You cannot make changes to your FAFSA while it is under review by the Department of Education, but you can prepare corrections to submit once the review is complete.

The FAFSA system locks your application once you submit it. During the review period — which typically lasts a few days to a few weeks — the Department of Education checks your information against IRS records, Social Security data, and other federal databases. While this verification is happening, the system will not let you edit your answers, even if you spot an error yourself.

This does not mean you are stuck with a mistake forever. Once your FAFSA moves out of review status and into a resolved state (either verified, pending, or flagged for additional documentation), you can make corrections. The timing and method depend on what state your application reaches.

Key Takeaways

  • Your FAFSA becomes read-only the moment you submit it; you cannot edit answers while the Department of Education is reviewing your data.
  • Once review is complete and your FAFSA shows a status other than "in review," you can log back in and make corrections through the FAFSA website.
  • If you discover an error before review finishes, write down the correction and submit it as soon as the system allows you to edit.
  • Some errors — like mismatched income or citizenship status — may trigger a flag that requires you to submit documents or contact your school's financial aid office before you can make changes.

How to know when your FAFSA is no longer under review

Log into your FAFSA account at studentaid.gov and look at the status next to your name. "In review" means the Department of Education is still checking your information. Once that status changes to "verified," "pending," "flagged," or "rejected," the review phase is over and you can edit your application.

You can also check your school's financial aid portal. Many colleges and universities pull FAFSA data automatically and will show you what information they received. If your school's system shows your FAFSA data but the federal FAFSA website still says "in review," your school may have already processed your application — and you can contact their financial aid office to ask about making corrections.

Making corrections after review is complete

Once your FAFSA is no longer in review, return to studentaid.gov, sign in with your FSA ID, and select the year you need to correct. You will see an "Edit FAFSA" button. Click it, find the section with the error, and make your change. Save and submit the correction.

The system will process your correction and may send your updated application back into review if the change affects your financial need or aid amount. This second review is usually faster than the first — often just a few days. Your school will receive the corrected information and may recalculate your aid package.

If your FAFSA is flagged or rejected during review

A flag means the Department of Education found information that does not match federal records or needs clarification. Common flags include a mismatch between your reported income and IRS data, a Social Security number that does not match your name, or citizenship status that cannot be verified. When this happens, you cannot edit your FAFSA until you resolve the flag.

Your school's financial aid office will contact you with instructions — usually asking you to submit documents like a tax return, Social Security card, or proof of citizenship. Once you provide what they ask for, the flag is removed and you can make edits if needed. A rejection means your application was denied outright, typically because you do not meet basic requirements like being a U.S. citizen or having a valid Social Security number. You can reapply the following year or contact your school's financial aid office to discuss your situation.

Common errors discovered after submission

The most frequent mistakes homeowners and students catch after hitting submit are income figures (especially if you had a major life change like job loss or a bonus), dependent status (claiming someone as a dependent when they should not be), and school selection (adding or removing schools from your list). All of these can be corrected once review is complete.

If you made an error with your parents' information and you are a dependent student, you will need to ask your parent to log into their own FSA ID account and make the correction on their end. The FAFSA will not let you edit your parent's data from your account — only they can change their own information.

What happens to your aid if you correct information

Your school will recalculate your aid package based on the corrected information. If the change lowers your expected family contribution, your aid may increase. If it raises your contribution, your aid may decrease. Schools typically process corrections within a few days to a week, and they will send you an updated financial aid offer.

Correct errors as soon as you notice them, even if it means your aid goes down. Schools have limited time to process changes before the school year starts, and waiting until after classes begin can complicate your enrollment and payment plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I call the Department of Education to make a change while my FAFSA is in review?

No. The Department of Education does not accept changes by phone during the review process. You must wait until your FAFSA exits review status and then make the correction yourself through studentaid.gov. Your school's financial aid office may be able to note your concern in their system, but the official correction must come through the FAFSA website.

How long does FAFSA review usually take?

Most applications move out of review within a few days to two weeks. During peak periods (January through March), some applications take longer. You can check your status anytime by logging into studentaid.gov. If your application has been in review for more than three weeks, contact your school's financial aid office to ask if there is a hold or flag on your account.

What if I submitted the wrong school code?

Once your FAFSA is no longer in review, log back in and edit the school section. Remove the incorrect school and add the correct one. Your school will receive the updated information, and the school you removed will no longer see your FAFSA data. Make this correction as soon as possible so your correct school can process your aid in time.

Can I make changes if my FAFSA was rejected?

Not directly. A rejection means you do not meet the basic requirements to receive federal aid. You cannot edit a rejected FAFSA. You can submit a new FAFSA for the next school year, or contact your school's financial aid office to discuss whether you can appeal or address the reason for rejection.