Steps to Apply for FAFSA Online

STEP 1: Get an Email Address

The office of Financial Aid at NVCC and the U.S. Department of Education will use e-mail to keep you informed. It is necessary for you to have an e-mail address where you can be reached. If you change your email, please inform the Registrar’s at NVCC and The U.S. Department of Education. Note: For FSA ID purposes it is essential that you maintain access to the email you use to create your FSA ID.

If you don't have an e-mail address you can obtain one for FREE at many websites on the Internet. Some of these sites are:

STEP 2: Apply for an FSA ID

The FSA ID will act as the FAFSA online signature as well as the login for other federal websites. To create an FSA ID, go to the federal government’s FSA ID website. Should you have questions or concerns regarding applying for a FSA ID, contact the Federal Student Aid Hotline at 1(800) 433-3243.

Note: For dependent students, an FSA ID is required for both student and parent. Parents must have access to their own personal email address in order to create an FSA ID. The student’s email address cannot be used when creating a parental FSA ID.

STEP 3: Complete the FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an application that you prepare annually in order to determine eligibility for federal, state and institutional financial aid. To apply, fill out the electronic application at fafsa.gov. You will need to provide personal and financial information in order for your eligibility to be determined. You will need to refer to:

Your Social Security card and driver’s license
Your alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
W-2 forms or other records of income earned
Your spouse’s Federal Income Tax Return, if you are married
Your parent(s)’ Federal Tax Form, if you are under 24 years of age
Records of other untaxed income received such as welfare benefits, Social Security benefits, TANF, veteran’s benefits or military or clergy allowances
Current bank statements and records of stocks, bonds and other investments
Business or farm records, if applicable

Important information on what school code to use on your FAFSA application.

The 2022-2023 FAFSA application for the fall 22/spring 23 academic year will continue to use Naugatuck Valley Community College's school code 006982 .

The 2023-2024 FAFSA applications for the fall 23/spring 24 academic year will use Capital Community College’s federal school code of 007635. Naugatuck Valley Community College is transitioning into Connecticut State Community College beginning in the Fall 2023 semester. Connecticut State Community College will be using Capital Community College’s current federal school code of 007635 once the transition is complete, so this information is needed to process your financial aid application for the Fall 2023 semester and the 2023-2024 academic year. Please note that the US Department of Education will update the college name on the FAFSA in the summer of 2023.

Required: All personal and contact information entered into the college application and FAFSA application must be exactly the same. If abbreviations are used they must be entered identically in both applications (examples: address abbreviations like st. or ave., full name including Jr)

After You’ve Completed the FAFSA

Tracking your Status:

After you complete your FAFSA, the Federal Department of Education (D.O.E.) will email you when they have completed processing including a link to your SAR (Student Aid Report). Use this link to see if there are any errors or omissions you must address in order to complete your FAFSA. Many of these items can be addressed by contacting our office and providing appropriate documentation. Because of the encryption process protecting your FAFSA’s personal information, it can take as long as 10 business days between your email notice from the DOE and our receipt of your FAFSA.

Using MyCommNet:

After April 1st, you will be able to track your completed financial aid application and award information online by using MyCommNet. MyCommNet will also list any outstanding documents required before we can determine your eligibility for financial aid.

Log into myCommNet (see below if this is your first time logging in)
Click on Financial Aid
Click on My Eligibility
Follow the instructions there to complete any outstanding requirements. If you have outstanding requirements you have been randomly selected for Federal Verification by the Federal Government
If your award is complete, you many click on My Award Information to review your financial aid award

Logging into MyCommNet for the first time

Banner ID and password for myCommnet.edu

	User Name	Initial Password
Format	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.	Mon&Last4SSN 1st three characters of your birth month (first letter is capitalized) The “&” symbol Last 4 digits of your social security number
Example	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.	Jan&1234

*If you encounter difficulty logging on to myCommNet, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page or contact the Records Office at 203-596-2177 for assistance. The financial aid staff is unable to assist myCommNet-related issues.

Please remember:

There is a possibility that you may be selected for verification. This means you may need to submit additional documents to NVCC's Financial Aid Office. Please be aware, this will add more processing time to your financial aid award approval.
You must make payment arrangements with the Bursar's Office at the time of registration if you have not received your financial aid award at that time. Classes can only be held for 24 hours with no financial aid or payment in place.
Completion of the FAFSA does not guarantee that all costs incurred at Naugatuck Valley will be covered by a financial aid award. You must be prepared to make other payment arrangements with the Bursar's Office should this occur.
Signed FAFSA applications will be processed and reviewed in the order they are received at the financial aid office. Unsigned or incomplete FAFSA applications (rejected ISIR records) cannot be considered for financial assistance until corrections have been submitted to the federal processor.
All applications will be awarded on a funds available basis.
Federal law prohibits release of student information to any party other than the student. For further details, please review the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Student’s Responsibility

Naugatuck Valley Community College expects the student to initiate the application process in a timely manner, and considers it the student’s responsibility to complete the application on time. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Students and their families should be aware that they are completing applications for federal, state and institutional funds. Students are also expected to be familiar with the general provisions of financial aid. To help you understand this process, Financial Aid Workshops are held throughout the year. Information on financial aid programs, regulations and procedures are found in the College Catalog as well as on the Financial Aid Office web pages. Deliberately misreporting can result in criminal and civil liabilities. Late applicants will be awarded based on fund availability. Application materials cannot be accepted after the student’s last date of attendance.