FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The main form for federal grants, loans, and most state and institutional aid in the U.S.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known universally as FAFSA, is the primary form U.S. families file to qualify for federal student aid. Submitting the FAFSA also unlocks most state aid programs and is required by nearly every U.S. college for institutional need-based aid consideration.
The form requires income and asset information from the prior tax year, the student's identity and demographic information, and a list of schools to receive the report. As of the 2024-25 cycle, the FAFSA was simplified and now uses the Student Aid Index (SAI) to determine eligibility.
Filing as early as possible after the FAFSA opens (October 1 traditionally; the redesigned form has occasionally launched in December) maximizes priority consideration for limited state and institutional grant programs. The FAFSA is free, and parents should never pay a third party to file it.
Related terms
View all terms- CSS ProfileA supplementary aid form used by ~250 selective colleges to award their own institutional aid. Goes beyond FAFSA in detail.
- Pell GrantA federal need-based grant for undergraduate students that does not need to be repaid. Maximum award rises annually with inflation.
- SAIStudent Aid Index. The current FAFSA-calculated number used to determine federal and most institutional financial aid eligibility.
- EFCExpected Family Contribution. The legacy term for what families were expected to pay annually toward college, now replaced by SAI.
- Net PriceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships, as opposed to the published sticker price. The number that should drive budgeting decisions.