FAFSA Application Checklist for New Students

Find out what you need to do to apply for financial aid as a new student. Get answers to some common questions, plus tips to help you fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Financial Aid Priority Deadlines:
Summer and Dallas Promise: March 1
Fall: May 1
Spring: Oct. 1
More Important Dates:
DallasCollege.edu/FADeadlines

This FAFSA application checklist is for
new students only.

If you are a current student,
please check out the
Current Student FAFSA Checklist.

Step 1

Fill Out the FAFSA

Students must complete the Dallas College admissions application.

The application is needed to link with the social security number and current year FAFSA through Colleague.

Start Your Application

The FSA ID confirms an individual’s identity and should only be created by the owner of the FSA ID.

Since the FSA ID is used as a legal signature and enables access to numerous U.S. Department of Education websites, it should never be shared with others.

If your parent(s) are required to provide information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), a separate FSA ID is required for the parent. The FSA ID may be obtained at Federal Student Aid.

Create Your FSA ID

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at Federal Student Aid.

If you need help, call FSA Help at 800-433-3243, or go online to get help by email or chat.

The school code for Dallas College is 004453 (NOTE: It may show as Dallas College-El Centro).

Complete Your FAFSA

What’s Next?

Check your email frequently, as well as the Financial Aid Checklist in Dallas College Self-Service. It takes 3-5 business days for us to receive and upload your FAFSA into our system.

Continue to Step Two

FAFSA Year 2022-2023: 2020 taxes | FAFSA Year 2023-2024: 2021 taxes

FAFSA Year 2022-2023 covers these semesters: Summer 2022, Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters.

FAFSA Year 2023-2024 covers these semesters: Summer 2023, Fall 2023 and Spring 2024.

Having trouble with your application or any of your required documents?

Get Help

Step 2

Steps to Complete in eConnect and Self-Service

Set up your eConnect/Self-Service account.

You can find tutorials at Tutorials for Online Tools.

Very important: Financial Aid will only pay for classes that are part of your program of study.

  • Please check with a success coach (advisor) before selecting a program.
  • Click My Program of Study (Step 2) (Financial Aid section).
  • Select/change your program of study from the menu and submit.
Go To eConnect

Log in as Current Student and click View My Account and Pay for Classes.

Click TouchNet Payment Center and provide your banking information for direct deposit under the link for Electronic Refunds.

  • This is how your funds will be sent to you. If no selection is made, the default is a paper check mailed to you.
  • If a paper check is your preference, please make sure there is only one current address on file with Admissions.

Payment plan options are also available in the TouchNet Payment Center.

Go To Self-Service

For payment center help, please contact PaymentCenter@dcccd.edu, call 972-669-6400 or email Cashiers@DallasCollege.edu.

Cashiers@DallasCollege.edu

For issues with financial aid disbursements, please contact Heartland/ECSI Help for FAQs and live chat.

Continue to Step Three

Having trouble with your application or any of your required documents?

Get Help

Step 3

Other Requirements

In Self-Service, click on Financial Aid (or access it from eConnect and click on Financial Aid checklist to see what document(s) is/are missing).

You may be asked to submit additional documents or complete other processes. Please make sure you always check in with financial aid to know your status and read through all notifications sent to you.

  • If you need to submit documents electronically, please do not email them. Please request a secure link to upload documents. You will be sent an email with a safe link so that you can upload your documents securely. The email will come from “FA-Secure” and the subject line will say “FA-Secure File is requesting files from you.” Please give us a couple of business days to get this email sent to you. It will be sent to your email listed in our system.
  • Please check if your documents need to be notarized before submission.

If you are interested in a work-study position, register in Handshake and review job postings.

Register at Handshake

Submit all transcripts as needed.

  • ALL official college transfer transcripts must be received and evaluated by the Admissions Office before financial aid will be awarded and/or disbursed. Please let Financial Aid know when these are in so we can request evaluation.
  • You must submit official, final high school transcripts, GED transcripts or equivalent transcripts to Admissions (if applicable).

What’s Next?

Request transcripts from your previous schools and have them sent to
Dallas College
Attention: Admissions Processing
3737 Motley Drive
Mesquite, TX 75150

Continue to Step Four

Step 4

Award and Final Steps

In Self-Service, click on Financial Aid (or access it from eConnect and click on Financial Aid checklist).

Review all awards — accept, adjust or decline all awards.

If you do not want loans, decline them!

If you want Federal Direct Loans, you must also complete these steps at Federal Student Aid.

  • The school code for Dallas College is 004453 (NOTE: It may show as Dallas College-El Centro).
  • Complete the Online Loan Entrance Counseling.
  • Sign the Master Promissory Note (MPN).

Remember to accept your financial aid award letter when all your choices are made.

If you are offered Federal Work-Study (FWS) or are interested in the program, contact a FWS Coordinator from your campus to find what FWS positions are available for on-campus and off-campus jobs.

More About Work-Study

What’s Next?

Find more information about the awarding process at Finacial Aid Awards.

Continue to Step Five

You’re almost there! But there are still a few steps left.

Get Help

Step 5

After Accepting Your Award

Dallas College begins disbursing financial aid funds for tuition only at least 10 days before classes start.

Any eligible refunds are released to students after the certification date, which occurs after the 12th day of classes for 16-week classes or after the sixth class day for Flex Term or eight-week classes.

Visit the Academic Calendar to view attendance certification dates by semester.

What’s Next?

Visit the Disbursement Schedule to learn more the Dallas College financial aid disbursements and refunds process.

You’re done!

Get Help
 

Questions? Contact Us!

Get federal financial aid information online 24/7: Federal Student Aid or FSA on YouTube

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In-Person Help

Our Financial Aid Office offers in-person help via drop-in office visits and bi-weekly workshops.

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  • Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  • Sat-Sun: Closed
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