FAFSA & Financial Aid

Gather the right documents, create your FSA ID, file at studentaid.gov as early as possible, and navigate the follow-up steps including appeals.

Gather Documents

• Locate your Social Security number — you'll enter it to create your FSA ID and on the FAFSA itself
• Gather your (and your parents', if dependent) prior-year federal tax returns — the FAFSA uses income from 2 years prior
• Gather current bank account balances and investment account statements as of the FAFSA filing date — these are assets, not income
• Get records of untaxed income: child support received, housing allowances, veterans benefits

FSA ID

• Create your FSA ID at studentaid.gov before starting the FAFSA — it's your legal signature and takes up to 3 days to verify for first-time users
• If you're a dependent student, one parent must also create their own FSA ID — each person needs a separate account
• Use an email address you'll have access to for years — your FSA ID is tied to this and used for loan repayment later

Complete at studentaid.gov

• File the FAFSA the day it opens — December 1 for the following academic year — not by the deadline; earlier filers get priority access to some aid
• Add all schools you're considering — you can add up to 20; add them even if you're not sure, so they receive your information
• Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) within the FAFSA to import tax data directly — reduces errors and reduces verification selection likelihood
• Submit, then save a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR) — email it to yourself for reference

Follow Up

• Check your SAR for your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) — a lower EFC means more need-based aid eligibility
• Watch for 'verification' notices from your school's financial aid office — you may be asked to submit tax transcripts or additional documentation
• Complete the CSS Profile at cssprofile.collegeboard.org if any school on your list requires it — most private universities do, and it unlocks institutional aid

Compare & Appeal

• Compare financial aid award letters using the real cost: tuition + room + board + fees minus grants and scholarships (not loans)
• Appeal your financial aid package in writing if your family circumstances have changed or if a competing school offered more — 'professional judgment' appeals are allowed
• Ask the financial aid office specifically about outside scholarships — some schools reduce institutional aid dollar-for-dollar when you win outside money; others don't