Before You Apply

Check the list of Need Access participating schools or ask your financial aid administrator to confirm your school's participation in Need Access.

Determine your filing requirements
If your school is listed as a participating school then you will be required to complete both the FAFSA and the Need Access application. The FAFSA is required for eligibility for federal assistance and Need Access is the application schools use to determine school financial aid such as grants, scholarships and other need-based financial aid. We recommend that you complete both of these forms at the same time. See the FAFSA section for more information.

How Need Access Works

1. You, the student, complete the Need Access Application online at
NeedAccess.Org.

2. Check the list of participating schools and select the school(s) you
want to receive your data. The schools have defined specific data
requirements, but you will complete one application for all schools
you select.

3. If a school requires your parents’ financial data, enter the complete
information in the Parent Section before submitting your application.

4. You will be required to pay a processing fee during the submission
process.

5. Access Group processes the submitted financial data within one
business day and transmits the information to the school(s) selected.

6. You can check the status or update your application at NeedAccess.
Click “My Applications.”

7. Financial aid administrators at the selected school(s) will assess the
data and determine your eligibility for school-based financial aid.

Gather your financial records
You may need financial information from some or all of these documents, so we suggest you gather them before you begin the Need Access application:

- Your estimated or completed 2009 U.S. income tax return (IRS form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ). If you are not filing one of these forms, please indicate that in the application.
- Your estimated or completed 2009 state and local income tax returns.
- Your W-2 forms and other records of money earned in 2009.
- Records of untaxed income, such as welfare, Social Security, AFDC, or veterans benefits.
- Current bank statements, mortgage, and other real estate information.
- Records of medical and dental bills that were paid in 2009.
- Business and farm records.
- Records of stocks, bonds, trust funds, IRA accounts, Keogh accounts, and other assets.
- Records of any outstanding debts, including student loans and auto loans .
- Records of previously received financial aid.
- Records of all financial aid received by you and members of your household for the 2009-2010 academic year.
- All of these records for your spouse and your parents, if required.

Note: If you filed a non-U.S. tax form, you will be asked similar questions about your income and assets without reference to the IRS forms.


Tips for a Smooth Process

- Confirm the financial aid application deadlines and requirements with the
school(s) you select to receive your need analysis data.
- Go to NeedAccess.Org and click “Before You Apply“
- Remember your password! You will need your password to access your
application and make changes or to renew it next year.
- Have a major credit card ready for paying the processing fee.

 

Parents' Information
Some institutions may require parents' financial data even though the student claims independent status. You are required to provide this information or it may result in denial of consideration for financial assistance.

If parents are married, they should both enter their information in the Parents' section.

If parents are separated or divorced, the main supporting parent (and stepparent, if applicable) should complete the Parents' section, and the other parent (and stepparent, if applicable) should complete the Divorced/Separated Parents' section.

The main supporting parent is the parent with whom the applicant lived the majority of the time in the last 12 months. If the applicant did not live with one parent more than with the other in the last 12 months, it is the parent who provided the most financial support during that time. If neither parent provided greater support during the last 12 months, it is the parent who provided the greater support during the most recent year that the applicant was actually supported by a parent.


Processing Fees
New Need Access Applicant - $28
Renewal Need Access Applicant - $15
View the Need Access processing fees.

Note: Payment for the Need Access application is handled by PayPal. You will be transferred to the PayPal site during the application submission process. You do not need a PayPal account to use this service. PayPal accepts all major credit cards.

Deadlines
Contact your school(s) to find out the deadline for your Need Access Application. Access Group is now accepting 2010-2011 Need Access Applications.

Note: If you are applying for financial aid for the academic year that begins in summer or fall 2010 then you should apply for the 2010-2011 application year.

Password Protection Against Unauthorized Access
Once you begin an online application, you'll be asked to assign a password, which is later used to prevent unauthorized access to that data. There are, in fact, three passwords available, one each for student's, parents' and divorced/separated parent's data. This feature allows each party to separately enter data and maintain confidentiality.

After Submitting your Application
When you complete and submit your Need Access Application, you will see a page listing the schools to which you have applied, along with an indication of any additional information required by these schools.

Access Group does not provide financial assistance but collects and analyzes your financial information within rules and procedures developed by Access Group and participating institutions.

Your school may verify the accuracy of the information you provide in this application. If you are asked to provide additional information, you and/or your spouse and/or parents may have to provide 2009 U.S. tax returns.

Questions?
Please see our Need Access FAQs for answers to some commonly asked questions regarding Need Access. You can also e-mail us at needaccess@accessgroup.org or call us toll-free at 800-282-1550, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET with your Need Access questions.

Reminder: Please do not mail these financial documents to Access Group.

Check out our Need Access Tips for additional information before you apply.

Ready to apply? Click here to continue.