1Start
Start your FAFSA
Make your accounts, invite your parent, and finish your part.
FAFSA resources
FAFSA help a family can finish in one sitting.
Free, printable guides for the 2027 to 2028 FAFSA. Written for students, parents, and the counselors who support them.
No loginPrintable checklistsChecked against StudentAid.gov
Four stops, in order.
2Sent
Is the FAFSA really sent?
Done and submitted are not the same. Five steps, who does what, and what each status means.
3Results
Your FAFSA results are back
Check five things on the Submission Summary. Learn what the Student Aid Index means and what it does not.
4Fix
Fix a mistake
Which fixes happen online, which go through the school, and what to do if you are asked to verify.
Counselors: hand these to families.
Print them or send the link. Nothing here asks for a name, an email, or any student information.
Or walk through every step.
28 short topics for the FAFSA. Each says what it means, why it matters, where to find it, and what you need.
9Get readyYour StudentAid.gov accountCheck your identity informationWho is a contributor?and 6 more →Close ↑
Your StudentAid.gov account
What it means
Your StudentAid.gov account is your personal login for FAFSA. You need your own account. Any parent, spouse, or other contributor who is required on your FAFSA needs their own account too. Do not share one account. If you already have an account, recover it instead of creating a second one.
Why it matters
Think of each account like a personal key. Your key connects your information and your signature to you. If two people share an account, the wrong person's information or signature can end up on the form.
Where to find it
Go to StudentAid.gov. Use an email address you can keep after high school. If you cannot sign in, use the official account-recovery options.
What you need
- Your own email access
- Your identity information
- Access to your verification method
Check your identity information
What it means
FAFSA needs your name, birth date, and Social Security number to match your official records. Check the information carefully before you type it. Do not guess.
Why it matters
Think of this like matching a name on a ticket to the name on an ID. If the information does not match, the system may not be able to confirm who you are and your account or FAFSA can get stuck.
Where to find it
Check your Social Security card and your own official records. If you need a replacement Social Security card, use the Social Security Administration's official instructions. If StudentAid.gov gives you a different official process, follow that process.
What you need
- Identity records
- A way to recover your existing account if needed
Who is a contributor?
What it means
A contributor is a person FAFSA requires to complete part of your form. You are a contributor because you complete the student section. Depending on your situation, a parent, stepparent, or spouse may also need to complete a section.
Why it matters
Think of FAFSA as a form with separate pieces. Each required person completes and signs their own piece. Being a contributor does not mean that person has to pay your college bill or take out a loan.
Where to find it
Use Federal Student Aid's 'Who's My FAFSA Parent?' tool and the questions inside FAFSA. If your family situation is complicated or you are not sure who should participate, ask your counselor or the financial aid office.
What you need
- Your family’s information for the official parent tool
- A required contributor’s email, when identified
Which tax year do I need?
What it means
FAFSA uses a specific tax year. For the 2027 to 28 FAFSA, use 2025 federal tax information. You may hear this called the 'prior-prior year.' That simply means the tax year from two years before the school year starts.
Why it matters
Think of the tax year like one shared snapshot. FAFSA uses the same snapshot year for everyone applying for that award year. If your family's income changed later, you still start with the required tax year instead of swapping in a newer tax return.
Where to find it
Look for the 2025 federal income tax return, usually Form 1040 and any schedules that apply. Ask the person who filed the return for a copy or use official IRS record-access tools if the copy is missing.
What you need
- 2025 tax return and relevant schedules, if filed
- Income records requested by the official form for a non-filer
Child support received
What it means
This question is about child-support money that was received, not child support that was paid out. If the question applies to you or your contributor, FAFSA asks for the total received during the time period shown on the form.
Why it matters
The time period matters. Child support may use a different year than the federal tax information. Think of each FAFSA question as having its own date label. Read that label before choosing a number.
Where to find it
Use payment records, bank records, or records from the child-support agency. The person who received the child support should confirm the total for the period FAFSA asks about.
What you need
- Records of payments actually received, if requested
Cash, checking, and savings
What it means
When FAFSA asks for cash, checking, and savings, it wants the amount you have now, on the day you complete that part of the form. This is not asking how much money you earned during the year.
Why it matters
Income and account balances are different. Income is money that came in over time. A balance is what is sitting in the account now. FAFSA uses the right type of number for each question.
Where to find it
Check the correct person's current checking and savings account balances and any cash on hand. Keep the student's amounts separate from the parent's amounts.
What you need
- Current balances for the correct owner
- Records that distinguish excluded student-aid funds when needed
Investments, businesses, and farms
What it means
FAFSA may ask for the net worth of certain investments, businesses, or farms. Net worth means what the asset is worth today minus what is still owed on that asset. Example: if an investment is worth $10,000 and $3,000 is still owed on it, the net worth is $7,000.
