Financial aid deadlines for returning students
Domestic students
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1 but before February 1.
- Complete and Return the Financial Aid Application and accompanying documents by April 1.
International Students
- Complete and return the COA Financial Aid Application for International Students and the COA Certification of Finances forms by March 1.
How to apply for need-based financial aid
Click on the links below to find the instructions and forms you’ll need
- Instructions for domestic (U.S.) students
- Non-custodial parent form for domestic (U.S.) students
- Instructions for international students
- Information on dependency status
Instructions for domestic (U.S.) students
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 1.
- Submit a Returning Student Financial Aid Form along with required documents by April 1.
- If your FAFSA is selected for VERIFICATION, the Financial Aid Office will contact you by March 1. If notified, please complete the Returning Student Financial Aid Verification and Application (see below).
- Parent(s) and student 2017 Tax Return Transcript or have used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool
- Copies of all W-2s and/or 1099s
- If you are are not contacted by March 1, please complete the Returning Student Financial Aid Application (see below).
- If your FAFSA is selected for VERIFICATION, the Financial Aid Office will contact you by March 1. If notified, please complete the Returning Student Financial Aid Verification and Application (see below).
Selected for VERIFICATION
2019-2020 Returning-Dependent Financial Aid Verification and Application (under 27)
2019-2020 Returning-Independent Financial Aid Verification and Application (27 and older)
NOT selected for VERIFICATION
2019-2020 Returning-Dependent Financial Aid Application (under 27)
2019-2020 Returning-Independent Financial Aid Application (27 and older)
Non-custodial documents for domestic (U.S.) students
Instructions for international students
Complete and submit the following documents by March 1:
- COA Certification of Finances Form
- COA Financial Aid Application for International Students
- Bank statements, tax returns or pay stubs to document the information in your application.
Information on dependency status
- At COA you are considered a Dependent student if you are under 27.
- At COA you are considered an Independent student if you are 27 or older or have received an approved Dependency Override from the Financial Aid Office.