What is College Goal Sunday?
College Goal SundaySM workshops are for all students who plan to attend college during the next academic year. These workshops are designed for those who are low income or have no family history of attending college. However, any student who feels that he/she needs financial aid to attend college and who needs help applying for that aid is encouraged to attend one of the workshops to be held across the state. Also, if possible, please bring your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) with you.

When and where is College Goal Sunday?
College Goal SundaySM workshops are held on different dates and times depending on location. Go to the Locations page for specifics.

College Goal SundaySM usually lasts for two hours, during which you will complete the FAFSA, assisted by trained professionals. Students and parents should arrive on time in order to have plenty of time to receive information and complete the FAFSA.

Pre-registration is not required.

What if I'm not sure whether or not I am going to college?
Many students are not sure if they will be continuing their education right after high school. By completing the FAFSA, there is no obligation to attend, and you will have this important form completed in case you decide to attend later that year.

Why should I fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
The FAFSA is the financial aid form required by most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools in the nation. By completing the FAFSA, students can qualify for thousands of dollars in financial assistance, including grants and scholarships that do not have to be paid back, work-study jobs, or student loans that require repayment.

What should I bring?
Download a print-ready Fact Sheet

Students who are 23 years of age or younger should attend with their parent(s) or guardian(s). They should bring their parent's income and asset information listed below. If parents are unable to attend, students may attend alone and bring their parent's information. Students who are 24 years of age or older may attend alone and bring their own income and asset information:

  • Federal Income Tax return (and your spouse's if you are married), if already prepared. If not already prepared, bring prior-year returns for estimating income.
  • Records of other untaxed income received, such as welfare benefits, Social Security benefits, veteran's benefits, or military or clergy allowances
  • W-2 forms or other records (such as your last paycheck stub of the year) of the yearly income you earned
  • Bank statements, if you have a bank account
  • Records of stocks, bonds or other investments
  • Business or farm records, if applicable
  • If you are not a U.S. citizen, your alien registration card or other immigration documentation
  • A list of colleges and universities that you may be interested in attending
If you do not have or cannot find any of these items, please attend a workshop anyway so that a counselor can help you get started with the financial aid application process.

Can my parents and I fill out the FAFSA online?
Yes, you can fill out the FAFSA online. It is recommended that you and your parents get FAFSA PIN numbers first so you can sign the FAFSA electronically. A PIN number can be applied for at www.pin.ed.gov. Using an electronic signature eliminates having to print out, sign and send in a signed paper application.

What if I don't have all these materials or I forget something?
You can still attend even if your income information is incomplete or you forget something. You may file your FAFSA after the event once you do have the materials. You don't want to miss out on the valuable instruction provided at College Goal Sunday.

What is a FAFSA PIN number and how do I get one?
You can submit the FAFSA information you complete at College Goal Sunday online to receive a faster response, but you will need a FAFSA PIN number. To obtain one, log on to www.pin.ed.gov. You will use your PIN to re-apply for financial aid each year, so don't lose it!

What if my parents can't come?
Bring all the materials and you should be able to complete most of the FAFSA at College Goal Sunday. Then you can finish completing the form with your parents later.

What if I can't go, but my parents can?
Your parents should bring all the materials and they should be able to complete most of the FAFSA at College Goal Sunday. Then you can finish completing the form with your parents later.

Will anyone see my personal information, such as family income?
You will be completing the FAFSA, and at no time will anyone ask to see your personal information. If you need help on a section that includes personal information, all information reviewed by the College Goal Sunday volunteers will be kept private and confidential and will not be used for any purpose other than helping you complete the FAFSA.

Will there be translation available?
If translation is available, it is noted in the site location information.

Who sponsors College Goal Sunday?
The Minnesota Office of Higher Education and the Minnesota Association of Financial Aid Administrators are cosponsoring the Minnesota event with assistance and funding from the National Association of Financial Aid Administrators; Lumina Foundation for Education, an Indianapolis-based private foundation dedicated to expanding access and success in education beyond high school; the University of Minnesota; Minnesota Private Colleges; and MNSCU.

Frequently Asked Questions About the FAFSA
What is the FAFSA?
The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and it is the form required of any student seeking federal financial aid, including federal student grants, Work-Study funds and loans. The application may also be used to apply for most state and some private financial aid. You can learn more about the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Do I have to complete my taxes before I submit my FAFSA?
If you or your parents are filing an income tax return, we recommend filing it before completing the FAFSA. However, the income tax return does not need to be sent to the IRS before filling out your FAFSA. Also, you can estimate your taxes if you plan to complete them later in the year. If you estimate, you should estimate as close to your actual anticipated income as possible; you will be required to provide your actual tax information once it is available.

Am I eligible for financial aid?
All students are eligible to apply for student financial assistance. Each year, colleges, universities and technical centers assist all students (including full-time, part-time, and day and evening students) in finding available funds from federal, state and campus sources to make educational programs affordable.

Many students don't apply for financial aid because they don't think they're eligible or because they don't understand student financial assistance regulations and procedures.

The best way to find out if you are eligible is to apply using the FAFSA. It is impossible to determine your true eligibility without this document. At the very least you will qualify for a low-interest loan, but you could also be eligible for grants, scholarships and the Work-Study Program.

My parents are separated or divorced. Which parent fills out the FAFSA?
Your FAFSA information should be completed based on the information of the parent you lived with most during the last 12 months. If you didn't live with either parent, or if you lived with each parent an equal number of days, use the information of the parent who provided the most financial support to you in the most recent calendar year.

What if I don't have a Social Security number or don't want to report it on the form?
You must enter your Social Security number on the FAFSA form. If you don't submit your Social Security number, the form will be returned unprocessed and you will not be considered for federal and state aid.

When is a student independent?

If a student can answer YES to one of these questions found on page 7 of the 2009-2010 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), s/he will be considered an independent student.

  • Were you born on or before January 1, 1986?
  • As of today, are you married? (Answer "Yes" if you are separated but not divorced)
  • At the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year, will you be working on a master's or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, or graduate certificate, etc.)?
  • Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training?
  • Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
  • Do you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010?
  • Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2010?
  • When you were age 13 or older, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent/ward of the court?
  • As of today, are you an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?
  • As of today, are you in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?
  • At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
  • At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did the director of an emergency shelter program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
  • At any time on or after July 1, 2008, did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?