How Do I Submit my FAFSA?
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The FAFSA is a long form, and can be daunting – especially for people who are applying for financial aid for the first time. Be prepared for hassle, but don't let it stop you from submitting your FAFSA and getting the aid you qualify for. Before you start, make sure you've done the necessary prep work – that you've created an FSA ID and collected all of your tax documents and other paperwork.
To submit your FAFSA, you have 4 options
- FAFSA Mobile
- FAFSA on the Web
- PDF FAFSA
- Paper FAFSA
submit your FAFSA Mobile
- Download the myStudentAid App: Visit the Apple App Store (for iOS devices) or Google Play Store (for Android devices) on your mobile device.
- Search for "myStudentAid": Use the search bar within the app store to find the myStudentAid app.
- Install the App: Once you've located the app, tap on "Install" or "Download" to install it on your mobile device.
- Open the App: After installation is complete, open the myStudentAid app on your device.
- Log In: Log in to the app using your FSA ID (Federal Student Aid ID). If you don't have an FSA ID, you can create one through the app.
- Start or Continue Your FAFSA: You can either start a new FAFSA application or continue an existing one if you've already started it using the same FSA ID.
- Complete the FAFSA: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete all sections of the FAFSA form. Provide accurate and up-to-date financial and personal information.
- Review and Sign: Review your FAFSA for accuracy and make any necessary corrections. After ensuring everything is correct, sign the FAFSA electronically using your FSA ID.
- Submit Your FAFSA: Once you've completed and signed the FAFSA, submit it electronically through the app.
- Confirmation: After submission, you'll receive a confirmation message indicating that your FAFSA has been successfully submitted. Make a note of any confirmation numbers provided.
- Check for Updates: Keep an eye on your email for your Student Aid Report (SAR), which summarizes the information you provided on your FAFSA. Review the SAR for any errors or corrections needed.
- Follow Up: If your financial situation changes after submitting the FAFSA (e.g., due to changes in income, family size, or other circumstances), you can make corrections to your FAFSA as needed. Visit the FAFSA website or use the app to access your application and make updates.
For the first time, you can now complete the FAFSA form on a mobile device with the same ease as on a desktop or laptop computer using the myStudentAid app. You may download the app in the Apple App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).
submit your FAFSA on the Web
To submit your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) on the web, follow these step-by-step instructions: how to make FSA ID
- Visit the FAFSA Website:- Go to the official FAFSA website by typing the URL "https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa" into your web browser's address bar and press Enter. You can also search for "FAFSA" on a search engine, and the official website should appear in the results.
- Create or Log In to Your FSA ID:- If you have already created an FSA ID (Federal Student Aid ID), enter your username and password to log in. If you haven't created one yet, you can do so on the FSA ID creation page. An FSA ID is required to sign and submit your FAFSA electronically.
- Start a New FAFSA:- Once you're logged in, you can either start a new FAFSA application or continue a previously started one.
- Provide Personal Information:- Follow the on-screen instructions to provide your personal information, including your name, date of birth, Social Security Number (SSN), contact information, and driver's license information (if applicable).
- Add School Selection:- You'll need to list the schools to which you want your FAFSA information sent. You can add up to 10 schools to your FAFSA at a time. You'll also need to specify your housing plans and dependency status for each school.
- Complete Financial Information:- Fill in the financial sections of the FAFSA, including income, assets, and other financial details. You may be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import your tax information directly from the IRS, which can save time and reduce errors.
- Review and Sign Your FAFSA:- Carefully review all the information you've entered to ensure accuracy. Then, electronically sign your FAFSA using your FSA ID. If you're a dependent student, one of your parents will need to sign with their FSA ID as well.
- Submit Your FAFSA: After signing, click the "Submit My FAFSA Now" button to submit your application electronically. You'll receive a confirmation page confirming that your FAFSA has been successfully submitted.
- Confirmation and Student Aid Report (SAR): You'll receive a confirmation email with a link to your Student Aid Report (SAR). Review your SAR for any errors or issues. The SAR summarizes the information you provided on your FAFSA.
