Complete your FAFSA online at studentaid.gov, starting October 1st each year

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is submitted entirely online through studentaid.gov, not through your school or a third-party website. You create a login using your email address, then fill out a form that asks about your income, assets, family size, and educational plans. The form itself takes 20 to 40 minutes if you have your documents ready. After you submit, the Department of Education processes your information and sends a Student Aid Report (SAR) to you and your school within a few days to a few weeks.

The FAFSA opens for the 2024–25 school year on October 1, 2023, and closes on June 30, 2024. However, schools often distribute aid on a first-come, first-served basis, so submitting earlier — ideally in October or November — increases the chance you will receive the full amount your school has available. If you miss the federal deadline, some schools may still process your FAFSA, but you will not be considered for federal grants or work-study funds.

Key Takeaways

  • You must create a login at studentaid.gov using your email address and a password you choose; this is separate from any school login.
  • Have your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and tax documents (your own and your parents' if you are a dependent) ready before you start.
  • The form asks about income and assets from the prior tax year — for the 2024–25 school year, you report 2023 tax information.
  • After you submit, your school receives your information within days and uses it to calculate how much federal aid you may receive.
  • Submitting in October or November gives you the best chance at receiving the full amount of aid your school has available.

What documents and information you need before you start

Gather these items before you open the FAFSA form. You will need your own Social Security number, date of birth, and driver's license or state ID number. You will also need your 2023 tax return (or your parents' if you are a dependent student). If you filed taxes, you can link your IRS tax data directly into the FAFSA through a tool called the IRS Data Retrieval Tool — this is faster and more accurate than typing numbers by hand.

If you did not file taxes but earned income, have your W-2 forms or other income records ready. If you are a dependent student, your parents will need their Social Security numbers and tax information as well. Have your school's Federal School Code ready too — you can find this on your school's website or by searching the Federal School Code database at studentaid.gov. If you have a FSA ID (a login credential separate from your FAFSA login), have that ready, though you can create one during the FAFSA process if needed.

Creating your login and starting the form

Go to studentaid.gov and select "Sign in" or "Create an account." Enter your email address and create a password. You will receive a confirmation email — click the link to verify your email. Once verified, log back in and select "Start your FAFSA." You will be asked to confirm your name, date of birth, and Social Security number.

The form then asks whether you are a dependent or independent student. This matters because dependent students must report parental income and assets, while independent students do not. The Department of Education uses specific rules to determine dependency — being claimed on your parents' taxes, living with them, or receiving financial support from them all count toward dependent status. If you are unsure, the FAFSA form itself explains the rules and lets you answer questions to determine your status.

Filling out income and asset sections

The FAFSA asks about income from the prior tax year. For the 2024–25 school year, you report 2023 income. If you filed a tax return, use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import your information directly — this is the fastest and most accurate method. If you did not file taxes but earned income, enter your W-2 income or self-employment income from your pay stubs or records.

The form also asks about assets: savings accounts, investments, real estate (other than your primary home), and business ownership. Report the value as of the date you complete the FAFSA. If you have very little in savings or investments, you may not need to report anything. The form will tell you if a question does not apply to your situation. If you are a dependent, your parents report their income and assets in a separate section of the same form.

Listing your schools and reviewing your information

The FAFSA asks you to list up to 10 schools where you plan to attend or are considering. Enter each school's Federal School Code. The Department of Education will send your FAFSA information to each school you list, and each school will use it to calculate your aid package. You can add or remove schools later if you change your mind, but schools you list receive your information immediately after you submit.

Before you submit, review every section for accuracy. Check that your name, date of birth, and Social Security number match your official documents. Verify all income and asset figures. If you are a dependent, make sure your parents' information is correct. If something is wrong, you can edit it after submission, but fixing errors before you submit saves time.

Submitting and what happens next

Once you have completed all required sections, select "Submit your FAFSA." You will see a confirmation message with a submission date and time. The Department of Education will process your form and send you a Student Aid Report (SAR) by email within a few days to a few weeks. The SAR shows the information you submitted and your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) — a number your school uses to calculate how much aid you may receive.

Your school will also receive your FAFSA information and use it to create a financial aid package. This package may include federal grants (money you do not repay), federal work-study (a part-time job), and federal loans. Your school will send you a financial aid award letter showing what aid they are offering. If anything on your SAR is incorrect, you can make corrections through your studentaid.gov account, and your school will receive the updated information.

Common reasons your FAFSA may be delayed or rejected

The Department of Education may flag your FAFSA for review if information does not match their records — for example, if your Social Security number does not match your name in their database, or if your income seems inconsistent with prior years. When this happens, you will receive a message in your studentaid.gov account asking you to verify or correct information. Respond as quickly as you can, because your school cannot finalize your aid package until your FAFSA is processed.

Other common delays include mismatched tax information (if you used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool but the IRS records do not match what you entered), missing or incorrect school codes, or incomplete sections. If you see an error message, read it carefully — it will tell you exactly what needs to be fixed. You can edit your FAFSA and resubmit as many times as you need before the June 30 deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to create a separate FSA ID?

A FSA ID is an older login system that some parents and students still use. You do not need one to complete the FAFSA — your email and password work for everything. If you already have a FSA ID, you can use it, but creating a new account with your email is simpler and just as valid.

What if my parents refuse to provide their information?

If you are a dependent student and your parents will not help, contact your school's financial aid office. Some schools have a dependency override process that may allow you to be treated as independent for aid purposes, though this is rare and requires documented evidence of unusual circumstances.

Can I submit the FAFSA after the June 30 deadline?

You can submit after June 30, but you will not be considered for federal grants or work-study. Some schools may still process your FAFSA for loan purposes, but federal grant money is typically distributed only to students who submit by the deadline.

How do I know if my FAFSA was actually submitted?

Log into your studentaid.gov account and look for your FAFSA in the "My Aid" section. You will see a submission date and time, and your Student Aid Report (SAR) will appear once it is processed. If you do not see a submission date, your form was not submitted — go back and complete any missing sections.

What if my income or family situation changes after I submit?

You can update your FAFSA anytime through your studentaid.gov account. Changes are common — job loss, divorce, or a change in household size all affect your aid. Submit corrections as soon as you can so your school can recalculate your aid package.