impact a student’s financial aid situation, including certain living arrangements or family situations that may change during your time at Syracuse University. This may result in the need to clarify your situation with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs. Read more about Special Circumstances.