Skip Main Navigation

FAFSA

Major changes to the 2024–25 FAFSA® form include the following:

  • An FSA ID (account username and password) required to access the FAFSA form.
    • Users without a Social Security number can create an FSA ID and access the FAFSA form.
  • A roles-based FAFSA form
    • Roles = Student (Applicant), Parent, and Preparer
    • Once all required data has been provided and all sections have been signed, any role can submit the FAFSA form.
  • Introduction of contributors to the FAFSA form
    • Contributors = Parent, Other Parent, Student Spouse, and Student (when invited by Parent or Preparer)
    • Contributors must provide the required information and sign their respective section for a FAFSA form to be considered complete.

A FAFSA onboarding experience for both initial entry and correction entry

  • Integration of the FAFSA form into StudentAid.gov’s Dashboard, Status Center, Notification Center, and Settings
  • The general look and feel of the FAFSA form
  • Integration to allow users’ federal tax information to be retrieved and transferred directly into the FAFSA form via IRS direct data exchange, replacing the IRS Data Retrieval Tool
  • Replacement of the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) with the Student Aid Index (SAI)
  • Required consent from users to
    • retrieve and disclose federal tax information,
    • be eligible for federal student aid, and
    • be eligible to receive an SAI.
  • Predictive search results for questions that require city, state, or school lookup.
  • Students, parents, and preparers may begin, complete, and submit a new FAFSA form for the 2024–25 FAFSA processing cycle.
  • Dependent students must invite their parent(s) to contribute to their form if parent information is required.
  • Independent students and a dependent student's parent must invite their spouse to contribute to the student’s form if spouse information is required.
  • Students and contributors must provide consent to retrieve and disclose federal tax information from the IRS for the student to be eligible for federal student aid. 
  • Students no longer need to take additional action to start a renewal FAFSA application.

After the FAFSA form is processed, students can correct or update their application. Contributors can correct or update only their sections of the student’s application.

The Priority Deadline for the 2024-2025 FAFSA is May 2, 2024

Cash for College Webinars  to help you complete your 2024-25 FAFSA 

The FSA ID is a username and password you use to log in to U.S. Department of Education (ED) online systems. The FSA ID is your legal signature and should be created by you.

You will use your FSA ID every year you fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid form and for the lifetime of your federal student loans.

Step 1. Visit FSA ID to create an FSA ID.

Step 2. Enter your Social Security number, full legal name, and date of birth.

Step 3. Create a memorable username and password, and complete challenge questions and answers so you can retrieve your account information if you forget it.

Step 4. Provide your email address and your mobile phone number when you make your FSA ID. This will make it easier to log in to ED online systems and allow additional account recovery options. If your parent is creating their new FSA ID, they will need to also provide their own email address and mobile phone number. 

Do not use an email address with an ending in (e.g. “.edu,” “.k12,” “.pvt,” “.tec,” or “.cc”) as some of these addresses may be associated with your high school or community college and access can be lost after graduation or transfer.  You may want to create a personal email address with Yahoo or Google.

Step 5. Take note of your newly created username, password and email address used.

Note: A Social Security number, email address, and mobile phone number can only be associated with one FSA ID. If you share an email address with someone else, then only one of you will be able to use that email address to create an FSA ID.

Tips on creating the FSA ID:

  • Contributore and student each need their own FSA ID
  • SSN is not required to complete your FSA ID if you do not have an SSN        
  • Use the “show text” feature
  • Don’t use your high school email

 

Step 1. Log into the FAFSA form, all students are required to have an FSA ID  

https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/sign-in/landing

After logging in, the student can select the applicable role to fill out the FAFSA® form: “Student, “ or "Parent.“ The student selects “Student." When the student starts the 2024–25 FAFSA® form for the first time, they are taken through the FAFSA onboarding process. The student can verify that their personal information is correct. To update any of the personal information, the student must access their Account Settings on StudentAid.gov.

 

Step 2.  Dependent Student Provides Consent

By providing consent, the student’s federal tax information is transferred directly into the FAFSA® form from the IRS to help complete the Student Financials section.

 

Step 3. Dependent Personal Circumstances

List any personal circumstances listed that may apply. If you considered dependent, you will be asked to provide information about your parents.

 

Step 4. Student Information

Student will be asked about their gender identity and if they are transgender, their race and ethnicity, citizenship status, parents education status, high school completion status and tax return and asset information. Student will be able to select up to 10 different colleges.

 

Step 5. Parent Demographic Information

The student is reminded that their form is not completed and can’t be submitted until the parent completes the contributor section of the form and signs it.

 

Step 6. Student’s Parent Log In

The parent is taken from their email to the “Log In” page to enter their log-in credentials. To access the FAFSA® form, all users are required to have an FSA ID (account username and password). If the parent doesn't have an FSA ID, they can select "Create an Account." This page provides information about being a contributor on a FAFSA® form. 

 

Step 7. This page informs the parent about consent and their federal tax information. By providing consent, the parent’s federal tax information is transferred directly into the FAFSA® form from the IRS to help complete the Parent Financials section.

This page informs the parent about consent and their federal tax information. By providing consent, the parent’s federal tax information is transferred directly into the FAFSA® form from the IRS to help complete the Parent Financials section. The parent selects "Approve" to provide consent and is taken to the next page. 

Step 8. Dependent Student’s Parent Information

Parent will be asked about their demographic information, state of legal residence, financial information, tax filing status, and tax return information, family size, and assets.  race and ethnicity, citizenship status, parents education status, high school completion status and tax return and asset information.

After you submit your FAFSA form online or on the myStudentAid mobile app, you can check its status immediately. (Note: Only the student can check the status, because the FSA ID username and password are required to log in.) Here’s how:

  • Go to fafsa.gov or the myStudentAid mobile app and log in with your FSA ID username and password.
  • The status of your application will be one of the following.
  • Processing: Your application is still processing. It typically takes three to five days, plus one additional business day to be made available to the schools you listed on the form.
  • Processed Successfully: Your application was processed successfully. No further action is needed.
  • Missing Signatures: Your application is missing the required signature(s).
  • Action Required: Your application requires further action. Contact your school to resolve the issue.

If you submitted a paper FAFSA form, you can check its status after it has been processed (roughly 7–10 days from the date mailed).