What Is the FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form students complete each year to apply for federal grants, work-study funds, and student loans. Many states, colleges, and scholarship providers also use FAFSA information to determine eligibility for financial aid. Filing the FAFSA is free, and you can complete the official application at studentaid.gov. Completing the FAFSA does not obligate you to accept loans or any other financial aid offered.

What You Need Before You Apply

Gather the following information before starting your FAFSA. What you need will depend on your circumstances.

• Your StudentAid.gov account username and password. Any required contributors, such as a parent or spouse, will need their own accounts.
• Your Social Security number, if applicable, and Alien Registration number if you are an eligible noncitizen.
• An email address for each parent or spouse you need to invite as a contributor.
• Federal income tax returns and related records for the tax year specified on the FAFSA.
• Current balances for checking and savings accounts, along with investment, business, and farm asset information if required.
• Records of child support received, if required.
• A list of colleges or career schools you want to receive your FAFSA information, even if you have not yet applied or been accepted.

Follow the instructions on the official FAFSA form to determine which information you and your contributors must provide.

Check Your FAFSA Deadlines

There are three types of FAFSA deadlines to check: federal, state, and college. To receive consideration for the most financial aid available to you, submit your FAFSA before the earliest deadline that applies to you.

• Federal deadline — Each FAFSA form has a federal submission deadline for the academic year it covers. Check the deadline for the form you are completing.
• State deadlines — Your state may have earlier deadlines for grants and scholarships. Some programs have priority deadlines or award funds until the available money runs out. Additional applications may also be required.
• College deadlines — Colleges and career schools set their own deadlines for financial aid consideration. Check the financial aid website of every school you are considering, even if you have not yet been accepted.

Check current federal and state deadlines at StudentAid.gov and confirm college deadlines directly with each school's financial aid office. Scholarship providers may also set separate deadlines for submitting FAFSA information.

If you miss a state or college priority deadline, you may still qualify for other aid. Submit your FAFSA before the applicable federal deadline and contact your financial aid office to ask what assistance remains available.

How the FAFSA Relates to Scholarships

Completing the FAFSA can help you qualify for more than federal financial aid. Some colleges, state agencies, and private scholarship providers use FAFSA information to evaluate financial need or require you to submit the form as part of their scholarship application process.

• Need-based scholarships may use FAFSA information, including your Student Aid Index (SAI), to help determine eligibility.
• Some scholarship programs require FAFSA completion even when financial need is not the primary selection criterion.
• Other scholarships do not require the FAFSA and instead consider factors such as academic achievement, community service, career interests, or personal background.

Submitting the FAFSA does not automatically apply you for every scholarship that uses its information. Review each program's requirements and complete any separate applications or supporting documents by the deadline.

You can search for scholarships while completing your FAFSA and waiting for financial aid offers. Scholarships.com helps you find opportunities that match your background, interests, and educational goals.

Who should complete the FAFSA® form?

Any student, regardless of income, who wants to be considered for federal, state, and school financial aid programs. This includes grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans.

How long will it take?

It takes most people less than one hour to fill out the FAFSA form, including gathering any personal documents and financial information needed to complete it.

Continue Your Scholarship Search

The FAFSA is one part of your college funding plan. Scholarships can help cover remaining costs, and opportunities are available for students with a wide range of backgrounds, interests, and financial circumstances.

Create your free Scholarships.com account to find scholarships that match your profile. Review eligibility requirements, save your favorites, and keep track of application deadlines. You can start applying before you receive your financial aid offer and continue searching throughout college.

What do I need?

• Verified account username and password (FSA ID)
• Parent or spouse contributor name, date of birth, Social Security number, and email address
• Income and asset information (if required)

What is the FAFSA® form?

Colleges and career schools use the FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid you're eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans. You must apply for aid every year, but with the right information in hand, it's easy.

In our short video, learn what the FAFSA form is, what to expect when filling it out, who should help you, and more.

Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form can be a straightforward and easy process. Below are some tips to help you along the way.

Creating a StudentAid.gov Account

Before starting your FAFSA, create your StudentAid.gov account. Enter your legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number (SSN) accurately. If you already have an account, use your existing username and password rather than creating another account.

