FAFSA opens

Overview

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) opens October 1, 2026 for the 2027-2028 school year. Parents/guardians should complete FAFSA immediately to determine financial aid eligibility. This unlocks federal and institutional aid from colleges. Visit studentaid.gov.

Step 1: Prepare Required Documents

Before starting FAFSA, gather:

For Student:

• Social Security Number
• Valid government-issued ID (state ID or passport)
• ITIN if international student

For Parent(s)/Guardian(s):

• Social Security Numbers
• Dates of birth
• Valid government-issued ID

Financial Documents (Latest tax year: 2025):

• Federal tax return (Form 1040, 1040-SR, 1040-NR)
• W-2s from employers (all jobs)
• 1099s (if self-employed or freelance income)
• Tax transcripts (if unsure of figures)
• Bank and investment statements
• Business or farm records (if applicable)

IMPORTANT: Get tax documents before starting FAFSA. Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) at IRS can provide tax data directly—don't type figures manually.

Step 2: Create FSA ID

Both student AND parent must have FSA IDs:

Student FSA ID:

• Go to studentaid.gov
• Click "Create FSA ID"
• Enter name, Social Security Number, date of birth
• Create username and password
• Answer security questions
• Email confirmation sent; verify email
• FSA ID now active for student

Parent FSA ID:

• Same process, but parent enters their information
• Parent will use this to sign FAFSA

Important: Keep FSA IDs safe and secret (not shared with anyone)

Step 3: Start FAFSA

Process:

1. Go to studentaid.gov
2. Click "Start FAFSA" or "Complete Free Application"
3. Log in with student FSA ID
4. Select school year: 2027-2028
5. State of residence (U.S. or international)
6. Next screens: Questions about family structure

Step 4: Complete FAFSA Sections

Section 1: Student Demographics

• Full name, date of birth, Social Security Number
• Driver's license number (optional)
• Contact information (email, phone, mailing address)
• State of residence

Section 2: Dependency Status

Critical question: Are you dependent or independent student?

Most high school seniors are dependent (parents' information required)

• Dependent student: FAFSA uses parent income/assets
• Independent student: FAFSA uses only student income/assets
• You're independent only if: 24+, married, have dependent children, in military, or other specific conditions

Section 3: School Selection

• Search for colleges you're applying to
• FAFSA allows you to list up to 10 schools
• Schools receive your FAFSA information
• You can add more schools later (no limit, but first 10 are included in initial submission)

Schools to include:

• All your target/reach schools
• All your safety schools
• Even if unsure about attending—include all college options

Section 4: Financial Information (PARENT)

Use IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) when possible:

• You can authorize FAFSA to pull tax data directly from IRS
• More accurate than manual entry
• Fewer mistakes

If using DRT:

• On FAFSA, select "IRS Data Retrieval Tool"
• Parent logs in with IRS.gov credentials (not FSA ID)
• IRS shares tax data with FAFSA directly
• FAFSA automatically fills tax figures

If not using DRT:

• Manually enter tax figures from 2025 tax return
• Income (wages, interest, dividends)
• Deductions
• Credits
• Tax paid

Parent Financial Information:

• Total income (wages, self-employment, interest, dividends)
• Untaxed income (traditional IRA distributions, child support)
• Adjustments and deductions
• Tax credits
• Cash, savings, checking accounts balance
• Investment accounts balance
• Real estate (excluding primary home)

Important: Colleges calculate Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from FAFSA; this determines financial aid eligibility.

Section 5: Student Financial Information

If student has income/assets:

• Work-study earnings (if any)
• Other income
• 529 or education savings accounts
• Investments
• Cash/savings accounts

Reality: Most high school seniors have no income/assets; leave blank if none.

Section 6: Special Circumstances (Optional)

Answer questions about:

• Unusual expenses (medical costs, therapy)
• Job loss or reduced income
• Other financial hardship

Note: If you have special circumstances (illness, job loss, etc.), note them here; colleges may adjust financial aid.

Section 7: School Codes

CRITICAL: Ensure college codes are correct

• Use college search on FAFSA to find correct codes
• Wrong code = FAFSA sent to wrong school
• Check list before submitting

Federal School Code examples:

• UC Berkeley: 001312
• UCLA: 001313
• Community colleges: Find by searching on FAFSA

Step 8: Parent Signature

FAFSA must be signed by:

• Student (using FSA ID)
• Parent(s) (using parent FSA ID)

Both signatures required (even if only one parent in home)

Step 9: Review and Submit

Before submitting, verify:

• [ ] All student information accurate
• [ ] School codes correct and complete
• [ ] Parent financial information accurate (or DRT used)
• [ ] Special circumstances documented if applicable
• [ ] Signatures complete

Click "Submit FAFSA"

• Confirmation page appears
• Email confirmation sent
• Keep confirmation for records

After FAFSA Submission

What happens next:

1. Colleges receive FAFSA (within 2 days)
2. Colleges calculate financial aid package
3. Financial aid award letter sent (by April 1 if filed early)
4. You compare aid packages between schools

Important FAFSA Deadlines

| Date | Milestone | |------|-----------| | Oct 1 | FAFSA opens | | Oct 15 | Submit FAFSA (early = more aid available) | | Nov 15 | Submit FAFSA (mid-early) | | Dec 15 | Submit FAFSA (late but before Jan deadline) | | Jan 15 | Submit FAFSA for January app deadline | | Feb 1 | Priority deadline most schools | | Mar 2 | Cal Grant priority deadline (CA residents) | | June 30 | FINAL federal deadline |

Best practice: Submit by November 15 to maximize aid and give colleges time to process before admission decisions.

FAFSA Common Mistakes to Avoid

| Mistake | Problem | Fix | |---------|---------|-----| | Wrong school code | FAFSA sent to wrong school | Use FAFSA search to verify codes | | Typos in SSN | Information doesn't match | Triple-check all 9 digits | | Missing parent FSA ID | Application can't be submitted | Create parent FSA ID before FAFSA | | Manual entry of tax data | Errors and discrepancies | Use IRS Data Retrieval Tool instead | | Not listing all schools | Schools don't receive FAFSA | Add schools during or after submission | | Forgetting to sign | Application incomplete | Both student and parent must sign |

Pro Tips

1. IRS Data Retrieval Tool is essential: Use it; manually typed income figures often have errors
2. File early: Colleges award financial aid on rolling basis; early filers get more institutional aid
3. Parent worried about sharing finances? FAFSA is necessary for aid eligibility; financial information is confidential and only shared with colleges student lists
4. Special circumstances matter: If family has hardship, document in FAFSA; colleges can adjust aid packages