Intro
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) gives you access to federal, state, and institutional financial aid. Students across the country complete this application each year to apply for the coming year’s financial aid. If you are looking for a step-by-step guide for how to complete your FAFSA, you have come to the right place!
Gather What You Need
We have compiled a helpful list of the necessary information and documentation students and parents will need to complete the FAFSA. Check out the list below, or refer to our printable Steps to Complete Your FAFSA PDF.
Students will need:
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
- Email address
- Permanent Resident Card, if not a U.S. Citizen
- Federal tax return from two years prior (if the student filed)
- Value of any cash, savings account, and checking account
Parents will need:
- Social Security number for each parent on the FAFSA (if the parent(s) has one)
- Date of birth for each parent on the FAFSA
- Email address
- Month and year parents were married, divorced, separated, or widowed
- Federal tax return from two years prior (if filed)
- Other financial information if applicable: federal benefits received, earned income credit, foreign income, and child support received
- Value of any cash, savings account, and checking account
- Net worth of any investments, businesses, and farms
Create Your FSA ID
Before you begin the FAFSA, you will need to create an FSA ID, which is your FAFSA username and password. Plan to complete this step at studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account at least 3-5 days before you begin the application process. . For more detailed instructions on completing this step, review MEFA’s webinar, How to Create Your FSA ID. Remember that every student needs an FSA ID, and at least one parent listed on the FAFSA (and sometimes two) needs an FSA ID. For guidance, reference MEFA’s guide, Who Needs an FSA ID? Keep your FSA ID in a safe place so that you can use it each year when you fill out the FAFSA.
Begin the FAFSA
After you have your FSA ID, you can begin the FAFSA. Start the application at fafsa.gov and select Log In To Start under the upcoming academic year’s FAFSA. It’s easiest if the student, rather than the parent, begins the FAFSA.
Invite Contributors
Most students will need to invite a contributor (or contributors) to provide information on their FAFSA. Contributors include the student and any parent that would need to submit their personal and financial information in designated sections of the FAFSA form. Students should provide each parent’s name, date of birth, Social Security number, and email address, exactly as it appears on their FSA ID.
Complete the FAFSA
The student will answer the questions on the application and sign the student section. Meanwhile, the parent(s) will receive an email invitation to complete the FAFSA. They will click on Log In and enter their own FSA ID. Once logged in, they will click Get Started. The parent(s) will answer the FAFSA questions, and then sign and submit the parent section.
What Happens After
After all contributors have completed their sections, you can submit your FAFSA for processing. Once Federal Student Aid processes your FAFSA (within a few days):
- The student will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS), which includes an eligibility overview, a summary of all FAFSA answers, and next steps.
- Colleges and the student’s state of residence will receive the data electronically.
- Families will be able to make corrections to the data.
- Colleges may request additional documentation or information from families through a process called verification.
Getting Help
If you would like to have one-on-one help completing the FAFSA, check out the FAFSA Day events available. Here at MEFA, we are also always available to provide assistance. Feel free to give us a call at (800) 449-MEFA (6332) or send us an email at [email protected].
