EASY STEPS to Create a Federal Student Aid Account (FSA ID)

Before you complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), you’ll need to create a Federal Student Aid account for your FSA ID – this is used as an electronic signature for your FAFSA. You and at least one custodial parent will need an FSA ID to complete your FAFSA. PLEASE NOTE: IF you have siblings who previously attended college then your parents should already have an FSA ID. ** If you do not live with your parent(s) ASK your counselor if you would be considered an Independent Student.

STEP 1: Go to: studentaid.gov and click on: Create Account.

STEP 2: Enter personal information. Here is what info you need: 

• Name, date of birth, Social Security number 

• Email address, mailing address, mobile phone number 

• Both you and a parent will need individual email accounts. PLEASE NOTE: Don’t use a high school email account because you will not have access to this after you graduate.

STEP 3: Answer challenge questions. Select answers that are easy to remember and won’t change over time.

STEP 4: Enter validation codes to confirm both your mobile phone number & email address.

STEP 5: Double-check that ALL of your information is CORRECT – especially your social security number and your name as it appears on your social-security card. (Is your name hyphenated, etc..?)

STEP 6: REPEAT these steps for ONE parent/guardian UNLESS they already have an FSA ID# from an older sibling who went to college OR parent/guardian has created one when s/he attended college. IF your parent does NOT have a social security number, skip this step and wait for when you complete your FAFSA – you will need to print a signature page for one parent to sign and send in an envelope to the address provided on the signature page.

For a short, detailed instructional YouTube video on HOW TO CREATE an ACCOUNT USERNAME and PASSWORD (FSA ID) go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj1Pn-shze8