To apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, work-study, and loans, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Completing and submitting the FAFSA is free and easier than ever, and it gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for college or career school.
In addition, many states and colleges use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for state and school aid, and some private financial aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether you qualify for their aid.
To be eligible to receive federal student aid, you must:
Be a citizen or eligible noncitizen of the United States.
Have a valid Social Security Number. (Students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau are exempt from this requirement.)
Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or have completed homeschooling. If you don’t, you may still be eligible for federal student aid if you were enrolled in college or career school prior to July 1, 2012. Go to https://studentaid.ed.gov/eligibility/basic-criteria for additional information.
Be enrolled in an eligible program as a regular student seeking a degree or certificate.
Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Not owe a refund on a federal student grant or be in default on a federal student loan.
Register (or already be registered) with the Selective Service System, if you are a male and not currently on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. (Students from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau are exempt from registering; see https://sss.gov for more information.)
Not have a conviction for the possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, work-study, or loans). If you have such a conviction, you must complete the Student Aid Eligibility Worksheet to determine if you are eligible for aid or partially eligible for aid.
Many types of federal student aid, such as the Federal Pell Grant or subsidized loans where the government pays the interest while you are in college, also require you to have financial need. Additionally, once you have a bachelor’s degree or a first professional degree, you are generally not eligible for Pell or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG).
Other requirements may apply. Contact the financial aid office at your college for more information.
The FSA ID allows students and parents to identify themselves electronically to access FSA Web sites.
An FSA ID is made up of a username and password and can be used to log into FAFSA on the Web.
If you do not already have an FSA ID, you can create an FSA ID.
If you have an FSA ID but do not remember your username, click Forgot Username.
If you have an FSA ID but do not remember your password, click Forgot Password.
If you are applying for financial aid for the 2023-2024 school year, you should file a 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application OPENS JANUARY 1ST.
If you plan to attend summer classes, you should contact your college’s financial aid office to determine which application they accept for summer sessions.
To complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you will need:
Your Social Security Number
Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
Your federal income tax returns from 2023, W-2s, and other records of money earned. (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
An FSA ID to sign electronically.
If you are a dependent student, then you will also need most of the above information for your parent(s).
It takes most people less than an hour to complete and submit a new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This includes gathering any documents or data needed, completing and reviewing the application, and reading the important information on the "Confirmation" page you'll receive after you sign and submit your FAFSA.
Independent students who are not required to provide parental information or students who submitted a FAFSA last year and who are doing a Renewal FAFSA take even less time on average.
To be considered for federal student aid for the 2025-2026 award year, you can complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) between Novemebr 15th, 2024 and midnight Central Time, June 30, 2025. Any corrections or updates must be submitted by midnight Central Time, September 14, 2025.
However, many states and colleges have earlier deadlines for applying for state and institutional financial aid. You can find your state’s deadline at https://fafsa.ed.gov/deadlines.htm. Check with your college about its deadlines.
Because of the variation in state and college deadlines, it is highly recommended that you fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can after the FAFSA opens to ensure that you do not miss out on available aid.
You can find more information about federal student aid through the following sources:
Visit StudentAid.gov.
Get updates and information from the Federal Student Aid Facebook page and @FAFSA Twitter feed.
Visit the Federal Student Aid YouTube page.
Contact our Federal Student Aid Information Center by clicking the link in the “Contact Us” section of our “Help” page.
Visit the financial aid office at the college you plan to attend.