Applicant Financial Information

The Applicant Financial Information page has several components. Guidance on how to answer the questions in each component is provided below.

Marital Status

Your marital status as of December 31, 2025, determines the information you are required to submit in this section.

If you were married as of that date, you are required to provide your spouse’s financial information.
If you were not married, or were no longer married, as of that date, you will not provide spouse income.

If you are uncertain about your marital and tax status, review the Marital Status Definitions table below (in the table, you are the “applicant”), which also explains whether income is required from only your household or from both your household and your spouse’s.

Note: If your marital status in the chart below shows that two household incomes are required, you must provide income for both you and your spouse.

Marital Status Definitions

Applicant’s Marital Status	Definition	One Household Income Required	Two Household Incomes Required
Married, Filing Jointly	If the applicant was legally married as of Dec. 31, 2025, and filing taxes jointly, the applicant should select “Married, Filing Jointly” regardless of whether the applicant and their spouse were residing together or separately.	X
Married, Filing Separately	If the applicant was legally married as of Dec. 31, 2025, and filing taxes separately, the applicant should select “Married, Filing Separately” regardless of whether the applicant and their spouse were residing together or separately.		X
Widowed	If the applicant’s spouse had passed away as of Dec. 31, 2025, the applicant should select “Widowed.”	X
Separated, Filing Jointly	This is a legal status. Select “Separated” if the applicant has received a court order for legal separation from their spouse, and they are filing taxes jointly. Tip: If the applicant and their spouse were not legally separated as of Dec. 31, 2025, regardless of where they reside, the applicant should select “Married, Filing Jointly” or “Married, Filing Separately," depending on which tax filing option they've chosen.	X
Separated, Filing Separately	This is a legal status. Select “Separated” if the applicant has received a court order for legal separation from their spouse and they are filing taxes separately. Tip: If the applicant and their spouse were not legally separated as of Dec. 31, 2025, regardless of where they reside, the applicant should select “Married, Filing Jointly” or “Married, Filing Separately," depending on which tax filing option they've chosen.		X
Divorced	Applicants should select this status if they were issued a legal divorce from their spouse as of Dec. 31, 2025. Tip: If the applicant was never legally married, refer to the “Single” marital status.	X
Single	Select “Single” if the applicant has never been married.	X

Family Size

To enter your family size, count 1 for yourself. Add 1 for your spouse (if applicable). Add 1 for each dependent listed on your 2025 IRS 1040 tax form.

Taxable Income

Question in application: Have you filed your federal tax return for 2025?

If ‘Yes’ → Enter your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) exactly as it appears on your 2025 IRS 1040 tax form.
If ‘Not Yet’ → Before the federal tax-filing deadline (usually April 15), you may submit your 2025 W-2 and/or 1099 forms; however, you may still be asked for your IRS 1040 form to confirm your family size. After the deadline, you must provide your IRS 1040 form.
- Note: The Fee Assistance Program does not accept tax extensions after the April tax-filing deadline.
If ‘Will Not Be Filing’ → You must still report any income you earned, using W-2 or 1099 forms.

Note for married or separated applicants who filed separately: If you and your spouse filed separately, you must also submit your spouse’s signed IRS 1040. Only handwritten, DocuSign, or Adobe electronic signatures or personal identification numbers (PINs) are accepted.

Question in application: Have you or will you be receiving W-2 or 1099 forms from your employer(s) for 2025?

If ‘Yes’: You will be asked to enter the total income from all W-2 and 1099 forms. Make sure this total includes all wages, tips, and other earnings from every employer or contractor.
If ‘No’: Enter “No” and continue to report any other income in the next section of the application.
If you selected “Not Yet” or “Will Not Be Filing,” enter your income using the W-2 or 1099 amounts.

About W-2 and 1099 forms:

Employers typically provide these forms by Feb. 1 each year. They summarize your total wages, tips, and other earnings.
Contact your employer if you’re unsure whether you will receive one.
Submitting false or incomplete information may result in an investigation and could impact your eligibility.

Financial Aid

Financial aid includes grants, scholarships, loans, or federal work-study programs offered to help a student meet their college expenses. It is usually listed in your school’s Financial Aid Award Letter.
What counts as income?

Only the portion of financial aid that is used for living expenses is considered income.
Aid awarded and used for tuition, books, or fees does not count as income.

