What Does FAFSA Stand For? And How to Apply

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form available every year that determines your eligibility for college-related financial assistance, such as federal student loans, grants, and scholarships. As you explore ways to cover the cost of college, submitting the FAFSA can be important.

Colleges, universities, and states use the information you provide to decide what types of financial aid you will receive—and how much—so it’s a beneficial document to file. If you plan on attending an undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree program at an eligible US or Canadian institution (or abroad) and would like to be considered for federal student aid, you will need to submit the FAFSA every year of attendance.

Learn more about FAFSA, how it works, important deadlines, and more. 

Important March 2025 update

FAFSA is overseen by the US Department of Education, which recently underwent significant staffing cuts. The department has been reduced to about half its size [1].

While much remains unknown about the future of the Department of Education, you should still plan to submit your FAFSA by—or ideally before—the deadline because the staffing changes may lead to delays. In fact, StudentAid.gov, the website used for FAFSA submissions, was down for several hours in mid-March following reductions [2]. Earlier submissions this year will be important.

How does FAFSA work? 

FAFSA is administered by Federal Student Aid, which is an office of the US Department of Education. You can access the FAFSA form via StudentAid.gov.

Once you submit your FAFSA, your information will be sent to your potential colleges (if you’re an incoming student) or the college you’re attending (if you’re an enrolled student). Your school and state will then determine your federal aid eligibility and the amount you can receive each year to pay for your education.  

FAFSA asks you to submit an overview of your financial situation to figure out your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and calculate your financial award. Even if you do not qualify for need-based financial assistance, you may still qualify for federal student loans, which often feature lower interest rates and flexible repayment plans.  

Types of financial aid

You may be eligible for several forms of financial assistance, including merit-based or academic scholarships, need-based grants, or loans. You can’t request any specific type of financial assistance. Instead, when you apply, you’re automatically considered for the following: 

• Grants tend to be need-based financial assistance. Several grants, including Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and TEACH Grants, are available through the FAFSA. 

• Scholarships are awards you don’t need to pay back, but they tend to be merit-based or intended for certain groups rather than students with financial need. 

• Work-study jobs are part-time for enrolled undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. In exchange for a set number of hours per week, you’ll earn income to help cover some or most of your educational expenses. 

• Federal student loans usually have lower interest rates than private loans and come with some benefits, such as flexible repayment plans like income-based repayment (IBR). The amount of money you’re allowed to borrow each year depends on what year you are in school, whether you’re an undergraduate or graduate student, and your tax status. 

What can financial aid be used for?

You can use your financial aid to support yourself during college in a few more ways than simply paying for your tuition. You can use federal financial aid to pay for education expenses like books and lab fees, disability services, and support, a computer or other equipment you’ll need for school, and professional expenses like certification fees or training programs. You can also use financial aid to pay for child care, housing costs and supplies, food, study abroad, and transportation. A few of the things you can’t spend your federal money on include clothing travel not related to study abroad, entertainment, purchasing a car, or a down payment for a house or other property. 

When is FAFSA due? 

You must submit FAFSA each year you plan on attending college or university if you want to be considered for federal student aid. All submissions must be received by June 30 and the form typically becomes available the year before attendance. Awards are handed out on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s best to fill out and submit the form as soon as possible to qualify for more assistance. 

Learn more about FAFSA deadlines for the 2025-2026 application.

Who’s eligible for FAFSA? 

Generally, only students enrolled at accredited institutions (in the US, Canada, or internationally) qualify for federal student aid. You must also be a US citizen or eligible noncitizen, such as a permanent resident. Not all applicants have to show financial need to receive financial aid. 

No age or race requirements affect your FAFSA eligibility. Your field of study is also not considered when determining financial aid eligibility. However, you may find merit-based or group-based scholarships that your school or department offers to support minority students and strong academic performers. It’s best to check with your financial aid office for more information. 

How to apply for FAFSA 

You can complete your FAFSA form three ways: online via FAFSA’s website, by mailing in a printed application, or by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) to request a printed application and then returning it once you’ve filled everything out. Follow the steps below to complete your FAFSA.  

1. Gather your documents. 

You’ll need basic information like your name, date of birth, and address, as well as information about your financial situation. Depending on your circumstances and dependency status, you may need the following information or documents to complete the FAFSA:

• Social security number (and parent's social security numbers if you’re a dependent)

• Alien registration number if not a US citizen

• Driver’s license number 

• Tax returns, including W-2s (and your parents’ tax returns if you’re a dependent)

• Records of your untaxed income

• Information about cash on hand, such as savings and checking account balances and investments

2. Create an FSA ID. 

If you’ve never filed a FAFSA form, you’ll need to create an FSA ID and a username and password to complete the form electronically on StudentAid.gov. If you're a dependent, your parents will also need an FSA ID. You’ll need your name and social security number to create this ID. Use your ID, not your parents, when logging in to complete your FAFSA each time.  

Once you have an FSA ID, you will use that each year you return to submit a new FAFSA. 

3. Complete your application.

If you’re starting the application for the first time, click “Start Here.” If you filed a FAFSA the previous school year, you’ll need to renew it and can do so by selecting “Log In.”

Your information: The form asks for personal information and some demographic information as well as financial information reported on your tax return (or, if you're a dependent, on your parents' tax return).

School list: You can choose anywhere from one to 10 colleges to send your FAFSA information, but be sure you choose schools to which you plan on applying or where you’ve already been accepted. You’ll need to enter the school’s code and you can generally find that information on each school’s financial aid page. To receive federal student aid, the order in which you list the schools doesn’t matter. To be considered for state aid, some states require you to list them in a specific order.  Check to see if your state has any specific requirements.  

Submit and sign. Once you’ve completed your application, sign the document using your FSA ID (if you’re completing a digital copy). You can also print the form, sign it, and mail a signature page to the address listed on the page. 

If you need to exit the application before completing it, you have the option to save, which will maintain what you’ve entered without filing it. 

4. Monitor your application status. 

After successfully submitting FAFSA, you’ll receive a confirmation email that the application was received (if completed online). Now, you'll wait and monitor your application status to ensure it’s been properly completed or make changes if needed.

You’ll also have access to a FAFSA Submission Summary before receiving an official financial aid letter. Expect this report to become available three days to three weeks after submitting your application, depending on your method of filing. The purpose of this report is to help prevent any mistakes on your form. 

• A summary of your financial information

• Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

• A four-digit Data Release Number (DRN)

• Your estimated eligibility for federal student loans and Federal Pell Grants

• Whether you’ve been selected for verification. 

Make corrections or edits if needed. Correct mistakes or make updates as needed if you see that corrections need to be made via your FAFSA Submission Summary. 

5. Accept your offer. 

After submitting your FAFSA form and making any necessary corrections, you should receive an official financial award letter or letters if you applied to multiple schools. You’ll typically be notified directly from each institution about your aid status and eligibility in the spring, depending on what you submitted your FAFSA.

The award letter will include the cost of attendance (COA) for one academic school year, how much your financial aid package will cover, and your expected family contribution. Federal Student Aid will send your financial aid to your college, which will then use the money to pay for your tuition and other fees. Any remaining money will be deposited into your account (if you’ve opted for direct deposit) or sent to you via check. 

6. Maintain eligibility.  

Once you’ve completed your FAFSA form and accepted your financial aid package, you must maintain eligibility throughout the academic years you plan on attending college. Many schools require students to make satisfactory academic progress toward graduation. Check with your school’s financial aid for more information. 

Beyond that, you should resubmit your FAFSA as close to the new availability date each year. 

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