FAQs: Before Beginning a FAFSA
- What is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
- What methods are available for completing the FAFSA?
- What records do I need to complete my FAFSA?
- What do I need to keep in mind when filling out the FAFSA?
- What are the deadlines for applying?
- Why is it important to submit accurate information?
Have more questions? Additional frequently asked questions are available in the FAFSA FAQs section of FAFSA on the Web.
What is the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA)?
The FAFSA is used to apply for federal student aid such as grants,
work-study, and loans. You may also use the FAFSA to apply for most
state and some private aid.
What methods are available for completing the FAFSA?
You can complete the FAFSA electronically by using FAFSA on the Web, or
you can fill out and mail a paper FAFSA. Each method is available in
both an English and a Spanish version.
In addition, some schools participate in Electronic Data Exchange (contact your school for more information).
You may use any one of these methods to apply for federal student aid, but do not submit more than one application.
Also note the following:
- If you are filing a 2008 income tax return, we recommend that you complete your tax return before filling out the 2009-2010 FAFSA. Note that you do not have to actually send your tax return to the IRS before filling out the FAFSA. You can submit your FAFSA using estimated income and tax information. However, after you file your tax return you must correct any income or tax information that is different from what you submitted on your original FAFSA.
- Submit or mail your 2009-2010 FAFSA no earlier than January 1, 2009 and no later than June 30, 2010.
- You should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) within three weeks. Carefully review all of the information on the SAR to make sure it is correct. Follow directions for making and submitting corrections promptly. If you do not receive a SAR within three weeks, or if you have questions about your SAR, refer to the Customer Service page.
TIP: You can check the status of your application by selecting Check Status of a Submitted FAFSA or Print Signature Page under the FAFSA Follow-Up section of the home page.
- If you or your family have unusual circumstances (such as loss of employment) that might affect your eligibility for federal student aid, check with the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend.
What records do I need to complete my FAFSA?
In order to successfully complete a FAFSA, you will need information
from one or more of the documents listed on the
Documents Needed page.
What do I need to keep in mind when filling out the FAFSA?
- The words "you" and "your" always mean the student.
- The word "school" means a college, university, graduate or professional school, community college, vocational or technical school, or any other school beyond high school.
- Round to the nearest dollar and do not use commas or decimal points.
- For dates, enter numbers that correspond to the month, day, and year. For example, for November 7, 1981, enter 11071981.
- 2009-2010 FAFSA questions that refer to the "school year" mean the school year from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.
- Do not mail tax forms or Worksheets to Federal Student Aid.
- Check with your financial aid administrator if you have unusual circumstances.
What are the deadlines for applying?
Federal student aid deadlines
You should apply as early as possible. Submitting your FAFSA is only
the first step in applying for federal student aid.
State student aid deadlines
State deadlines may be earlier than the federal deadlines. Your state
may also require an additional form.
School aid deadlines
Schools may have their own deadlines and applications for awarding
student aid. Check with your school’s financial aid office for
information.
For more information on federal, state and school deadlines, select Application Deadlines.
TIP: January 1 is the first date that you are eligible to file the FAFSA. Try to submit the form as close as possible to this date since school, state and private aid deadlines may be earlier than federal deadlines.
Why is it important to submit accurate information?
WARNING: You must fill out this form accurately. The information that you supply can be verified by your school, your state, or by Federal Student Aid.
You may be asked to provide U.S. income tax returns and other information. If you cannot or do not provide these records to your school when asked, you may not get federal student aid.
If you get federal student aid based on incorrect information, you will have to pay it back. You may also have to pay fines and fees. If you purposely give false or misleading information on your application, you may be fined $20,000, sent to prison, or both.
