Create your FSA IDs

Overview

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the gateway to federal financial aid. Nearly every college requires it, and filing early can help you get priority consideration!

Important Links

• FAFSA Application: studentaid.gov/fafsa
• Create FSA ID: studentaid.gov/fsa-id

Key Dates

• Opens: October 1, 2025 (for 2026-2027 school year)
• California Priority Deadline: March 2, 2026 (for Cal Grant)

Getting Started

1. Create FSA IDs — both student AND parent need separate accounts with different emails
2. Allow 1-3 days for Social Security verification
3. Gather 2024 tax returns and financial documents
4. Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically import tax data

School Codes

You can list up to 20 schools. Find codes at studentaid.gov/fafsa-app/FSCsearch

Helpful Tip

Even if you think your family's income is too high for need-based aid, file FAFSA anyway! It's required for federal loans and many merit scholarships.