The world’s #1 Guide to Scholarships and Financial Aid

11.1. Filling Out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

The FAFSA is the gateway to most financial aid in the U.S.—federal grants, loans, work-study, and even some state and institutional awards. Filing it is non-negotiable if you want aid. Here’s how to ace it:

• When to Start: The FAFSA opens October 1 each year for the next academic year (e.g., October 1, 2025, for the 2026–2027 school year). Submit as early as possible—some aid is first-come, first-served.

• What You’ll Need: 

  • Your Social Security number (or Alien Registration number if you’re an eligible non-citizen).

  • Your parents’ tax returns and financial info (if you’re a dependent—more on that below).

  • Your own tax returns and income details (e.g., from a part-time job).

  • FSA ID (a username and password) for you and a parent, created at studentaid.gov.

• Steps to Complete:  

1. Go to studentaid.gov and log in with your FSA ID.

2. Select the correct FAFSA year and start a new application.

3. Fill in personal info—name, address, dependency status (determined by questions like age or marital status).

4. Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-import tax info—less typing, fewer errors.

5. List up to 10 schools you’re applying to—they’ll get your FAFSA data.

6. Review and sign electronically with your FSA ID (parents sign too if you’re a dependent).

7. Submit and Save: After submitting, download or screenshot your confirmation page.

Tip: File by June 30 of the award year (e.g., June 30, 2026, for 2025–2026), but earlier is better—some states and schools have deadlines as early as February.