Online colleges may provide a more affordable, convenient path to a degree. But many students still need financial aid to help them cover the costs. Most start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA. Thankfully, many online schools accept FAFSA, just like their in-person counterparts.

The FAFSA can tell you how much federal aid you can receive through grants and loans. Keep reading to discover more about the financial aid and 19 online schools that accept FAFSA.

How do you qualify for financial aid?

What is FAFSA? It's simply the application for federal financial aid. Many undergraduate and graduate students use it to find out how much federal aid they can receive to help cover tuition. 

Completing the FAFSA is often a prerequisite for scholarships and tuition assistance programs.

Before filling out the FAFSA, make sure you qualify. You can find some eligibility requirements below. 

• U.S. citizen (there are exceptions for eligible noncitizens)
• Social Security number
• Proof of financial need
• Accepted or enrolled in a program that accepts FAFSA
• High school diploma, GED, or completion of approved homeschool program

Visit the Federal Student Aid website for complete eligibility information.

What can disqualify you from getting financial aid?

A few situations can disqualify you from getting financial aid. These include the following:

• Defaulted federal student loans
• Money owed on federal student grant
• Not using money for educational purposes
• Not maintaining satisfactory academic progress

Noncitizens or students with criminal convictions can receive financial aid in certain circumstances.

Another thing that can disqualify you is attending a non-accredited college or university.  

How can I tell if an online college accepts FAFSA?

There are two easy ways to check if an online college accepts FAFSA. 

First, you can find information on the school's website. These sites often have a "tuition and financial aid" tab listing ways to finance your education. A school that accepts FAFSA usually lists it on the financial page.

You can also visit the Federal School Code Search. Even if you don't know your school's code, you can put in the name and location. If an entry with a code is listed, then the school accepts FAFSA. 

Keep in mind that only accredited schools can accept FAFSA. Colleges can be accredited at the school-wide level by organizations such as the Higher Learning Commission or the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Some degrees have program-specific accreditation. For example, online business school accreditation may differ from engineering accreditation. But these program-specific accreditations do not affect FAFSA. 

Perhaps you are looking for accredited online MBA programs and only see program-specific accreditation. Look for the school's "about" tab, or simply web-searching the school's name plus "accreditation."

19 accredited online colleges that accept FAFSA

If you're looking to save money on your higher education by applying for FAFSA, start your college search with the list below. Each of the following online schools