The FAFSA is the form the federal government uses to decide how much college financial aid you can receive

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is a form you fill out to tell the U.S. Department of Education about your family's income, assets, and household situation. The department uses this information to calculate how much federal aid — grants, loans, and work-study — you may be offered for college or career school.

You do not have to pay to fill out the FAFSA. The form itself is free. Colleges also use your FAFSA information to decide whether to give you their own institutional aid, and some states use it to award state grants. If you want any federal student aid, you must submit a FAFSA.

The FAFSA opens on October 1 each year and remains open through June 30 of the following year. You submit it once per academic year. Most students submit it in the fall or winter before the school year they plan to attend, though you can submit it later if needed.

Key Takeaways

  • The FAFSA is required to receive any federal student aid, including Pell Grants, federal loans, and work-study positions.
  • You provide information about your income, assets, and family size, and the government calculates your Expected Family Contribution — the amount your family is expected to pay toward college costs.
  • The form opens October 1 each year and you can submit it through June 30 of the following year.
  • Colleges use your FAFSA results to package aid and determine how much of their own money they will offer you.
  • You must resubmit the FAFSA every year you are in school and want aid.

What Information You Provide on the FAFSA

The FAFSA asks for your Social Security number, date of birth, and citizenship status. It also asks whether you are a dependent student (claimed on your parents' tax return) or an independent student (supporting yourself).

If you are a dependent, you must provide your parents' income, tax information, and assets. If you are independent, you provide your own. The form asks about income from the previous tax year, savings accounts, investments, real estate other than your home, and any untaxed income such as child support or military housing allowances.

You also report how many people live in your household and how many of them will be in college during the year you are requesting aid. The government uses all of this to calculate your Expected Family Contribution — the amount your family is expected to pay toward college costs that year.

How the FAFSA Determines Your Aid Amount

The government subtracts your Expected Family Contribution from the cost of attendance at the school you choose. The result is your financial need. Schools use this number to build your aid package.

If your Expected Family Contribution is $5,000 and the college costs $30,000 per year, your financial need is $25,000. The school may then offer you a combination of grants (money you do not repay), loans (money you repay with interest), and work-study (a part-time job on campus). Different schools package aid differently, so two students with identical FAFSA results may receive different total aid offers.

Your FAFSA results are sent to every college you list on the form. Schools receive a document called the Student Aid Report, which shows your Expected Family Contribution and other key information. You can also view your own Student Aid Report online using your FSA ID.

Federal Aid Types That Depend on the FAFSA

Pell Grants are need-based grants for undergraduate students from lower-income families. The amount you receive depends on your Expected Family Contribution, the cost of the school you attend, and whether you are a full-time or part-time student. Pell Grants do not have to be repaid.

Federal Direct Loans are loans you borrow from the federal government. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest while you are in school; unsubsidized loans do. Your FAFSA determines whether you are offered subsidized or unsubsidized loans and how much you can borrow.

Federal Work-Study is a part-time job program for students with financial need. The federal government subsidizes part of your wage. Your FAFSA determines whether you are offered a work-study position.

Some states also use FAFSA information to award state grants. Your state's higher education agency will contact you directly if you are selected for state aid.

Who Must Submit the FAFSA

You must submit the FAFSA if you want any federal student aid for college or career school. This includes Pell Grants, federal loans, and work-study. If you do not submit a FAFSA, you cannot receive federal aid, even if you are from a low-income family.

You must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident to receive federal aid. You must also have a high school diploma or equivalent (such as a GED), be enrolled in an accredited degree or certificate program, and be making satisfactory academic progress.

If you are a dependent student, your parents do not have to co-sign the FAFSA, but you will need their financial information. If your parents refuse to provide it, you may be able to appeal to your school's financial aid office to be classified as independent, though this is rare and requires documented circumstances.

How to Access and Submit the FAFSA

The FAFSA is available online at fafsa.gov. You will need an FSA ID — a username and password combination — to log in. You can create an FSA ID on the same website before you start the form.

The form takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete if you have your tax information ready. You can save your work and return to it later. Once you submit, you will receive a confirmation email. Your school's financial aid office will receive your information within a few days.

You can submit the FAFSA on a computer, tablet, or phone. The form is available in English and Spanish. If you need help, you can contact your school's financial aid office or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to submit the FAFSA every year?

Yes. You must submit a new FAFSA for each academic year you are in school and want aid. Your financial situation may change from year to year, and aid amounts are recalculated annually. If you do not submit a FAFSA one year, you will not receive federal aid that year.

What if I do not know my parents' income information?

You can use your parents' most recent tax return, which you can request from them or retrieve from the IRS website. If your parents file taxes jointly, you need only one return. If they file separately, you need both. If your parents did not file taxes, you can report their income from pay stubs or other documents.

Can I submit the FAFSA if I am not a U.S. citizen?

Federal aid requires U.S. citizenship, national status, or permanent resident status. If you are an international student or undocumented immigrant, you cannot receive federal aid. Some states and colleges offer aid to undocumented students; contact your school's financial aid office to learn what may be available to you.

What happens after I submit the FAFSA?

Your school receives your information within a few days. The financial aid office will review it and send you an aid package showing grants, loans, and work-study you are offered. You then decide which aid to accept. You do not have to accept all of it — for example, you can decline loans and accept only grants.

Does submitting the FAFSA may provide I will receive aid?

Submitting the FAFSA does not may provide aid. Your aid depends on your Expected Family Contribution, the cost of your school, and the school's available funds. Some students have an Expected Family Contribution higher than the school's cost and receive no aid. Others receive only loans, not grants.