Why it matters
FAFSA does not count everything your family owns. Think of this section as sorting assets into the right boxes. Some assets count, some are excluded, and some need a closer look before you decide where they belong.
Where to find it
Use current investment statements, property or business records, and records showing debts tied to that asset. If you are unsure whether an asset belongs in this section, check the official FAFSA help or ask the financial aid office before entering a value.
What you need
- Current investment values
- Debts tied to reportable assets
- Ownership/beneficiary records
- Business/farm records if applicable
Prepare your school list
What it means
FAFSA lets you choose the colleges or career schools that should receive your FAFSA information. You can list schools even if you have not decided where you want to attend.
Why it matters
Think of your FAFSA school list as a delivery list. A school usually needs your FAFSA information before it can consider you for federal aid. Adding a school here does not apply you for admission and does not commit you to attend.
Where to find it
Use your college list. In FAFSA, search by the school's official name, location, or federal school code. Check the campus carefully so you send your information to the right place.
What you need
- School names and locations or official school codes
Help your contributor get ready
What it means
If FAFSA requires another person to be a contributor, that person needs their own StudentAid.gov account and the information needed for their part of the form. They should not use your account, and you should not use theirs.
Why it matters
Your student section can be finished while the FAFSA is still waiting on someone else. Getting contributors ready early can prevent the form from stopping at the finish line because an account, answer, consent step, or signature is missing.
Where to find it
Send your contributor the official StudentAid.gov account and FAFSA instructions. They may need their 2025 tax records and current financial records requested by the form.
What you need
- Contributor’s own email and account access
- Contributor’s requested records
7Fill it inIdentity and IRS consentBackground and dependencyDemographics and school historyand 4 more →Close ↑
Identity and IRS consent
What it means
FAFSA may ask you and each required contributor to give consent and approval for federal tax information. This means giving Federal Student Aid permission to get and use the required tax information from the IRS. This is separate from signing the FAFSA.
Why it matters
Think of consent as opening the door for the tax information to come through. Signing is a separate action that says the person's part of the FAFSA is complete. Both can matter, but they do different jobs.
Where to find it
Read the consent explanation inside your own StudentAid.gov account. If you need a reference, use the 2025 tax return. Never share a StudentAid.gov password, Social Security number, tax return, or verification code with Project Bridge.
What you need
- Your own account
- Correct state-of-residence information
- Tax records if needed
Background and dependency
What it means
FAFSA asks questions to decide whether you need to include a parent's information. If FAFSA calls you a 'dependent student,' it usually means parent information is required on your FAFSA. It does not mean your parents pay all your bills or that you live with them.
Why it matters
This decision changes who has to complete the FAFSA with you. Think of it as FAFSA deciding which people need a section of the form, not judging whether you are independent in everyday life.
Where to find it
Answer the FAFSA background questions exactly as they apply to you. If you cannot safely contact a parent or do not know where a parent is, stop and ask for help. Do the same if your situation does not fit the standard questions.
What you need
- Your own understanding of your situation
- Relevant records only if requested by the financial aid office
Demographics and school history
What it means
FAFSA asks some questions about your background and school history. One official term you may see is 'eligible noncitizen.' That means some people who are not U.S. citizens can still qualify for federal student aid under specific federal rules.
Why it matters
Some background questions help FAFSA check federal-aid eligibility or understand your education history. Do not guess your immigration or citizenship category. One ID number by itself does not prove which category applies.
Where to find it
Use your school records and the official FAFSA help for each question. If you are unsure which citizenship or immigration category applies to you, ask your counselor or an official financial aid resource before choosing one.
What you need
- School name and education records as requested
- Official status records only for the government form if needed
Financials: income, family size, and assets
What it means
This section asks about money and family information. Three things can show up here: tax information, family size, and assets. They do not all use the same date or rule. If FAFSA asks for family size or household size, it is asking how many people your parent supports financially, not simply how many people live in the house.
Why it matters
Example: you live with your mom, stepdad, younger sister, and grandma. Your mom and stepdad support you and your sister. Grandma pays most of her own expenses. Family size would be 4: you, Mom, Stepdad, and Sister. Grandma does not automatically count just because she lives there. FAFSA uses this information, along with income and assets, to help calculate financial need.
Where to find it
Use the correct person's tax return, current bank or investment records, and the official help beside the FAFSA question. For family size, focus on who is financially supported under FAFSA's rules, not only who shares the address.
What you need
- Requested tax and financial records
- Accurate family-size information
Colleges: add and review schools
What it means
In the Colleges section, choose the schools that should receive your FAFSA information. You can include schools you are still considering.
Why it matters
Think of this as sending your FAFSA results to the schools on your list. They need the information to consider you for aid. This does not submit a college application and does not commit you to attend.
Where to find it
Search inside FAFSA by school name, location, or federal school code. Compare the result with the exact campus you plan to apply to.
