Do You Need a Foreign Credential Evaluation to File the FAFSA?
What students with international academic records should know before applying for federal student aid.
If you completed your high school or college outside of the U.S., you might be wondering whether a foreign academic credential evaluation is necessary in the case of FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Short answer to this question is that no, a foreign academic credential evaluation is not required when submitting your FAFSA application. You may file FAFSA and submit the form without providing the evaluation of your credentials to the U.S. Department of Education.
This said, the college/university/career school you are planning to enroll into may request additional documents. Such additional documentation request is made not by FAFSA but rather by schools themselves because they have to make sure whether you have met the requirements for admissions, transfer of credits, or eligibility for federal student aid.
FAFSA Does Not Require a Credential Evaluation
FAFSA is an application which is used to determine whether you are eligible for the federal student aid. In the application you will be asked whether you have completed the high school but there will be no requirement from your part to provide the evaluation of your foreign credentials to the Department of Education. That is to say, the process of applying for the financial aid is connected with the school’s review of documents but they are not one and the same process.
According to the FSA Guidance, high school diploma includes the diploma obtained in the foreign institution as long as it is equivalent to the U.S. high school diploma prior to the moment of the student’s enrollment. Thus, the question whether a diploma has been received in the U.S. is not of any importance; what is important is whether a diploma is equal to the U.S. high school diploma.
Why Your School May Still Ask for One
Though FAFSA does not require your credential evaluation, some schools may ask for such evaluation to ensure that the student meets the requirement of having completed the equivalent of high school in the United States.
The Federal Student Aid Handbook permits the school to decide on the acceptability of the foreign high school diploma. The school will have the right to review the credentials if it is eligible for the assessment. In cases where the school does not feel that it is eligible to perform the assessment, it may instruct you to get the assessment done by a private credential evaluation service.
If You Completed School Outside the U.S.
In case you have completed your secondary education abroad, the college may require you to submit academic documents to check their equivalence. These documents include:
- Your foreign diploma or transcript.
- English translation of your academic credentials if they are not in English.
- Credential Evaluation.
It should be noted that the U.S. Department of Education does not evaluate foreign qualifications and degrees and recommends the student contacting the college in which he/she plans to study to find out further instructions. The process may either be conducted independently by the institution or it can be suggested to use the services of a private company evaluating credentials.
If You Already Have a Foreign College Degree
If you graduated from college in another country, whether or not to conduct a credential evaluation depends both on the institution itself and on the reasons for reviewing your educational documents. Some colleges have their own system of evaluating foreign transcripts, while others require the applicant to conduct the process outside the institution.
The application for FAFSA does not imply any specific credential evaluation service that is to be used. Each institution conducts its own policy concerning transcript evaluation, thus, you should clarify it in advance before purchasing a credential evaluation service.
Practical Next Steps
- Fill out the application form for FAFSA before the specified deadline; do not wait for the credential evaluation process if you are not instructed to do it by your institution.
- Consult the institution regarding foreign credential evaluation process.
- Question if certified translations are needed for your non-English documents.
- In case of an outside evaluation being necessary, make sure to check what services the school needs before making an order.
- Always make copies of diplomas, transcripts, translations, and the report of evaluation.
The Bottom Line
You don’t need a foreign credential evaluation to complete the FAFSA form, and don’t need to submit it to the U.S. Department of Education. However, the college you apply to may ask you for a credential evaluation to prove your high school equivalency, admissions, or for transfer credit purposes. As different institutions have their own policies, the best way to go will be to submit the FAFSA in time and follow further document instructions provided by the college.
Many schools that require an outside credential evaluation accept evaluations from NACES member organizations. FACS is a founding member of NACES and a member of it now. You can find out more information on FACS evaluations on their website https://facsusa.com/. The cost of such services starts at $100, and a quick turnaround is five business days after receipt of your documents.
