How to Apply for Financial Aid

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The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is Guilford College’s official application for need-based financial aid including federal grants, low-interest loans, and federal work-study opportunities. (Information from your admission application is used to award merit-based aid.)

Every student is encouraged to complete the FAFSA because Guilford also uses it to award additional grants and work-study. Please note the following:

Guilford’s Federal School Code is 002931.
The FAFSA is available every year beginning Oct. 1. You can save time by using the data-retrieval tool to transfer tax information directly from the IRS. Check out this video content from the U.S. Department of Education — How to Fill Out the FAFSA.
Guilford’s priority date for filing the FAFSA is Feb. 15, 2020, but you should apply early to improve your chances for getting the maximum federal aid for which you are eligible.

Guilford’s financial aid counselors are eager to help. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 336.316.2354.

Contact the Financial Aid Team

Students are assigned to counselors by the first letter of their last name. You can also visit the Financial Aid Office in the lower level of New Garden Hall, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call 336.316.2354 to make an appointment.

Your Financial Aid Checklist

Do you need help paying for college but aren't sure where to start? Check out the Financial Aid Checklist, which gives you step by step instructions on how to apply for financial aid.

Filing Your FAFSA

The 2020-21 FAFSA Opens October 1

Students apply for aid by submitting their FAFSA each year. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2020-21 academic year opens Oct. 1 at fafsa.gov. The aid application process is annual, and students must reapply for financial aid each year. Students should submit the 2020-21 FAFSA if they will be enrolled for the fall 2020 and/or spring 2021 semesters. Guilford's School Code is 002931.

Applying for Aid

Guilford College has a priority FAFSA filing deadline of Feb. 15, 2020. However, due to the high number of FAFSA applications received, grant funding is awarded on a first come, first served basis; therefore, it is important to submit the FAFSA and any other requested information as soon as possible. Students may be required to submit information in addition to the FAFSA. This additional documentation, if required, must be submitted in order to be considered for financial aid. The FAFSA and additional documents should be submitted as early as possible in order to optimize aid eligibility.

Tax Data

The 2020-21 FAFSA requires 2018 tax and income data. The most reliable way to complete the FAFSA with accurate tax information is by using the online IRS Data Retrieval Tool within the FAFSA application. As an added security measure, when linking to the IRS website from the FAFSA website, applicants will not be able to see the tax data on the DRT web page, nor will it be visible on the FAFSA website when transferred into the FAFSA form.

New This Year

The FAFSA website has been redesigned and a mobile app has been developed. Starting October 1, students and parents can download the myStudentAid mobile app from the Apple App Store or from Google Play. These two improvements should make it easier to complete the FAFSA.

Guilford’s Financial Aid counselors are eager to help. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 336.316.2354 or financialaid@guilford.edu.

Additional Financial Aid Forms and Information

The following forms may be required in order for you to receive financial aid. The Office of Financial Aid will contact you directly if any of these forms are needed from you.