Steps to Financial Aid

The 2024-25 FAFSA is currently available to complete.

Due to the delayed release of the new FAFSA, Sandhills will not be able to process 2024-25 FAFSA's until mid-May. 

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is how the Financial Aid Office can determine your eligibility for financial aid.

A new FAFSA is required each academic year. An academic year runs from fall-summer.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA is for Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024.

To complete the FAFSA, you will need:

  • Your FSA username and password
  • Your parent’s FSA username and password (only for students under 24)
  • Your 2021 taxes for the 2023-2024 FAFSA
  • Your parents 2021 taxes for the 2023-2024 FAFSA (only for students under 24)

To complete the FAFSA, please go to the FSA website.

Click here for information about completing the FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is how the Financial Aid Office can determine your eligibility for financial aid.

A new FAFSA is required each academic year. An academic year runs from fall-summer.

The 2024-2025 FAFSA is for Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025.

6 Things Students Need Before They Fill Out the 2024-25 FAFSA:

  1. Your Studentaid.gov Account
    • You’ll need to create a StudentAid.gov account to access and fill out the 2024–25 FAFSA form.
    • Your contributors will each need their own StudentAid.gov account too. “Contributor” is a new term on the 2024–25 FAFSA form—it refers to anyone (you, your spouse, your biological or adoptive parent, or your parent’s spouse) required to provide information on your FAFSA form.
    • As a student, you’ll be required to enter your Social Security number (SSN) to create a StudentAid.gov account unless you’re a citizen of the Freely Associated States. However, beginning with the 2024–25 FAFSA form, your contributors who don’t have an SSN can create a StudentAid.gov account to complete their section of your FAFSA form.
  2. Your Contributor Information
    • When you fill out the FAFSA form, you’ll answer questions that will determine who needs to be a contributor on your form. However, you may be able to identify your contributors now to get a head start on collecting the information you’ll need to invite them to your form.
    • To invite contributors to your FAFSA form, you’ll be asked to provide their first and last name, SSN (if they have one), date of birth, and email address.
  3. Your 2022 Federal Income Tax Return
    • Beginning on the 2024–25 FAFSA form, you and your contributors must provide consent and approval to have your federal tax information transferred directly from the IRS into your FAFSA form.
    • Providing consent and approval is mandatory, even if you or your contributors don’t have an SSN, didn’t file a tax return, or filed a tax return outside the U.S.
    • You and your contributors should have your tax returns on hand when you fill out the FAFSA form. Even though your tax information will be transferred directly into the FAFSA form, you may still need your tax records to answer certain questions.
  4. Records of your Untaxed Income
    • You and your contributors may need to answer FAFSA questions about untaxed income, such as child support and interest income.
  5. Record of Assets
    • The FAFSA form will ask you and your contributors questions about your assets, so make sure you have records of your savings and checking account balances, as well as the value of any investments, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate (excluding your primary residence). Report the current amounts of your assets as of the date you sign the FAFSA form, rather than reporting the 2022 tax year amounts.
  6.  List of Schools You're Interested in Attending
    • Be sure to add any colleges, career schools, or trade schools you’re considering, even if you haven’t applied or been accepted yet. You can list up to 20 schools on the online 2024–25 FAFSA form.
    • Even if there’s only a slight chance you’ll apply to a school, list it on your FAFSA form. You can always remove a school later if you decide not to apply, but if you wait to add a school, you could miss out on financial aid.
    • After your FAFSA form is processed, the schools you list on the form will receive your FAFSA results electronically. They’ll use your FAFSA information to determine the types and amounts of financial aid you may receive. We’ll send an email to let you know when your information has been shared with your schools.

To complete the FAFSA, please go to the FSA website.

Click here for information about completing the FAFSA

Once you have completed the FAFSA, you will want to complete your admissions application if you have not already and choose an approved program of study. You will complete your application through CFNC.

The Financial Aid Office requires an official copy of your high school transcript be on file with Registrar's Office before you can be awarded financial aid. If you have attended other institutions before coming to Sandhills, those transcripts need to be sent to Registrar's Office for evaluation. Transcripts can be sent through diploma sender, mailed to 3395 Airport Rd, Pinehurst, NC 28374, or officially emailed to transcripts@sandhills.edu.

The College begins awarding mid-May for the impending academic year. Prior to awarding, all required documentation must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office. Offer letters will be posted in Self Service within two weeks of receipt of documentation.

Need Help Completing the FAFSA?

Our office is here to help with any questions or concerns about the FAFSA. If you need assistance completing the FAFSA, please come during our walk-in hours. Days and times are subject to change.

Tuesday: 9-11 AM
Wednesday: 1-3 PM
  • School code: 002961
  • FAFSA Results: The College will receive FAFSA results from the Department of Education within 3-5 business days.
  • Verification: If selected for verification, you will be notified of required documentation by email.