- Follow-Up and Corrections:- If you need to make corrections or updates to your FAFSA (e.g., due to changes in income or family circumstances), you can log in to your FAFSA account and make the necessary changes.
submit your FAFSA PDF
Submitting your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in PDF format involves printing a paper copy of your completed FAFSA form, physically signing it, and mailing it to the address provided on the form. Here's how to do it:
- Complete Your FAFSA Online:- Start by filling out your FAFSA form online at the official FAFSA website (https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa). Follow the prompts and provide all the required information.
- Review Your FAFSA:- Before proceeding, carefully review the information you've entered to ensure it's accurate and complete. Correct any errors or missing details.
- Generate a PDF Version:- After reviewing your FAFSA, you can generate a PDF version of your application. Look for an option to "View and Print a PDF Summary" or a similar link on the FAFSA website. This will allow you to see how your FAFSA will look when printed.
- Print Your FAFSA:- Once you've generated the PDF summary, print a paper copy of your FAFSA. You'll need access to a printer and plain white paper for this step.
- Sign Your FAFSA:- After printing the FAFSA, you and your parent(s) (if you're a dependent student) must physically sign it. Use a pen with blue or black ink. Your signature is required to confirm the accuracy of the information you provided.
- Check for Additional Documentation:-Depending on your specific circumstances or if you're selected for verification, you may need to include additional documentation, such as tax return transcripts or other financial documents. Check the instructions provided on your FAFSA for any required attachments.
- Mail Your FAFSA:-Find the address provided on your printed FAFSA for mailing. It's essential to use the correct address, as it can vary depending on your state and the type of delivery service you're using. Make sure you have enough postage on your envelope.
- Keep Copies for Your Records:-Before sending your FAFSA, make photocopies or scan the completed form for your records. This can be helpful if you need to reference it later or if any issues arise.
- Check for Confirmation:-You won't receive immediate confirmation when submitting a paper FAFSA. However, you can track your FAFSA status online through the official FAFSA website to ensure it has been received and processed.
- Follow Up:- If you're requested to provide additional information or documentation by the financial aid office of your chosen school or the U.S. Department of Education, respond promptly to avoid delays in processing your aid application.
submit your FAFSA Creating an Account
We strongly recommend you create your account before starting your FAFSA form. Your account username and password combination, called your FSA ID, gives you access to certain information online and allows you to sign your FAFSA® form and promissory notes electronically. While you can get your FSA ID as you’re completing the FAFSA form online, getting it ahead of time and using it to fill out the FAFSA form on fafsa.gov cuts down on errors and delays. Find out how to get an FSA ID and what to do if you forget your FSA ID. - Creating and logging in to a FAFSA account
Important note: If you’re a dependent student, one of your parents whose information is reported on the FAFSA form will also need an FSA ID so that your parent can sign your application electronically. If your parent doesn’t have a Social Security number (SSN), your parent won’t be able to create an FSA ID (which requires an SSN). This means you’ll have to select the option to print a signature page when you get to the end of your FAFSA form on fafsa.gov.
How Do I Submit my FAFSA Overview
Step | Instructions |
---|---|
1. | Gather Required Information: Before starting your FAFSA, collect the necessary documents and information, including your Social Security number, driver's license, income tax returns, W-2 forms, bank statements, and records of investments. If you're a dependent student, you'll need this information for your parents as well. |
2. | Create an FSA ID: Go to the Federal Student Aid (FSA) website at fsaid.ed.gov and create an FSA ID. This ID serves as your electronic signature and provides access to your FAFSA and other federal student aid information. Each student and one parent (if applicable) should have their own FSA ID. |
3. | Access the FAFSA Website: Visit the official FAFSA website at studentaid.gov or use the myStudentAid mobile app to start your application. |
4. | Start a New FAFSA: Click on the "Start Here" button and select "New FAFSA" if you're completing the FAFSA for the first time. Choose "Renewal FAFSA" if you're renewing your application from a previous year. |
5. | Complete Personal Information: Enter your personal information, including your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and contact details. |
6. | Create a Save Key: For security purposes, create a Save Key, a temporary password that allows you to return to your FAFSA later if needed. |
7. | Add School Codes: Enter the Federal School Code of the colleges and universities you're applying to. You can add up to ten schools to your FAFSA. |
8. | Dependency Status: Answer questions to determine if you're a dependent or independent student. This affects the information you'll need to provide on your FAFSA. |
9. | Parental Information: If you're a dependent student, provide your parents' financial and demographic information. If you're an independent student, skip this section. |
