Step 1: File Your FAFSA

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) becomes available on October 1 for the following academic year. For the 2024-2025 academic year, the FAFSA will not be accessible until the end of December 2023. It is strongly recommended that you submit your FAFSA as early as possible, as early applicants are given priority consideration for certain state and federal grants, as well as work-study opportunities.

While students may apply for financial aid throughout the academic year, the following recommended dates and deadlines have been established to ensure timely processing of your aid. Applications and documents submitted after the recommended deadline will still be processed; however, your financial aid may be delayed, and you may incur late fees.

2024-2025 Recommended Dates and Deadlines:

Preparation is crucial when filing the FAFSA. Before you begin, you will need to gather some important information and set up a couple of accounts. The following documents and details are required:

• Your Social Security Number (SSN) and your contributor’s SSN (if you are under the age of 24).
• Your driver’s license or identification card, if applicable.
• Your Alien Registration Number, if you are not a U.S. citizen.
• Your W-2 forms for the 2022 tax year (for the 2024-2025 FAFSA).
• Your Federal Income Tax Return (Form 1040) from the 2022 tax year (for the 2024-2025 FAFSA).
• If you are under 24, you will also need to provide your contributor's Form 1040.
• Lane Community College’s School Code: 003196.

Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID

When applying for financial aid electronically, both you and your contributors (if you are a dependent student) must have an FSA ID. The FSA ID functions as an electronic signature for students and their contributors, and it is required to complete the FAFSA application. Registering and using the FSA ID helps expedite the application process. Additionally, the FSA ID serves as an identifier that allows students to access their personal information in U.S. Department of Education systems. To register for an FSA ID, please visit the Federal Student Aid website.

Lane Password

If you have been admitted and accepted to Lane as a credit student, you will need a Lane Password. An "L" number is assigned to you upon admission and our web-based student information system, known as myLane, will prompt you to choose a permanent Password. For further assistance regarding your Lane Password, please contact Enrollment Services.

According to the Department of Education, students are not considered independent until they are at least 24 years old. However, there are limited exceptions to this rule, and all require additional documentation. These exceptions include:

• Married before filing the FAFSA
• You have children or other dependents for whom you provide more than 50% of their support
• Since turning age 13, both of your parents have been deceased, you were in foster care, or you were a dependent or ward of the court
• Under legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence
• An emancipated minor before the age of 18
• A military veteran or currently serving on active duty
• A homeless youth

Please contact the financial aid office for assistance if accessing your parents’ information is a direct and serious threat to your safety or if you have other extenuating circumstances and are unable to get your parents’ information.

If your parent(s) refuse to fill out the FAFSA form, explain that your ability to receive aid is being harmed by their refusal to fill out this form. Assure them that providing parental information does not make them responsible for any loans you may borrow. If your parent(s) still refuses to provide FAFSA information, you may be eligible to receive a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan if certain criteria are met. To be considered, your parent must complete the Refusal to Provide Information and Support form. Be aware that you will still be considered a dependent student and therefore, not eligible for grants, work-study and/or subsidized loans.

You may apply for federal and state financial aid by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is available beginning October 1 each year for the upcoming academic year. For the 2024-2025 FAFSA application it will not be available until the end of December 2023. Typically, two application years are available and being processed at any given time, so please use care in completing the FAFSA for the correct academic year. 

Apply online

You can apply online. FAFSA on the Web is the quickest and easiest way to apply for aid. It immediately identifies potential errors and prompts you to make corrections. Lane has many computers around campus that have internet access if you are interested in applying electronically.

Complete a Paper FAFSA

The FAFSA is available for you to print and fill out manually or is screen-fillable. It must be mailed for processing to the address printed on the FAFSA application. If you do not have internet access, you can obtain a paper FAFSA application or file your FAFSA over the phone by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 800-4-FED-AID (800-433-3243).

FAFSA video

If you need more information on how to apply for the FAFSA, FSA Outreach has created a How to Apply video that is available in English with subtitles available in Spanish and other languages. To access subtitles, click the CC button above the share button. This will turn on English language subtitles but you may click on the gear icon next to the CC button. Then click subtitles/CC and auto translate.  From there you may select the desired language subtitles.

ORSAA Oregon Student Aid Application

The Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA) is an alternative to the FAFSA for undocumented Oregon students, including students who have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status or Temporary Protected Status (TPS). By filing the ORSAA, eligible undocumented and DACA students in Oregon can get help paying for college through grants, scholarships, and tuition reduction. If you need more information on how to apply for the ORSAA, OSAC has created a 5 steps to complete the ORSAA video that is available in Spanish. 

Financial Aid determines your budget based on the information you provided on the FAFSA. Your financial aid budget is based on the cost of attendance at Lane and any associated living expenses like rent and food. After your tuition and fees are paid, you may have financial aid money left over. This money can be used to pay your bills and cover your living expenses.

Here is an example of a three term student budget for the 2024-2025 academic year.

If you meet the following criteria, you may be eligible:

• Be a recent Oregon high school graduate or GED recipient
• Have a 2.0 cumulative high school GPA or higher; or a GED score of 145 or higher
• Enroll at least half-time at an Oregon community college within 6 months of high school graduation or GED completion
• Be an Oregon resident for at least 12 months prior to enrolling in community college

You’ll need to apply, submit your high school transcripts or GED scores, and complete the FAFSA or the state approved alternative, ORSAA.

Learn more about Oregon Promise