The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required by all U.S. colleges to determine your eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid. This includes grants, scholarships, work-study, and federal student loans.
Submitting the FAFSA as early as possible ensures you don’t miss out on first-come, first-served aid. It’s free, and once you’ve gathered your documents, it only takes about 30–60 minutes to complete.
🧭 Step-by-Step: How to Complete the FAFSA
1️⃣ Create Your FSA ID (Student & Parent)
Before you begin, both the student and one parent must create their own FSA ID at studentaid.gov/fsa-id.
Allow 1–3 days for the FSA ID to be verified and ready to use.
2️⃣ Go to
and Start the FAFSA
Log in as the student using the student’s FSA ID.
Click “Start a New FAFSA” for the correct academic year.
Choose if you’re applying as a dependent or independent student (most students under 24 are dependent).
3️⃣ Add Student Information
You’ll enter:
Legal name (must match your Social Security card)
Date of birth
Social Security Number
Email and contact info
Citizenship status
High school and college plans
4️⃣ Add Parent Information
The FAFSA will guide you through:
Parent(s) legal name(s)
Date(s) of birth
Social Security Numbers (if applicable)
Marital status
Household size and number of students in college
💡 If parents are divorced or separated, FAFSA requires info from the parent who provides more financial support, not necessarily the one who claims the student on taxes.
5️⃣ Link IRS Tax Info via Direct Data Exchange (DDX)
Both the student and parent(s) will use the IRS Direct Data Exchange to securely link and import tax return data directly into the FAFSA.
You’ll need:
Filed tax returns (typically from two years prior—e.g., 2022 returns for 2024–25 FAFSA)
W-2s and income info for any non-tax filers
6️⃣ List the Colleges You’re Applying To
You can list up to 20 colleges to receive your FAFSA information.
✅ Pro Tip: Include every college you’re even considering—schools won’t see the full list.
7️⃣ Sign and Submit the FAFSA
The student and one parent (if dependent) must both sign electronically using their FSA IDs.
Once signed, click Submit—you’ll receive a confirmation email shortly.
You’ll later receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) summarizing your info and showing your Student Aid Index (SAI) (formerly EFC).
✏️ GradMap Pro Tips
Submit early! The FAFSA opens October 1 each year (typically).
Use a reliable email address you check often—this is how you’ll get updates.
Review for accuracy before submitting. Small errors (like typos or incorrect SSNs) can delay processing.
Save a PDF of your submission confirmation and Student Aid Report (SAR) for your records.
Filling out the FAFSA is one of the most important steps in making college affordable. Once you’ve submitted it, colleges will begin building your financial aid package—and you’ll be one big step closer to your goals.
Need help gathering documents or navigating tricky questions? Your GradMap counselor is here to help.
Let’s complete that FAFSA and unlock every dollar of support you’re eligible for! 💰