Applying for Aid - PIN

PIN INFORMATION HIGHLIGHTS A PIN is a unique Personal Identification Number issued by the US Government. Every student filing a FAFSA form online is required to have a PIN to access the online FAFSA on the web. At least one parent for every dependant student who is filing a FAFSA form online must have a PIN. The FSU Financial Aid Office recommends that every student apply for a PIN even if he or she will not complete the FAFSA form online. A PIN serves as an electronic signature and provides access to personal records - don't give it to anyone. Once a PIN has been requested, it will take 1-3 days to arrive via email and 7-10 days to arrive via the U.S. Postal Service. The processing time required to receive a valid PIN is in addition to the 72 hours it takes the U.S. Department of Education to process a FAFSA online. Request a PIN online at www.pin.ed.gov. Review complete details below.

What is a PIN?

1 - A PIN is a unique Personal Identification Number assigned by the US Government to students and parents who want to apply for a Federal Student Aid.

Who needs a PIN?

1 - Every student filing a FAFSA form online is required to have a PIN.

2 - At least one parent for every dependant student who is filing a FAFSA form online must have a PIN.

3 - The FSU Financial Aid Office recommends that every student apply for a PIN even if he or she will not be completing the FAFSA form online. The Financial Aid Office often uses the PIN during aid processing.

Why do I need a PIN?

1 - The student must use his or her PIN to access FAFSA on the web.

2 - A PIN serves as an electronic signature. This is why both the student and at least one parent must have a PIN before a FAFSA form can be submitted online.

More about the PIN: The PIN serves as an electronic signature and provides access to personal records. It should never be given to anyone. Once a PIN is assigned to a person, it will remain that person's PIN for life.

If there will be more than one student in college in a family at any given time, the parent may use his or her PIN to sign the FAFSA form for each student submitting an application; however, each student must have his or her own unique PIN.

3 - The PIN is used by FSU's Financial Aid Office. Students applying for a Federal Stafford Loan, as well as parents applying for a Federal Parent PLUS Loan, will be required to have a PIN to sign any Master Promissory Note (MPN) for a loan. This is why it is a good idea for every student to apply for a PIN, even if he or she has not or will not be completing the FAFSA form online.

Getting a PIN?

1 - You can apply for a PIN online at Federal Government PIN Registration Site:

Federal Government PIN Registration Site - www.pin.ed.gov

2 - When a parent or student applies for a PIN, the U.S. Department of Education will deliver the PIN directly to the applicant. Students and parents have the option of having the PIN delivered via email or regular mail.

3 - Once a PIN has been requested, it will take 1-3 days to arrive via email and 7-10 days to arrive via the U.S. Postal Service.

Please keep in mind that the processing time required to receive a valid PIN is in addition to the 72 hours it takes the U.S. Department of Education to process a FAFSA online. It is for this reason that our office recommends beginning the process of filing a FAFSA online no later than February 15th in order to meet our March 1st priority deadline.