Section Identifier
Apply for Aid
How to Apply for Aid
File the 2025-2026 FAFSA
You can begin to file the 2025-2026 FAFSA on December 1, 2024. The FAFSA will be processed by mid-February. For an estimated award letter, you can email your FAFSA confirmation email that includes your estimated PELL and SAI to our Associate Vice President of Financial Aid and Enrollment at jbittel@bethanywv.edu.
You must file a FAFSA every year to be considered for financial aid. West Virginia and PA state grant deadlines is May 1. Bethany College offers 100% need awarding, so filing as soon as the FAFSA is released is important.
Bethany College, WV Federal School Code: 003808
Taking the guesswork out of college costs
Bethany College is proud to announce a proactive initiative to alleviate financial uncertainty for prospective students who are currently experiencing issues related to the nationwide update of theFree Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).The delay in FAFSA updates has left many in limbo, unable to determine their eligibility for federal aid. Recognizing the stress this situation brings, Bethany College is taking measures to support these students, ensuring they can confidently plan their academic future without financial worries. Learn more by reaching out to financialaid@bethanywv.edu or 304.829.7611.
Step 1 (Can be Done Now): Get an FSA ID
Get an FSA ID
Before you can file the FAFSA, you will need to create a Federal Student Aid Account. When you create your account, you’ll set up an FSA ID. Your FSA ID is the username and password you will use to access all Federal Student Aid websites, including StudentAid.gov. Your FSA ID must be created and matched by the Social Security Administration before you can start your FAFSA, so create your FSA ID early!
Tips for Creating an FSA ID:
- Be sure to enter your information accurately. The Social Security Administration will verify your information, and making a mistake, especially with your social security number, birth date, or name, will cause delays.
- If you are a dependent student, parent information will be required on the FAFSA. Your parent(s) — referred to on the FAFSA as “contributor(s)” — will also need their own FSA ID to access and sign their section of the FAFSA.
- You will use your FSA ID for multiple purposes over the coming years, so be sure you can remember all of the important information associated with your FSA ID.
- Keep in mind that an email address and mobile phone number can only be associated with one FSA ID. Students and parents cannot use the same email address or the same mobile phone number.
- If you have an email address other than your high school email address, use that one to set up your FSA ID. Your high school email access will likely expire over the summer. You will need to use your FSA ID for years to come, so link it to an email address that you will continue to use.
- Make sure you have access to your email or mobile phone when creating your FSA ID and filing the FAFSA. To create an FSA ID and to file the FAFSA, you must have access to either your mobile phone or email (ideally both) so that you can receive a secure code that will need to be entered into the website. Once verified, your mobile phone and/or email can be used to retrieve your username, reset your password, or unlock your account. A verified mobile phone number or email address can also be used in place of your username.
- You must set up two-factor verification. To protect your account, you will be required to set up two-factor verification. This will result in a secure code being sent to your verified mobile phone, verified email, or to an authenticator app (if you set it up) each time you log into any of the StudentAid.gov websites. This code must be entered to access the website. If none of these options exist, the backup code that was provided when the account was created can be used, but you will also need to answer two challenge questions.
Step 2: Gather Your Information
Gather Your Information for the 2025-2026 FAFSA
You will need to gather some information before you begin filling out the FAFSA. For the 2025–2026 school year, you will need your 2023 income information.
If you are a DEPENDENT STUDENT, you will need:
- Your and your parents’ FSA IDs. To create one, go to StudentAid.gov and click on “Create Account.”
- Your and your parents’ social security numbers (SSN)
- Your and your parents’ 2022 W-2 forms and other records of money earned
- Your and your parents’ 2022 federal income tax returns (including all applicable schedules)
- Your and your parents’ current bank statements
If you are NOT A DEPENDENT STUDENT, you will need:
- Your FSA ID. To create one, go to StudentAid.gov and click on “Create Account.” If you are married but you and your spouse file separate tax returns, your spouse will also need an FSA ID.
- Your social security number (SSN)
- Your (and if married, your spouse’s) 2022 federal income tax return (including all applicable schedules), 2022 W-2 forms, and other records of money earned
- Your current bank statements
If applicable, you will also need:
- Your current business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, and stock, bond, and other investment records
- Your Permanent Resident Card (Form I-151 or I-551C) or Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) with an eligible status (if you are an eligible non-U.S. citizen)
Step 3: Complete the FAFSA
Complete the FAFSA
- Submit the FAFSA as soon as possible once it becomes available in December.
- The 2024–2025 FAFSA requires 2022 income information.
- The FAFSA is a roles-based form; students will see only their section and parents (referred to as “contributors”) will see only their section. Each contributor will use their FSA ID to access their respective section.
- If a dependent student begins the process, they will be prompted to provide contributor information in their section. If the parent “contributor” starts their section first, they will be required to provide student information in their section.
- You will be prompted to consent to having tax information from the IRS sent to Federal Student Aid using the Financial Aid Direct Data Exchange, even if you are not required to file taxes. You must consent by checking the box. If you do not check the box, you will not be eligible for any federal student aid.