10. | Financial Information: Enter your financial details, including income, assets, and tax information. Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, if eligible, to import your tax data directly from the IRS. |
11. | Sign and Submit: Review your FAFSA for accuracy. After ensuring all information is correct, sign your FAFSA electronically using your FSA ID. If you're a dependent student, one parent should also sign electronically. |
12. | Confirmation: Once submitted, you'll receive a confirmation page and email indicating that your FAFSA has been successfully submitted. |
13. | Follow Up: Check the status of your FAFSA online to ensure it has been processed. If additional information is required, provide it promptly. |
Use your FSA ID to start your FAFSA form
When creating an FSA ID, be careful to enter your name and Social Security number exactly as they appear on your Social Security card. Then, if you go to fafsa.gov to start your application and indicate you are a student, you will be given the option to enter your FSA ID or your "Identifier" (your name, date of birth, and SSN). will be given. ,
If you log in with your FSA ID, some information (including your name, Social Security number, and date of birth) will be automatically loaded into your application. This will save you from the common error that occurs when your verified FSA ID information does not match the information on your FAFSA form. Additionally, if you are eligible you will not need to provide your FSA ID again to electronically sign your FAFSA form or use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT).
The student is applying for financial aid, so make sure that student is entering their FSA ID in the "I am a student and want to use the FAFSA form" section. Do not start the FAFSA form by providing the parent's FSA ID in the Student role.
Gathering the Documents Needed to Apply
FAFSA questions ask for information about yourself (your name, date of birth, address, etc.) and your financial situation. Depending on your circumstances (for example, whether you are a U.S. citizen or which tax form you used), you may need the following information or documents when you fill out the FAFSA application:
- Social Security Number (it is important that you enter this correctly on the FAFSA form!)
- Your parent's Social Security number if you are a dependent student
- You have a driver's license number
- Your alien registration number if you are not a US citizen
- Tax returns, including federal tax information, tax documents, or IRS W-2 information, for you (and your spouse, if you are married), and for your parents if you are a dependent student:
- IRS Form 1040
- Foreign Tax Return or IRS Form 1040-NR
- Tax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia or Palau
- If you are a dependent student, records of your untaxed income, such as child support received, interest income, and veterans' non-education benefits, for you and your parents.
- information on cash; checking savings and account balances; investments, including stocks and bonds and real estate (but not including the home you live in); And business and farm assets for you and your parents if you are a dependent student
Independent or Dependent Student
And now with myStudentAid app, you can
- Manage FSA ID. If you don't already have one, you can create your username and password directly from the app,
- Complete your FAFSA faster because myStudentAid uses "skip logic" to skip unnecessary questions that don't pertain to you,
- Automatically retrieve your tax information directly from IRS.gov to the myFAFSA application using the IRS data retrieval tool,
- Connect the app to College Scorecard, showing key scorecard metrics for each institution you choose for easy comparison,
- Access federal loan and student aid history using the myFederalLoans feature,
- Start a new FAFSA, save your progress, and come back later, even on another device. Yes, starting from one device and ending on another device.
When should FAFSA be completed
When you can submit your FAFSA. The official deadline is June 30 but may vary from state to state. In general, you must complete this before June 30 or file before April 1 to meet the state's "priority" deadline. While the form is technically not due until June 30, you will have a better chance of receiving financial aid if you fill out the form as soon as it is available because some aid is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Do I need to submit a FAFSA every year
Yes. You must submit the FAFSA for each school year that you want to receive financial aid. But once you’ve submitted it the first time, you can do a FAFSA renewal in subsequent years. Use your FSA ID to access your original FAFSA.
Starting Your FAFSA Form and Providing Your Basic Personal Information
The FAFSA form is available on Oct. 1 for the next school year. We encourage you to fill it out as soon as possible on or after Oct. 1 to meet FAFSA federal, state, and school deadlines.
- Log in at fafsa.gov to apply online
- Complete a FAFSA PDF (note: you must print out and mail the FAFSA PDF for processing)
- Request a print-out of the FAFSA PDF by calling us at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243); then fill out the form and mail it for processing
The following are tips for filling out the form online
Near the beginning of the FAFSA form, you will create a "save key", a temporary password that you will use when you start your FAFSA form, save it without finishing it, then use it again later to finish it. Want to open. One benefit of the Save Key is that the student and parent can use this function to access the FAFSA form if they are completing the application in different locations. (Unlike an FSA ID, which needs to be kept private, it's OK to tell your parents what your save key is.)
