What is verification?
Verification uses documentation to confirm that the information provided on a student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is correct. The federal government requires colleges and universities to verify, or confirm, the data reported by students and their parent(s) on the FAFSA. In this process, Carroll College will be comparing information from copies of the student (and parent's) signed Federal tax returns, W-2 forms or other financial documents as well as educational records (if necessary). The law requires the college to verify this information before awarding Federal financial aid. The verification process ensures that eligible students receive all the federal financial aid to which they are entitled and prevents ineligible students from receiving financial aid for which they do not qualify.
Process
If your Student Aid Report (FAFSA results) indicates you were selected for verification and you have not yet submitted the following to the Carroll College Financial Aid Office, you must:
Download either the Dependent Student Verification Worksheet or the Independent Student Verification Worksheet from the Financial Aid Forms page, complete, and return to the Carroll College Financial Aid Office.
Submit a copy of the student and (parent's, if dependent) 2020 signed Federal income tax return to the Carroll College Financial Aid Office. Please do NOT email Personal Identifiable Information (PII) such as tax forms. If taxes were not filed please provide us with a letter of non-filing from the IRS. This letter can be obtained by calling (800) 908-9946 or downloading the IRS form 4506-T and mailing it in. Please note the letter may take 15-30 days to arrive. The IRS will not mail the letter to a third party such as Carroll College.
Timeline
Verification must be completed no later than the first day of class. Failure to complete verification will result in the cancellation of all federal financial aid. In addition:
- No federal aid will be released until verification is completed.
- Students employed under the federal work-study program cannot work more than 60 consecutive days from the beginning of the semester without completing verification.
Records selected for verification will be reviewed and processed within four weeks of receipt of all required verification documents. If aid revisions are required, the student will receive a revised award letter notification via MyCarroll.
Carroll College must review the requested information under the financial aid program rules (34 CFR, Part 668).
Questions?
Please contact us at fao@carroll.edu.