- The schools you list on your FAFSA will receive your FAFSA information electronically. You can list up to 20 colleges on the FAFSA.
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After you file the 2024-2025 FAFSA
After you File the 2024-2025 FAFSA
Your FAFSA will be processed by the Federal Processing Center typically within 2-3 business days.
Review Your FAFSA Submission Summary.
- Your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) is a summary of the information you provided on your FAFSA. If you provided an email address on your FAFSA, you will be sent an email with a link to your FSS once your FAFSA has been processed. Your FSS can also be found by logging in at FAFSA.gov with your FSA ID.
- Review your FSS carefully. If there is an asterisk next to your SAI, that means you have been selected for verification.
- If corrections are needed, log in to FAFSA.gov using your FSA ID (username and password), make the corrections, and resubmit your FAFSA. Make sure you and a parent (if required), sign the FAFSA again using your FSA IDs.
- If information has changed or the FAFSA data no longer reflects your current situation, contact Bethany Financial Aid Office.
You May Be Selected for Federal Verification.
Verification is a random selection process that requires schools to collect additional income and household information from some students. If you were selected for federal verification, you will receive an email from ProEd requesting to create an account. Log on to your ProEd account at https://bethany.proed.org/. If you cannot log on to the site for some reason, use the ‘forgot your password’ link. The ProVerify helpline is 304.907.0150.
You May Be Selected to Submit Additional Information to Resolve FAFSA conflicts.
The Bethany Financial Aid Office will reach out to you via mail and email with a Missing Information Letter Notice detailing the information and steps needed. Make sure to resolve so your financial aid can be disbursed to your bill.
What the new FAFSA Means for You
FAFSA Simplification: What it Means for You
The FAFSA Simplification & FUTURE Act was passed by Congress in December 2020. The intent of the legislation was to make the financial aid process and eligibility for Federal Pell grants more predictable for low- income students, reduce the number of FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Form questions, streamline the calculation of financial need, expand federal aid eligibility for specific populations and, ultimately improve educational outcomes for low-income students. While some provisions of the legislation went into effect for the 2023-2024 academic year, most will be implemented for the 2024-2025 academic year (Summer 2024/Fall 2024/Spring 2025).
What Does FAFSA Simplification Mean for You?
- The FAFSA for the upcoming academic year typically becomes available at fafsa.gov on October 1. For the 2025-2026 academic year only, the FAFSA will not become available to file online until December 1, 2024.
- Beginning with the 2024-25 year, the FAFSA will be less complex. The number of questions will be reduced from 108 to approximately 36 and prior-prior year federal tax information will be automatically transferred from the IRS’ database. All parties whose information will be on the FAFSA (example: parent, step-parent) must provide consent to have their federal tax information transferred.
- Males between 18-25 years of age will no longer be required to be registered with Selective Service to receive federal financial aid.
- Historically, the FAFSA calculated a student’s EFC (Expected Family Contribution), an indicator of the student’s financial need that was used to determine eligibility for need-based federal, state and College aid. Most notably, a student’s EFC had to be below a specific threshold to qualify for the Federal Pell Grant, SEOG and the WV Higher Education Grant. The EFC is being replaced with the SAI (Student Aid Index). Federal Pell Grant eligibility will now be determined by family size and family income as it relates to the federal poverty level. You can calculate your SAI and determine Federal Pell Grant eligibility using the U.S. Department of Education’s SAI calculator.
- The EFC (Expected Family Contribution) was calculated based on five primary factors: household size, number in college, prior-prior year taxable and untaxable income and assets, for both the student and, for dependent students, his/her parent(s). The SAI will no longer take into account most sources of untaxed income. The SAI will also not take into account the number in college. This could impact a student’s eligibility for need-based financial aid (i.e.-Pell Grant, SEOG, WV Higher Education Grant, Federal Work Study, the subsidy on the Federal Direct Student Loan). Bethany College merit scholarships and need-based Grant amounts are set at point of entry and will not be recalculated/reduced in future years unless there is significant chance in need. If there is no significant change in need, students retain their eligibility for up to eight semesters provided they remain a full-time undergraduate, in good academic standing.
- In the past, for divorced or separated parent families, the custodial parent (typically the parent the student lived with) provided his/her information on the FAFSA. Beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA, the parent who provided the greatest financial support (regardless of living arrangements) will be required to list his/her information on the FAFSA. If financial support is split 50/50 between both parents, the parent who has the higher income is required to provide his/her financial information on the FAFSA.
Important Dates:
December 1 – FAFSA Opens
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid opens for the following academic year. File your FAFSA as early as possible. Enter our college code: 003808. (*Delayed until December 1, 2024 for 2025-26 academic year.)
Application Deadline – Rolling
We accept applications on a “rolling” basis. However, to ensure you can reserve a spot, we recommend applying as early as possible.
Recommended Deposit Deadline – May 1
While we accept deposit payments after this date, it’s best to get it in before May to ensure you get your first choice in housing.
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