If you are applying for the summer session, contact your college's financial aid office to find out which school year you should select when completing your FAFSA form.
If you filled out a FAFSA form last year and want to renew it, select “Log In” on the FAFSA home page, select “I am the student and want to access the FAFSA form,” enter your FSA ID, and be sure to select “Renew my FAFSA Form” once given the option. That way, many of the (nonfinancial) questions will be prefilled for you. Just be sure to update any information that has changed since last year, including the financial questions.
How do I list colleges on FAFSA
While completing the FAFSA, you’ll be asked to enter FAFSA school codes for up to 10 schools where you plan to apply, usually in order of preference. If you haven’t decided where you’re applying, list the schools you think are possibilities. If you change your mind, you can always update your FAFSA later.
How do I link FAFSA to IRS
- For the 2024—2024 school year, anyone listing tax information on the FAFSA will be required to use the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX), which will be mandatory.
- When you reach the financial information section of the FAFSA, click “Link to IRS” to automatically prefill the form with your tax information.
What happens after FAFSA is submitted
If your application is complete, you’ll receive an e-mail with a link to an online copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR), which is a summary of the FAFSA data you submitted, in as little as 3 to 5 days. Using that information on your student aid report, the schools will then determine your financial need and prepare a financial aid award package for you.
Will my FAFSA application be processed if my school is closed?
- ED’s Central Processing System still will process your FAFSA information and will send it to each school you list on your FAFSA, whether or not your school is closed.
Listing Colleges and/or Career Schools
When filling out the FAFSA form, you must list at least one school to receive your information. The schools you list will use your FAFSA information to determine the type and amount of aid you receive. Use the Federal School Code Search to include the colleges you are interested in on your FAFSA form.
For federal student aid purposes, the order of the schools on your college list does not matter. However, to be considered for state aid, some states require you to list schools in a particular order (for example, you may need to list a state school first). Find out if your state requires the order in which you list schools on your FAFSA form. You can list up to 10 schools online or up to four schools on the FAFSA PDF. (You can add more schools to your FAFSA form later.) The schools you list on the application will automatically receive your FAFSA results electronically. Note: Schools will not be able to see what other schools you have listed on your FAFSA form.
How do I contact FAFSA for help
If you need help completing the FAFSA, you can contact the FAFSA customer service number: 1-800-433-3243 or ask for help online by hitting the “Help” button when you are filling out your actual FAFSA application. To make sure you have what you need when you apply/renew, use the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet which includes a preview of the questions in the same order as they will appear in the online application.
Determining Your Dependency Status
The FAFSA form asks a series of questions that determine whether you are a dependent or independent student for purposes of applying for federal student aid. If you are a dependent student, you must report parent information, as well as your own information, on your application. If you’re curious, you can find out now whether you’re a dependent student.
Reporting Parents’ Information
If you’re a dependent student, you’ll need to report parent information on your FAFSA form. Visit our page on reporting parent information to find out who counts as your parent, what to do if you don’t live with your parents, and what to do if you don’t have access to your parents’ financial information.
What to Do If Your Parents’ (or Your) Marital Status Has Changed Since Taxes Were Filed
- The FAFSA form asks for marital status "as of today" (the day it is filled out). So, if the student or parent is married now, but not in 2021 (and therefore not filing taxes as married), the spouse's 2021 income will need to be added to the FAFSA form.
- Similarly, if the student or parent filed 2021 taxes as married when they filled out the FAFSA form, but are no longer married, the spouse's income must be subtracted.
- And if the student or parent was married when they filed 2021 taxes, then got divorced and are now married to someone else, a little more math has to be done: Subtract the ex's income, then add the new spouse's income.
Automatically Transferring Your Tax Information Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT)
The IRS DRT automatically transfers tax information into the FAFSA form. Be sure to consider this option if it’s offered to you. (If you requested an extension on filing your taxes and didn’t file until September or later, find out when your tax return information will likely be available using the IRS DRT.)