When should I apply for financial aid?
- Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year (fall 2024, spring and summer 2025) available from Dec. 31, 2023 through June 30, 2025 (2022 tax information)
- Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year (Fall 2025, Spring and Summer 2026) available from Dec. 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026 (2023 tax information)
Anoka Technical College's Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadline is July 15 each year, before fall semester begins. Be sure to submit your FAFSA by that date so your awards are available when you start classes. If you submit your FAFSA after that date and intend to start fall semester, it is possible that your awards may not ready before the semester begins. Contact the Anoka Tech Financial Aid Office at 763-433-1500 or finaid@anokatech.edu to determine your next steps.
Who can apply?
All students are encouraged to apply for the FAFSA. There are a variety of different types of aid that anyone may be eligible to receive. For general requirements, visit the Financial Aid Eligibility web page.
We request that you use your Anoka Technical College e-mail address on all financial aid applications .
1. Apply for your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID
Each student (and one parent if you are a dependent student) must apply for a FSA ID. The FSA ID will allow you to electronically sign your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), change your address, view the processing status of your FAFSA application, and much more.
Click here to apply for your FSA ID. Carefully read all of the information on this website. Your FSA ID should be kept in a safe confidential location. This login information will be used each year you apply for financial aid.
2. Complete the FAFSA
The next step is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). By completing the FAFSA, you are applying for all types of federal and state financial assistance, including grants, work-study and loans.
We recommend that you file the FAFSA electronically at studentaid.gov, if possible. A pre-application worksheet is also available at studentaid.gov. This will assist you in gathering all of the necessary information and numbers before you access the web application.
If you are unable to file your FAFSA electronically, you must complete and mail the paper version of the form. You may obtain a paper FAFSA by contacting your high school guidance counselor or printing one from the FAFSA site. Whichever application you use, be sure to carefully follow all instructions and apply only once.
You will need your federal income tax information for the appropriate year and FSA ID to complete the FAFSA online.
NOTE: You must be an admitted student at Anoka Technical College to receive a financial aid award letter.
We request that you use your Anoka Technical College e-mail address on all financial aid applications.
1. Locate your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID
If you are not able to locate your FSA ID you can retrieve it at studentaid.gov. If you have not accessed your FAFSA since May 2015, you will need to create an account. If you are a first-time user, your information will need to be cleared through the Social Security administration. Please allow 1-3 business days for your ID and password to clear. You will receive an e-mail confirmation once your ID is activated.
Please note: Parents of dependent applicants are also required to create a FSA ID.
2. Complete the FAFSA
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can access the FAFSA and the pre-application worksheet at www.fafsa.gov. By processing the FAFSA electronically, you expedite the process and eliminate errors. Use your federal income tax returns for the appropriate year and your PIN as your electronic signature. Once your taxes are processed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), you will have the opportunity to link to the IRS from the FAFSA and automatically load your tax information. This is a great way to prevent errors and save time. If you file your taxes electronically this data retrieval tool will be available to you approximately two (2) weeks later.
We request that you use your Anoka Technical College e-mail address on all financial aid applications.
1. Locate your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID
If you are not able to locate your FSA ID you can retrieve it at student aid.gov If you have not accessed your FAFSA since May 2015, you will need to create a FSA ID at student aid.gov. If you are a first-time user, your information will need to be cleared through the Social Security administration. Please allow 1-3 business days for your ID and password to clear. You will receive an e-mail confirmation once your ID is activated.
Please note: Parents of dependent applicants are also required to create a FSA ID.
2. Complete the FAFSA
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can access the FAFSA and the pre-application worksheet at www.fafsa.gov. By processing the FAFSA electronically, you expedite the process and eliminate errors. Use your federal income tax returns for the appropriate year and your PIN as your electronic signature. Once your taxes are processed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), you will have the opportunity to link to the IRS from the FAFSA and automatically load your tax information. This is a great way to prevent errors and save time. If you file your taxes electronically this data retrieval tool will be available to you approximately two (2) weeks later.
What am I applying for by Completing the FAFSA?
When you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid you are applying for the Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant), Minnesota State Grant, Work Study and Federal Direct Loan funds.
Each institution has limited funding in the SEOG and Work Study programs.
Tips for Completing the FAFSA
- Make sure to report accurate tax year information exactly as instructed on the FAFSA (no estimates).
- Be sure to report your name on the FAFSA exactly as it appears on your social security card. The federal processor will be comparing your FAFSA information to the Social Security Administration database and discrepancies could cause a problem.
- The title IV school code for Anoka Technical College is 007350.
- If you or your parents filed a joint federal income tax return, but are now separated, divorced or widowed, you will not be able to link taxes from the IRS. We highly recommend requesting a Tax Return Transcript from the IRS.
- Make sure that your parents complete their section and you complete yours. Any errors will significantly delay processing!
- Complete your FAFSA early! There are certain grants that are first come first serve. In addition, paperwork turned in 2-3 weeks prior to the start of a term will have high processing timelines. The earlier you get your award letter the better!
Steps After Applying for Financial Aid
You will receive an e-mail from the federal processor with a website link to your Student Aid Report (SAR). If you do not provide an e-mail address to the federal processor, you will receive a paper SAR in the mail. Review the SAR to make sure that everything is correct as printed. If all the information is correct, keep the SAR for your records. If not, corrections should be submitted to the federal processor. Your e-mail will state that your FAFSA has been successfully processed and will provide you with an estimated award amount - this does not mean that you are approved! You may still need to turn in a variety of documents to the financial aid office at Anoka Tech. Ultimately, the school makes the decision on what you are awarded.
In the event that your Social Security number is incorrect at the school, we recommend that you contact the records department. If your social security number is incorrect on your FAFSA you will need to make updates to your FSA ID, please see the financial aid office for assistance.
If your SAR indicates that it has been rejected or that more information is needed before further processing can occur, please follow the instructions listed on the SAR, or contact the Anoka Technical College Financial Aid Office for assistance.
The Anoka Technical College Financial Aid Office will receive a copy of your FAFSA in three (3) to five (5) business days. Once you receive notification from FAFSA that your application has been processed it usually takes about three (3) additional business days to arrive at Anoka Tech.
If additional documents are required, the Financial Aid Office will send you an email that additional information is needed. A status letter will be available in your e-services account in the financial aid section.