The FAFSA unlocks federal grants, work-study and loans, and most state and college aid too. It’s shorter than it used to be, but a few steps still trip families up.
Key numbers
- File the FAFSA every year you want aid; it’s free on StudentAid.gov.
- Every contributor, such as a parent or spouse, needs a StudentAid.gov account and must consent to sharing federal tax information.
- The FAFSA uses tax information from two years earlier: the 2027–28 form uses 2025 taxes.
- State and college deadlines are often far earlier than the federal one, and some state aid runs out.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the front door to most financial aid in the U.S.: federal Pell Grants, work-study and student loans, plus many state grants and college scholarships. Here’s how to get through it cleanly.
Before you start
| You’ll need | Notes |
|---|---|
| A StudentAid.gov account for the student | Also called an FSA ID; set it up a few days early |
| An account for each contributor | Parents of dependent students, or a spouse for married students |
| Federal tax information | Transferred from the IRS with consent |
| Records of assets | Cash, savings, investments; your home and retirement accounts aren’t counted |
| A list of colleges | You can send the FAFSA to up to 20 schools |
Contributors and consent
Anyone who has to provide information on the FAFSA, such as a dependent student’s parents, is a “contributor.” Each contributor logs in with their own account and gives consent for their federal tax information to be transferred directly from the IRS. Without that consent, the student can’t receive federal aid, even if everything else is complete.
Which year’s taxes?
The FAFSA uses “prior-prior year” income. The 2027–28 FAFSA, for the school year that starts in fall 2027, uses 2025 tax information. The 2027–28 form is already open; it launched ahead of the October 1 date set in federal law.
What happens next
You’ll get a FAFSA Submission Summary showing your Student Aid Index (SAI). Colleges compare the SAI with their cost of attendance to build your aid offer. If the summary has errors, correct them on StudentAid.gov. If your circumstances have changed since the tax year used, such as a job loss, ask the college about an aid appeal.
Watch out
The FAFSA is free. Websites and “services” that charge to file it for you aren’t official; the government’s site ends in .gov.
Deadlines that matter
- Federal: June 30 at the end of the school year, the latest possible date.
- State: often much earlier, and some state grants are first come, first served.
- College: priority deadlines for institutional aid can be months before classes start.
Filing early rarely hurts and often helps. Once you’re in, see whether you qualify for a Pell Grant, and watch out for scholarship scams that target families who’ve just filed.
Questions families ask
Should I file even if I think we earn too much?
Usually, yes. Many colleges require the FAFSA for their own scholarships, and it’s the only way to get federal student loans, which don’t depend on income.
Which parent fills out the FAFSA if my parents are divorced?
The parent who provided more financial support to you over the past 12 months. If that parent has remarried, the stepparent’s information is included too.
What’s the Student Aid Index?
A number calculated from your FAFSA that schools use to decide how much need-based aid you qualify for. It replaced the Expected Family Contribution and can be as low as negative 1,500.
Award amounts, loan limits and tax rules change, and some 2026 rules are still being finalized. This guide is general information for U.S. students and families, not financial or tax advice; confirm details at StudentAid.gov, with the IRS or with your school’s financial aid office.
