What "In Review" means and how long it usually takes

When your FAFSA shows a status of "In Review," it means the Department of Education is processing your application but has not finished yet. This is normal. The federal government does not have a single deadline for finishing all reviews — processing happens in waves throughout the year, and your place in that queue depends on when you submitted, whether your application needs manual checking, and how many other applications are ahead of yours.

Most FAFSA applications move from "In Review" to a completed status within one to three weeks of submission. Some take longer. If you submitted early in the cycle (October through December), you may see results within days. If you submitted during peak season (January through March), expect two to four weeks. Applications submitted after March often take longer because the volume is higher and some schools have already distributed their aid money.

The status page on StudentAid.gov is the only official source for where your application stands. It updates once per day, usually overnight. Checking it multiple times in a single day will not speed up the process.

Key Takeaways

  • FAFSA applications typically stay "In Review" for one to three weeks, but timing depends on submission date and whether your application needs manual verification.
  • Peak season (January through March) means longer waits because the Department of Education processes thousands of applications daily.
  • If your application is flagged for verification, it will stay in review until you submit the documents your school requests.
  • You can check your status only on StudentAid.gov — no other website or phone line has real-time updates.
  • Contact your school's financial aid office, not the Department of Education, if your application has been in review for more than four weeks.

When your application gets flagged for verification

Some FAFSA applications move into a verification hold, which keeps them "In Review" longer than usual. This happens when the Department of Education or your school needs you to prove the information you reported — usually income, household size, or citizenship status. You will receive a letter or email from your school telling you exactly which documents to send.

Common documents requested include a copy of your tax return (or IRS transcript if you filed taxes), a W-2 form, proof of citizenship or legal residency, or a statement from your parents if you reported their income. Your school will tell you the deadline for submitting these. If you miss the deadline, your FAFSA may be rejected and you will have to resubmit it.

Verification can add two to six weeks to your processing time. If you have been asked to verify but have not yet submitted the documents, that is why your application is still in review. Check your school email and the mail you received from your school's financial aid office.

Why some applications take longer than others

The Department of Education prioritizes applications based on submission date and complexity. A straightforward application from a dependent student with no unusual circumstances may clear in days. An application from an independent student, a student with a non-traditional family structure, or someone who reported unusual income may need manual review and take longer.

Applications submitted during January, February, and March take longer because that is when most students submit. The Department of Education processes applications in the order they arrive, so later submissions naturally wait longer. Schools also have their own internal timelines — some begin reviewing FAFSA data as soon as it arrives, while others wait until a certain date to process batches.

If you submitted your FAFSA in October or November and it is still in review after three weeks, contact your school's financial aid office. If you submitted in January or later and it has been in review for four weeks or more, contact your school. They can see whether your application is held up at the federal level or at the school level, and they can sometimes push it through faster.

What to do if your FAFSA has been in review for more than four weeks

First, log into your StudentAid.gov account and check whether your status has changed to "Completed" or whether you have received a message asking for more information. If the status is still "In Review" with no new messages, your next step is to contact your school's financial aid office by phone or email. Do not contact the Department of Education directly — your school has access to your application status and can investigate holds or delays.

When you contact your school, have your Social Security number and FAFSA submission date ready. Ask them to check whether your application is waiting for verification documents, whether it is held up at the federal level, or whether there is an error in your application that needs correction. Some schools can resubmit applications on your behalf if there is a technical problem.

If your school cannot resolve the delay, you can contact the Federal Student Aid office through StudentAid.gov's contact form. Provide your name, Social Security number, and the date you submitted. Response times vary, but this route is slower than working through your school.

How to check your FAFSA status yourself

Go to StudentAid.gov and sign in with your FSA ID (the username and password you created when you started your FAFSA). Once you are logged in, select "My FAFSA" and look at the status line. It will show one of these: "In Review," "Completed," "Submitted," or "Not Submitted." If it says "In Review," scroll down to see whether there are any messages from the Department of Education or your school asking for more information.

If you see a message asking you to verify information or submit documents, follow those instructions immediately. Do not wait. If there is no message and the status is simply "In Review," check back in a few days. The status updates once per day, usually between midnight and 6 a.m. Eastern Time.

If you have already submitted your FAFSA and your school has received it, you can also log into your school's financial aid portal to see whether they have begun reviewing your application. Some schools show a separate status there that is different from the federal status.

What happens after your FAFSA is completed

Once your FAFSA status changes to "Completed," the Department of Education sends your information to the schools you listed. Your school then uses that information to calculate your financial aid package. This is a separate process from FAFSA review, and it can take another one to two weeks.

You will receive your aid package through your school's financial aid portal or by mail. The package will show how much grant money (which you do not repay) and loan money you are offered. You then decide which aid to accept. If you have questions about your package, contact your school's financial aid office — they can explain why you received the amount you did and whether you have other options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I submit a new FAFSA if mine is taking too long?

No. Submitting a second FAFSA will not speed up the first one — it will create a duplicate that confuses your school and the Department of Education. Wait for your first application to complete, then contact your school if you need to make corrections. You can make changes to a submitted FAFSA through StudentAid.gov at any time.

Does calling the Department of Education help move my application along?

The Department of Education does not have a phone line for status checks. Your school's financial aid office is the only place that can see your application and potentially expedite it. Call them instead.

What if I see an error in my FAFSA while it is still in review?

Log into StudentAid.gov and make the correction yourself. You can edit your FAFSA at any time before it is completed. After you make changes, the application will go back into review. Your school will see the updated version.

Will my financial aid be delayed if my FAFSA takes longer to process?

Possibly. Schools distribute aid based on when they receive your completed FAFSA. If your application takes six weeks to complete, your aid package will arrive later than students who submitted earlier. Some schools have priority deadlines — if you miss them, you may receive less aid even if your FAFSA is eventually completed.

Why does my school say they received my FAFSA but the Department of Education says it is still in review?

Your school receives your FAFSA data as soon as you submit it, but the Department of Education still needs to process and verify it. Both statuses can be true at the same time. Your school may have already started reviewing your application while the federal government is still checking your information.