The 2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is available now on StudentAid.gov, allowing students to apply for financial aid. The 2025-2026 FAFSA determines financial aid eligibility for Summer 2025, Fall 2025, and Spring 2026. 

Filling Out Your FAFSA

When filling out your FAFSA, be sure to list Northcentral Technical College’s FAFSA code: 005387.

In preparation for filing the FAFSA, you will need to create an FSA ID. The Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID is a username and password that is required to log in and access all Federal Student Aid websites, including the FAFSA. The FSA ID also serves as a legal signature when you submit your FAFSA. Please visit the Federal Student Aid website: “Create an Account”. 

Federal Student Aid has a helpful video on how to create an FSA ID. This video does a great of explaining how to do so. 

After creating your username and password, wait a couple of days before visiting the FAFSA website to complete your application.

Each contributor on the FAFSA, including students, their spouses, and parents, must have their own Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID). Contributor is a new term that refers to anyone asked to provide information on a student's FAFSA form (i.e., the student, the student's spouse, a biological or adopted parent, or the parent's spouse). 

You will need the following information or documents as you fill out the FAFSA form: 

  • Your parents’ SSNs if they have SSNs and you're a dependent student
  • 2023 Tax returns
  • Records of child support received (if applicable)
  • Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts
  • Net worth of investments, businesses, and farms

If you’re a dependent student, use the "Who Is My FAFSA Parent? tool" to identify which parent(s) will be a required contributor on your FAFSA. 

On the 2025–26 form, you’ll be able to provide consent and approval to have most of your financial information imported directly from the IRS, but you should keep your tax return handy for additional questions.

Learn more about what you need to fill out your FAFSA form. If you gather these things in advance, you’ll be able to complete and submit your form quickly. Any contributors you invite to your form will need to provide the same information for themselves. 

Important Resources for Students and Families Filing the FAFSA

In 2020 Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act resulting in a significant overhaul of the awarding and processing of federal student aid that began with the 2024-2025 academic year. Changes include updates to the FAFSA form, the need analysis formula that determines federal aid eligibility, and changes in terminology. 

Benefits of FAFSA Simplification

  • Fewer questions and the form will be streamlined 
  • A more user-friendly experience 
  • Expanded eligibility for federal student aid 
  • Reduced barriers for certain student populations* 

*Includes homeless and unaccompanied youth, incarcerated students, English language learners, and students from low-income backgrounds. 

Terminology Changes

  • Contributor: anyone who is asked to provide information on the FAFSA such as student, student’s spouse, a biological or adoptive parent(s), and parent’s spouse (stepparent). 
  • Consent: each contributor will now need to provide their consent to release their Federal Tax Information (FTI) being included in the FAFSA, even if they did not file a U.S. tax return. 
  • FTI: Federal Tax Information (FTI) transferred directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to the FAFSA. 
  • Student Aid Index (SAI): the Student Index Aid (SAI) replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your SAI is a number calculated by the federal government to determine whether or not you are eligible for a Pell Grant and need-based student loans. 

For more information on the SAI formula and how aid offers are determined, check out The Student Aid Index Explained infographic.

View Infographic

Watch Federal Student Aid’s “FAFSA FAQs” playlist to better understand what’s changed on the FAFSA form. 

Financial Aid Offers

The Financial Aid Office is updating systems to process 2025-26 FAFSAs and award financial aid. 

What to expect in the next several weeks: The Financial Aid Office will begin packaging financial aid awards for summer and fall beginning in April. Students are notified of their offers through their NTC student email and through a notification appearing in their Workday student account. 

Summer and Fall class registration for all students begins Monday, April 7 @ 8:00 A.M.

For more information, please visit the Registration Information web page.

Remember, in order to receive financial aid, you must:

  1. Complete any outstanding Financial Aid action items listed in your Workday account, 
  2. Be accepted into a financial aid-eligible program, and 
  3. Be enrolled in program required courses. 

When the above conditions have been met, a financial aid offer will be viewable in your Workday account. The financial aid offer outlines the types of aid for which you are eligible, such as grants, scholarships, loans, and/or work-study. 

What can students do now?

We want to assure you that, as “the college that cares”, we are here to support you every step of the way. Our Financial Aid Office is available to answer your questions, provide guidance on completing the FAFSA, and assist with navigating the changes.

Need Assistance?

If you need assistance or have additional questions, please contact the Financial Aid office through the following:

Email: financialaid@ntc.edu
Phone: 715.803.1647
Chat: https://www.ntc.edu/contact-us/chat