FAFSA and More

How and When to Fill out the FAFSA

To receive any sort of financial aid, even some non need-based scholarships, from colleges and universities, you must submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

Current seniors who will attend college in 2026-2027 can fill out the FAFSA starting September 25, 2025. 

In most cases, the student needs to be a U. S. permanent resident or U. S. citizen.  A student's parents residency status doesn't impact the student's ability to submit the FAFSA.  

FAFSA Eligibility  (Chart)

The student and other contributors (usually one or both parents, or possibly a parent and stepparent) will need to create a StudentAid.gov account and obtain an FSA ID.  All contributors use their FSA ID to log in to the FAFSA, sign the FAFSA, and access other Federal Student Aid sites.

If your parent already has a FSA ID from completing his or her own FAFSA or completing your sibling's FAFSA, they should use that one.  

See the resources below for a link to create your FSA ID and a video to take you step-by-step through the process.

Create a StudentAid.gov account (Webpage)

Create and Access Your StudentAid.gov Account (Video)

In most cases, a high school student will be a dependent student which means their parent needs to contribute information to their student's FAFSA.  Filling out the form doesn't obligate the parent to contribute a specific amount or money or any money at all to their student's education.   However, if a parent is required to contribute information to the FAFSA and chooses not to, the student will not be able to receive any federal funds that might otherwise qualify for.  Check out the resources below for more information.

How is a student's dependency status determined?

• Am I a Dependent or Independent Student on the FAFSA form? (Video)

• Dependency Status Questions

Information on FAFSA Contributors:

• Is My Parent a FAFSA Contributor? (Chart)

• Who is a Contributor on the FAFSA Form (Video)

• Understand and Prepare FAFSA® Contributors (Video) 

Understanding what happens and what your next steps are after submitting the FAFSA:

• What Happens after Submitting Your FAFSA Form? (Video)

• What Happens after your FAFSA form is Processed? (Video) 

Federal Student Aid YouTube Channel has additional videos to guide students and parents through the FAFSA process.  

If you need additional help, contact  https://studentaid.gov/help-center/contact

You can also contact the financial aid office of colleges you've applied to.