The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the form that must be completed to apply and determine eligibility for federal, state, and college-specific financial aid, such as grants, loans and work-study programs. FAFSA worksheets are available at high schools, college financial aid offices, or local college access programs. FAFSAs may be filed online at studentaid.gov.
Students are now able to submit a FAFSA earlier. Students can now file a FAFSA starting October 1 of every year, rather than January 1. The earlier submission date is a permanent change, enabling students to complete and submit a FAFSA as early as Oct. 1 every year.
Completing the FAFSA is much easier than many students and parents may believe; preparation is key. Federal Student Aid Identification (FSA ID) accounts for the students and parents are required for signing the FAFSA electronically and may be created at studentaid.gov.
Learn about the steps and deadlines filing for FAFSA.
The Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) allows students and parents to identify themselves electronically to access FSA websites, including the FAFSA website.
Verification is a process used to check the accuracy of the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Avoid scams and paying for free services when you’re searching for scholarships, filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form, and sharing your personal information.
Links to valuable FAFSA resources.
Financial aid is a complicated topic, so finding your way through the process can be challenging. But we’ve got resources to help.
Other important information and documentation necessary for completion of the FAFSA include the following:
The FAFSA on the Web Worksheet is available to download. The Worksheet is not intended to be a duplicate of the paper FAFSA; families are encouraged to complete the form and use it as a guide when you are working with the FAFSA on the Web.
The FAFSA should be completed and submitted to the federal processor prior to the FAFSA deadlines established by each college to which the student has applied. Up to ten (10) different colleges may be listed on the FAFSA to electronically receive the Student Aid Report (SAR), which will include the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) figure. The EFC is an estimate of the amount of money the student's family should be able to provide for one year of higher education, based upon the data in the FAFSA.
The SAR is usually available within a few days after submission of the FAFSA. The report acknowledges that the application was processed, and can be used to make corrections to the FAFSA. The PIN(s) may be used to make online changes to the FAFSA and to file future FAFSAs on an annual basis. Colleges may request federal tax returns or other documents to verify FAFSA information. Each college which has accepted the student for admission and has received FAFSA data will send the student an official financial aid award letter which will provide details of the financial assistance the college is offering.
The FAFSA will calculate the EFC, and the college will subtract this amount from its COE. This determines how much financial aid will be offered. The colleges will come as close as possible to meeting the student's Financial Need relative to the college's costs.