Applying for Financial Aid

Paying for college starts with one free form.

It all begins with the FAFSA, and you won’t do it alone. Our Financial Aid team will walk with you through every step, from your first question to your award letter.

File the FAFSA → Find your question
Allen’s Federal School Code 003417

Add this code to your FAFSA so your information is sent to Allen.

  • October 1The new FAFSA opens each year. File as soon as you can.
  • April 15Allen’s priority date. Aid is awarded in order of completion and need.
  • June 30FAFSA must be filed by this date for the SC Tuition Grant.
Start With Your Question

You don’t have to figure this out alone.

These are the questions families ask us most. If yours isn’t here, call us. There’s no such thing as a silly question about paying for college.

Do I really need to file the FAFSA?

Yes. The FAFSA is how Allen determines your eligibility for federal grants, work-study, and loans, and it’s required for the SC Tuition Grant and Allen’s institutional scholarships. Filing is free at StudentAid.gov.

When should I file?

As soon as you can. The new FAFSA opens each year by October 1, and Allen’s priority date is April 15. Aid is awarded in order of completion date and financial need, so earlier is better.

Can I file before I’m accepted to Allen?

Yes, and we encourage it. You can complete the FAFSA and your admission application in any order. We can process your financial aid once you’ve received your acceptance packet.

Do I need this year’s taxes to file?

No. The FAFSA uses tax information from two years before the school year, so your taxes are usually already filed. With your consent, the FAFSA pulls that information directly from the IRS.

Will my parents have to pay for college if they fill out the FAFSA?

No. A parent who provides information on your FAFSA is called a contributor. Being a contributor does not make them financially responsible for your education.

My parent doesn’t have a Social Security number. Can I still apply?

Yes. A contributor without a Social Security number can still create a StudentAid.gov account and complete their part of the FAFSA. They still need to provide consent.

My family’s finances changed. What should I do?

Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid. If your family’s situation is different from what your FAFSA shows, tell us so we can talk through your options.

I was selected for verification. Did I do something wrong?

No. Verification is a routine review. We’ll tell you exactly which documents we need. Send them quickly so we can finalize your aid.

When will I find out what aid I’m getting?

After we receive your FAFSA and you’re accepted, we’ll process your award, email your award letter, and post your information in the Financial Aid Portal.

What’s the difference between a grant and a loan?

Grants and scholarships are free money you don’t repay. Work-study is money you earn at a campus job. Loans must be repaid, with interest.

How much will Allen actually cost my family?

Start with the Net Price Calculator for a personalized estimate, then compare it with the cost of attendance. Your award letter will show your actual aid.

Do I have to do this again next year?

Yes. File a new FAFSA each year you’re enrolled, and keep meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress and any scholarship renewal requirements.

How to Apply

Six steps from application to aid.

You can apply for admission and file the FAFSA at the same time. Doing both early gives you the most options.

  1. Apply to Allen

    Complete your admission application and send the requested documents. You must be accepted before we can process your aid.

    Apply now →

  2. Create your StudentAid.gov account

    The student and each contributor (such as a parent) need their own account. It works as your electronic signature.

    Create an account →

  3. File the FAFSA

    List Allen’s school code, 003417. You and every contributor must give consent to share federal tax information.

    Start the FAFSA →

  4. Watch your email and portal

    After we receive your FAFSA, you’ll get access to the Financial Aid Portal. Send any requested documents quickly.

    MyAllen portal →

  5. Review your award

    We’ll email your award letter. Look at what’s free money (grants and scholarships) and what must be repaid (loans).

    Types of aid →

  6. Finish before registration

    Tuition and fees are due at registration each semester. Have your aid arranged with our office before then.

    Payment options →

Renew every year. The FAFSA isn’t one-and-done. File a new one each year you’re enrolled to keep your aid.

Watch the FAFSA tutorial →
Before You File

Gather these, and the FAFSA goes fast.

What you’ll need

  • A StudentAid.gov account for the student and each contributor
  • Social Security numbers, if you have them
  • Federal tax information from two years before the school year (the FAFSA pulls most of it directly from the IRS)
  • Records of untaxed income, if any
  • Current balances of cash, savings, and investments
  • Allen’s Federal School Code: 003417

Words that trip families up

Contributor
Anyone asked to provide information on the FAFSA, such as a parent or spouse. Being a contributor does not make someone responsible for paying for college.
Consent
The student and every contributor must agree to share federal tax information, even if they didn’t file taxes. Without consent, eligibility for federal aid can’t be calculated.
Student Aid Index (SAI)
A number from your FAFSA that schools use to determine your aid. Cost of attendance minus SAI equals your financial need.
Types of Aid

Know what’s free, earned, or borrowed.

Your award letter may include several kinds of aid. Here’s what each one means.

See all grants & scholarships →
  • Free money

    Grants

    Need-based aid you don’t repay: the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and the South Carolina Tuition Grant for eligible SC residents.

  • Free money

    Scholarships

    Awards for academics, athletics, music, and the performing arts, plus South Carolina’s LIFE, HOPE, and Palmetto Fellows scholarships and UNCF scholarships.

  • Earn as you learn

    Federal Work-Study

    Part-time campus jobs for students with financial need, paid monthly to help with living expenses. Students must have a 2.0 GPA and be in good academic standing.

  • Must be repaid

    Federal loans

    Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans for students, and Parent PLUS Loans for parents of dependent students. Borrow only what you need.

If you borrow a federal loan

  • Complete Entrance Counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note at StudentAid.gov.
  • Since July 1, 2026, new Parent PLUS borrowing is limited to $20,000 per year and $65,000 total per dependent student.
  • Federal loans you receive are reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and can be viewed by authorized agencies, lenders, and schools.

Thinking about a private loan?

Talk with us first. You may qualify for federal grants, work-study, and loans under Title IV, and the terms of federal loans may be more favorable than those of private loans.

Track every federal loan you’ve borrowed at StudentAid.gov.

Verification

Selected for verification? Don’t worry.

The U.S. Department of Education or Allen’s Office of Student Financial Aid may select your FAFSA for review. It’s a routine check that the information on your FAFSA is accurate.

What happens

  • We’ll notify you and tell you exactly which documents we need.
  • We compare your FAFSA with your documents and make any corrections for you.
  • Your aid can’t be finalized until verification is complete, so respond quickly.

Where to find verification forms

  • Financial Aid Portal (My Documents)
  • MyAllen portal, under Financial Aid
  • Office of Student Financial Aid, Campus Mall
Keep Your Aid

Protect your aid every semester.

  • File the FAFSA every year you’re enrolled.
  • Make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Federal aid requires you to meet GPA and course-completion standards. If you fall short, you can follow the steps to regain eligibility.
  • Stay full time if your aid requires it. The SC Tuition Grant requires 12 hours each semester.
  • Talk to us before you drop or withdraw. Withdrawing can mean returning part of your federal aid.
  • Meet scholarship renewal rules, such as a minimum GPA.

SAP standards, withdrawal rules, and refund policies are in the Academic Catalog.

We’re Here to Help

Questions? Talk to a real person.

The Office of Student Financial Aid is in the Campus Mall, open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Consumer information

Paper copies of this information are available on request from the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Your Allen education is within reach.

Apply to Allen, file your FAFSA with code 003417, and we’ll take it from there together.

File the FAFSA → Apply to Allen