Accounts for Students and Contributors

For the 2027–28 FAFSA, you and any required contributors must each use your own StudentAid.gov account to complete and electronically sign your sections of the online form. Depending on your circumstances, a contributor may include your spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or your parent’s spouse.

If you’re a dependent student, use Federal Student Aid’s guidance on reporting parent information to determine whose information is required.

A parent or spouse without an SSN can still create a StudentAid.gov account and complete and sign their required sections online. Follow the account creation instructions for individuals without an SSN. Learn more about StudentAid.gov accounts.

Keep your account credentials private. Your account serves as your electronic signature, so students and parents should not share accounts.

Starting Your FAFSA Form

Visit the official FAFSA application page, log in, and select the form for the academic year you need financial aid. Choose the 2027–28 FAFSA if you are applying for aid for the 2027–28 academic year.

If you are completing your own application, select the student role. Parents helping with a child’s application must use their own accounts and follow the instructions for parents or contributors.

If the form requires a parent or spouse contributor, you’ll need their email address to send an invitation. Each contributor must complete the required information, provide consent and approval for the transfer of federal tax information, and sign their section. Providing information as a contributor does not, by itself, make that person responsible for paying your college costs.

For additional instructions, review Federal Student Aid’s guides for students completing the FAFSA and parents completing the FAFSA.

Gathering the Documents Needed To Apply

The 2027–28 FAFSA uses 2025 income and tax information. Much of your federal tax information can transfer directly from the IRS, but you may need records to answer additional questions. Gather the following information for yourself and any applicable contributors:

• Your StudentAid.gov account username and password.
• Your Social Security number and, if applicable, your A-number as an eligible noncitizen.
• The email address of any parent or spouse you need to invite as a contributor.
• Your 2025 federal income tax return and related records, if applicable. Additional records may be needed if you filed a foreign tax return.
• Records of child support received for the year requested on the form, if required.
• Current account balances and records of investments, businesses, or income-producing farms, if required. Follow the form’s instructions about which assets to include or exclude.
• A list of colleges or career schools you want to receive your FAFSA information, including schools where you have not yet applied or been accepted.

You and your required contributors must provide consent and approval for the IRS tax information transfer even if you did not file a federal tax return.

Keep your records available in case your school requests documentation. Do not send supporting financial records to Scholarships.com.

For more information, review Federal Student Aid’s FAFSA preparation checklist and 2027–28 tax information guidance.

Getting Help

If you need help filling out the FAFSA form, use these free tools:

• In the online FAFSA form, select the question mark icon next to a FAFSA question to view a “tool tip” that provides information about how to answer that question.
• Visit the "FAFSA® Help" for the 2025-26 FAFSA form, where you can find answers to common questions.
• In the online form, chat with Aidan®, our virtual assistant.
• Chat with, email, or find a phone number for the Federal Student Aid Information Center.
• Contact the financial aid office at the college or career/trade school you plan to attend.

Starting Your FAFSA® Form and Providing Your Basic Personal Information

The 2025-26 and 2025-26 FAFSA forms are available now. We encourage you to fill out the applicable form as soon as possible on or after the FAFSA launches to meet FAFSA federal, state, and school deadlines.

If you are starting the 2025-26 FAFSA form for the first time on fafsa.gov, select “Start New Form” and enter your account username and password to access the FAFSA form.

If you are starting the 2025-26 application for the first time on fafsa.gov, select “Start or Edit a 2025-26 FAFSA Form.” Your name and SSN must match those on your Social Security card. Near the beginning of the FAFSA form, you’ll create a “save key,” a temporary password that you’ll use if you start your FAFSA form, save it without finishing it, then want to open it again later to finish it.

If you are applying for a summer session, contact the financial aid office at your college or career/trade school to find out which school year you should select when you complete your FAFSA form.

Listing Colleges and/or Career Schools

While completing 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 types and amounts of aid you may receive. Use the 2025-26 School Search or 2025-26 Federal School Code Search to find the colleges or career/trade schools you’re interested in including on your FAFSA form.

For federal student aid purposes, the order of schools for 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 instance, you might need to list a state school first). Find out whether your state has a requirement for the order in which you list schools on your FAFSA form.

