Verification Process

Verification is the confirmation through documentation that the information provided on your FAFSA is correct. Approximately 30% of all FAFSA's are randomly selected by the federal processor for verification.

The federal government requires colleges and universities to verify or confirm the data reported by students and their parent(s) (if student is a dependent) on the FAFSA. The verification process ensures that eligible students receive all the financial aid to which they are entitled and prevents ineligible students from receiving financial aid to which they are not entitled.

How will I know if I am selected for verification?

You may be selected for verification either by the federal processor or by our office. If you are selected for verification by the federal processor, there will be an asterisk (*) next to your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on your Student Aid Report. If you are selected for verification by our office, we will contact you via your Hawkeye email informing you of this selection and instructing you of any additional documentation that is required.

Why was I selected for verification?

Most FAFSA's that are selected for verification are chosen randomly. However, if you make changes to your FAFSA information, you may be selected for verification even if you were not selected on your initial application.

Verification is a federal regulation. Students who are selected for verification are not being punished; rather verification prevents ineligible students from receiving aid by reporting false information and ensures that eligible students receive all of the aid for which they are qualified.

If I am selected for verification, am I required to send additional documentation?

No, you are not required to send additional documentation, but if you would like to receive any state or federal funds, participation in the verification process is not optional.

You must provide the required documentation as soon as possible, but no later than three weeks prior to the end of the semester or before you withdraw from classes.

I have been selected for verification. What do I need to do?

1. Order your and your parents (if dependent) tax transcript(s) from the IRS.

2. Complete either the Independent Verification Worksheet or the Dependent Verification Worksheet depending on your dependency status. This worksheet will need to be signed by both the student and parent(s) if dependent.

3. Collect or complete the additional documents required. Check My Hawkeye > My WebAdvisor (SOAR) Communication > My Documents to see what other documents may be required.

4. Include the student's name and student ID number on all forms. Where do I find my student ID number?

5. Submit the above documents to our office.

6. Check your Hawkeye email often. If we have questions, we will contact you via your Hawkeye email.

Please be sure to respond to requests for documentation in a timely manner to avoid delays in processing and applying your financial aid to your student account. You must provide the required documentation as soon as possible, but no later than three weeks prior to the end of the semester or before you withdraw from classes.

The majority of financial aid funds are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis and until the missing items are submitted to our office, processing of your financial aid is not possible. If documents are not returned in a timely manner, we cannot guarantee you will receive financial aid.

Please contact our office if you have questions about filling out your verification worksheet.

Once we have received your verification worksheet and other required documents, we will verify the information reported as stated under the financial aid program rules-CFR, Title 34, Part 668.

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