How to report financial aid:

Refer to your Financial Aid Award Letter and your school’s cost of attendance sheet (or similar documentation) to learn how much aid was awarded for tuition, books, and fees.
If you have received or will receive financial aid for the 2025-26 academic year, select “Yes” in the application and enter the financial aid amount awarded for living expenses.
If you did not receive financial aid for the 2025-26 academic year, answer “No” in this section.
If you answer “Yes” in error; i.e., if you mistakenly indicated that you received financial aid but did not actually receive it:
- You must provide a signed letter from your school’s financial aid office confirming that no aid was awarded for the 2025-26 academic year. This letter must appear on the school’s letterhead and be signed by a representative of the school’s financial aid office.
- Error Explanation Letters cannot be used instead of a letter from your school’s financial aid office that confirms you did not receive financial aid or did not attend the school.

Using the Financial Aid Calculator:

When you select “Yes,” the calculator will appear in the application.
Enter:
- Total amount of financial aid awarded.
- Total tuition amount.
- Total amount spent on books.
- Total amount spent on fees (i.e., fees related to lab, studio, activities, or other fees).

The program staff recommends you use the formula below to ensure you are entering your financial aid information appropriately.

The calculator subtracts tuition, books, and fees to determine the financial aid available for living expenses. This amount will appear in your application.
Total financial aid awarded for the 2025-26 academic year — Total tuition amount for the 2025-26 academic year — Total amount spent on books for the 2025-26 academic year — Total amount spent on fees for the 2025-26 academic year = Financial aid awarded for living expenses.

Document requirements:
If you received any financial aid, you will be required to submit your Financial Aid Award Letter.

You must submit your Financial Aid Award Letter showing:
- The school name (or website address).
- The full amount of financial aid received.
- A breakdown of the cost of attendance (i.e., tuition, books, fees, etc.).
If the cost of attendance is not included in the Award Letter, you may submit the cost of attendance breakdown separately (e.g., by printing it from your school’s website).
The following documents are NOT accepted: IRS 1098-T forms, semester bills, account summaries, loan statements, or FAFSA documentation.

Housing and Food Assistance

Some students receive housing assistance and live with relatives or are provided housing by a relative or friend. Select “Yes” if this applies to you. Select “No” if the assistance was part of your financial aid award or provided through a federal, state, or local welfare program. If you select “Yes,” the Housing/Food Assistance Calculator will appear. Use it to estimate the value of your assistance by entering an estimate of what you would have paid monthly for rent and/or food. You must submit a signed Housing and Food Assistance Letter documenting the assistance you received in 2025. Acceptable signatures include handwritten or digital signatures with an audit trail, such as DocuSign or Adobe. Typed signatures are not accepted.

Note: This letter is specifically for situations where a relative or friend provides housing or food that you would normally pay for, not for assistance provided through welfare or other government programs.

Income Earned While Living in Another Country

If you worked outside the United States in 2025 and earned income not reported on IRS W-2 or 1099 forms, select “Yes” and enter the total amount earned in U.S. dollars. You must submit a signed Foreign Income Letter documenting the income you earned abroad. The letter must be signed with either a handwritten signature or a digital signature that includes an audit trail, such as a DocuSign or Adobe signature. Typed signatures are not accepted.

Social Security Benefits

Enter the total amount of benefits you received from the Social Security Administration in 2025, including retirement, survivor, disability, and other benefits. Enter “0” if you did not receive any Social Security benefits.

Federal, State, and Local Welfare Programs

Enter the total value of food stamps (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or “SNAP”), housing vouchers, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) assistance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) assistance, or other welfare benefits you or your spouse received last year. Documentation from the administering agency is required if you received these benefits. Enter “0” if none were received.

Financial Gifts

Include the combined value of cash gifts totaling more than $200, including recurring support (e.g., $100/month from a relative) and one-time gifts. Enter “0” if the total was less than $200. Submit a signed Financial Gift Letter documenting the amount received. The letter must be signed with either a handwritten signature or a digital signature that includes an audit trail, such as DocuSign or Adobe signature. Typed signatures are not accepted.

Child Support

Enter the total amount of child support payments you received. Do not include payments you made. Submit documentation if you received child support; otherwise, enter “0.” For documentation, typed signatures are not accepted.

Alimony or Spousal Support

Enter the total amount of alimony or spousal support you received. Do not include information about any spousal support payments you made.

If you indicated that you have already filed your federal tax return, you will not need to provide this because this income is included in your taxes.

If you received spousal support payments, you must submit a signed document that details the amount you received last year. Typed signatures are not accepted. Enter “0” if you did not receive alimony or spousal support.

Income or Financial Support Received From Other Sources

Report any other income not included above, such as stimulus payments, veterans benefits, or inheritance. Submit a formal document detailing the amount received, or enter “0” if none.

If you are married and filing separately, proof of income is required for both you and your spouse. If one spouse cannot provide documentation, submit a signed letter from that spouse explaining their income source (e.g., they are supported by their spouse). The spouse without proof of income must sign and date this letter, and you must upload the letter under Other Documentation. Typed signatures are not accepted.