Your 2025-26 school list can have up to 20 schools online or up to 10 schools on a FAFSA PDF. Your 2025-26 school list can have up to 10 schools online or up to four schools on a FAFSA PDF. (You can add or delete schools on your FAFSA form later.) Schools you list on the application will automatically receive your FAFSA results electronically.

Note: Schools will not be able to see which other schools you listed on your FAFSA form.

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.

Reporting Spouse’s Information

If you are married (and not separated) and filed taxes jointly with your spouse, then you’ll report your spouse’s information on the 2025-26 FAFSA form, but they will not be identified as a contributor. But if you’re married (and not separated) and didn’t file taxes jointly with your current spouse, your spouse will be considered a contributor on your 2025-26 FAFSA form.

Providing Financial Information

The FAFSA form asks for financial information, including information from tax forms and balances of savings and checking accounts.

• The 2025-26 FAFSA form asks for 2023 tax information.
• The 2025-26 FAFSA form asks for 2022 tax information.

Note: If your or your family’s financial situation has changed significantly from what is reflected on your federal income tax return (for example, if you’ve lost a job or otherwise experienced a drop in income), you may be eligible to have your financial aid adjusted. Complete the FAFSA questions as instructed on the application (including the transfer of federal tax return and income information), submit your FAFSA form, then contact the school you plan to attend to discuss how your current financial situation has changed. Note that the school's decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.

What to Do If Your Parents’ (or Your) Marital Status Has Changed Since Taxes Were Filed

Here are some tips for this type of situation using the example of the 2025-26 FAFSA form:

• The FAFSA form asks for marital status “as of today” (the day it’s filled out). So, if the student or parent is married now but wasn’t in 2023 (and therefore didn’t file taxes as married), the spouse’s 2022 income will need to be added to the FAFSA form.
• Similarly, if the student or parent filed 2023 taxes as married but is no longer married when filling out the FAFSA form, the spouse’s income will need to be subtracted.
• And if the student or parent was married when filing 2022 taxes, then got divorced and is now married to someone else, the spouse will need to report their own income as a contributor.

The FAFSA help text covers all these situations in more detail as you’re filling out the application.

Automatically Transferring Your Tax Information

2025-26 FAFSA® Form

The Financial Aid Direct Data Exchange, replacing the IRS Data Retrieval Tool starting with the 2025-26 FAFSA form, will transfer contributors' federal tax information from the IRS directly into your FAFSA form.

All contributors must provide consent and approval to

• disclose their personally identifiable information provided on the FAFSA form to the IRS for matching purposes;
• obtain their federal tax information from the IRS via direct data exchange;
• allow the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to use their federal tax information to determine the student's eligibility and amount of federal student aid;
• allow ED to share their federal tax information with colleges, career/trade schools, and state higher education agencies for use in awarding and administering financial aid; and
• allow ED to reuse their federal tax information on another FAFSA applicant's form (e.g., if a parent has multiple dependent students or a parent's own FAFSA form).

NOTE: Even if contributors don't have an SSN, didn't file taxes, or filed taxes outside of the U.S., they will still need to provide consent and approval.

IMPORTANT: If a required contributor doesn't provide consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred into the FAFSA form, you (the student) will not be eligible for federal student aid—even if the contributor manually enters tax information into the FAFSA form.

To ensure the information is secure, the federal tax information won't display on the FAFSA site or the FAFSA Submission Summary.

2025-26 FAFSA® Form

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) automatically transfers tax information into the 2025-26 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.)

Here’s how the IRS DRT process works, assuming your tax information is available:

1. The IRS DRT takes you to the IRS website, where you’ll need to provide your name and other information exactly as you provided it on your tax return. Some information will be prepopulated from your FAFSA form.
2. At the IRS site, you’ll see a page that indicates that your tax information is available. (For security and privacy protections, you won’t see the actual information.) You can choose to import your information into the FAFSA form, or you can cancel your request and return to the FAFSA site.
3. If you choose to import your information into the FAFSA form, you’ll find that on the FAFSA site, instead of your tax information being displayed, you’ll see “Transferred from the IRS” in the appropriate fields for data security purposes. You won’t be able to make changes to those answers.

Can I change the tax return information that I transfer into the 2025-26 FAFSA® form via the IRS DRT?

No. Information you transfer via the IRS DRT can’t be changed. Remember, the information transferred is coming from your filed tax return, so it shouldn’t need to be changed. If your financial situation has changed or you filed an IRS Form 1040X amended return, contact your financial aid office at the college or career school you plan to attend to discuss whether it would be appropriate for the school to adjust the information on your FAFSA form.

If I’ve transferred my tax return information into the 2025-26 FAFSA® form via the IRS DRT, and then decide I want to enter the information manually instead, can I clear the information that was transferred via the DRT?

We strongly discourage clearing the information. For the 2025-26 FAFSA form, the IRS DRT is a fast and accurate way to input your tax return information into the FAFSA form. Additionally, using the IRS DRT to enter your tax information into the FAFSA form may reduce the amount of paperwork you need to provide to your school later.

If, despite this, you still want to clear the information transferred via the IRS DRT and enter your tax information manually—and you haven’t submitted the application or correction yet—you can select the “Reset FAFSA Form” button at the top of the page. Just know that by doing so, the entire application or correction will be cleared, and you will have to start the entire application or correction over again.

If I enter my tax information manually, will I be able to see it?

Yes. Tax return information that’s entered manually on the 2025-26 FAFSA form will be visible on fafsa.gov and on your Student Aid Report.

Signing and Submitting the FAFSA® Form

2025-26 FAFSA® Form

After you complete your required section of the FAFSA form online, you’ll acknowledge the terms and conditions of the form and electronically sign your section. You can then submit your section of the FAFSA form. However, your FAFSA form won’t be considered complete until all required contributors provide their information on the FAFSA form, give their consent and approval to transfer federal tax information into the form, and provide their signatures.

After you and your parent (and/or any other required contributor) sign and submit the FAFSA form, the form will be considered complete and will be submitted for processing.

If you submit the FAFSA form, you’ll see a confirmation page that displays your completion date, data release number, and next steps. You’ll also see your estimated Student Aid Index (a number used by college and career/trade schools to determine your eligibility for federal student aid), estimated Federal Pell Grant eligibility, and information about other federal student aid for which you may be eligible. This confirmation page is emailed automatically to you for your records.

Note: The Student Aid Index on the confirmation page is only an estimate. The official Student Aid Index will appear on the FAFSA Submission Summary.

2025-26 FAFSA® Form

Before your 2025-26 FAFSA form can be processed, you’ll need to sign and submit the application. Here are some tips as you finish your FAFSA form:

• Be sure to sign with your username and password so your FAFSA form will be processed as quickly as possible. (If you log in to the form by providing your username and password, you won’t be asked for it again when it’s time to sign. However, if you’re providing parent information, one of your parents will be required to sign your application.)
• While your online FAFSA form will be processed much quicker if you (and your parent if you’re a dependent student) sign your FAFSA form with your username and password, you have the option to print out, sign, and mail in a signature page to the address listed on the page. Learn more about printing a signature page.
• Once you see your confirmation page, you’ll know you’ve successfully submitted your FAFSA form. If you provided an email address on the form, you’ll automatically receive the confirmation page by email. There are a few differences between the emailed confirmation and the one you’ll see in the FAFSA form before exiting the application, so consider printing or saving your confirmation page before you exit. For example, the emailed confirmation won’t include the college graduation, retention, and transfer rates for the colleges and career schools you listed on your FAFSA form.
• There are some states that have a partnership with our office that allows you to transfer your information directly into your state aid form (for example, New York residents can use this interface to link directly to the application for the Tuition Assistance Program [TAP]). When you fill out the FAFSA form, you’ll have the option to apply with certain state financial aid forms. So, if you see a link from your FAFSA confirmation page to your state financial aid form, you should select it. The link will appear only on the confirmation page within the FAFSA form, so be sure to take advantage of it while you’re still in the application.
• Your confirmation page offers the option for the parent information in your FAFSA form to be transferred automatically into another student’s application. So, if you have a sibling who needs to fill out a FAFSA form, be sure to use this option when you see your confirmation page. The link will appear only on the confirmation page within the FAFSA form, so be sure to take advantage of it while you’re still in the application.

Taking the Next Steps

Once you’ve completed your FAFSA form, there are more steps you have to take before you receive financial aid. Make sure you know what happens after you submit your FAFSA form.

The above content has been copied from and used with permision of www.studentaid.gov