What you need
- Your school list
- Correct campus names/codes
Invite a contributor
What it means
If another person is required on your FAFSA, you must connect them to the form so they can complete their own section. Sending an invitation only starts that process. It does not mean their section is finished.
Why it matters
Think of the invitation like sending someone their part of a group assignment. Your section can be done while the full FAFSA is still waiting for theirs.
Where to find it
Use the Contributor Invite section in FAFSA and the official StudentAid.gov invitation instructions. Your contributor should check their own email and StudentAid.gov account.
What you need
- Correct contributor identified
- Contributor email/access to the invitation
Review & Sign
What it means
Review & Sign is the final check before the form can be submitted. You review and sign your own section. Each required contributor reviews and signs their own section.
Why it matters
A completed student section is not always a completed FAFSA. Think of it like a form that needs several signatures. If one required signature or section is missing, the whole form may still be waiting.
Where to find it
Use the Review & Sign section in StudentAid.gov. Check your answers, missing-information warnings, and the signature status for each required person.
What you need
- Your own account
- Completed required answers
- Required contributor participation
8After you submitCheck submission confirmationCheck processing statusRead your FAFSA Submission Summaryand 5 more →Close ↑
Check submission confirmation
What it means
After everyone finishes and signs, check whether the official system says the whole FAFSA was submitted. A message saying only your section is complete is not the same thing.
Why it matters
Think of submission as the package leaving the door. Finishing one person's section does not mean the whole package was sent. Submission is also different from a school sending you a financial aid offer.
Where to find it
Check the FAFSA under My Activity in StudentAid.gov and look for the email from Federal Student Aid. Keep your confirmation for your own records.
What you need
- Access to your official form and email
Check processing status
What it means
After you submit FAFSA, Federal Student Aid processes it. Processing means the system is checking the form and preparing your FAFSA results.
Why it matters
Status words tell you what is happening. 'In Review' means the form was submitted but is not finished processing. 'Action Required' means there is something you need to do. A delay by itself does not mean you were approved or denied.
Where to find it
Sign in to StudentAid.gov, open My Activity, and choose the correct award-year FAFSA.
What you need
- Your StudentAid.gov account
Read your FAFSA Submission Summary
What it means
The FAFSA Submission Summary is the results page you get after your FAFSA is processed. It shows your FAFSA information, schools, eligibility information, and next steps. It is not a financial aid offer from a college.
Why it matters
Think of it like a receipt plus a review sheet. It lets you check what FAFSA processed and see whether anything still needs attention before schools finish their own aid decisions.
Where to find it
Sign in as the student, open the processed FAFSA under My Activity, and open the FAFSA Submission Summary. A contributor cannot open the student's Submission Summary from the contributor's own account.
What you need
- Your processed FAFSA
- Your own account
Verification and document requests
What it means
Verification means a college wants documents to confirm some information from your FAFSA. Being selected for verification does not mean you did something wrong.
Why it matters
Think of verification like being asked to show the receipt for an answer. The school may need that proof before it can finish your financial aid. Not every student is asked for the same documents.
Where to find it
Check the Next Steps section of your FAFSA Submission Summary, your college email, and the college's financial aid portal. Only send documents through the method the school tells you to use.
What you need
- The school’s request, if any
- Only the documents it asks for
California aid and GPA follow-up
What it means
If you are applying for California financial aid, submitting FAFSA or CADAA is one step. California may also need a GPA record and other follow-up before state aid can be decided.
Why it matters
Think of FAFSA or CADAA and your GPA record as separate pieces that may need to meet at CSAC. Finishing one does not prove the other arrived or matched correctly.
Where to find it
Check official CSAC guidance and WebGrants 4 Students. Ask your school counselor whether your GPA was sent and whether there is anything else you need to do.
What you need
- CSAC or college instructions
- GPA submission confirmation from your school
What is the Student Aid Index?
What it means
The Student Aid Index, or SAI, is a number FAFSA calculates from the information on your form. Schools use it as one piece of information when they figure out your financial need. The number can be negative.
Why it matters
Think of your SAI like a measuring mark, not a price tag. It is not your college bill, not the amount your family must pay, and not your final financial aid offer. A lower SAI generally points to greater financial need.
Where to find it
After your FAFSA is processed, look in the Eligibility Overview of your FAFSA Submission Summary. A number shown before processing may only be an estimate.
What you need
- Your Submission Summary, when available
Follow up with your schools
What it means
After a school receives your FAFSA, it may still ask you for more information or documents. A processed FAFSA does not always mean your financial aid file at that school is finished.
Why it matters
Think of FAFSA as sending the main file. A college may still need one or two missing pieces before it can finish reviewing your aid. Ignoring a school request can delay that review.
Where to find it
Check your school email, applicant or student portal, and messages from the financial aid office.
What you need
- School portal/email access
- Any specific request from the financial aid office
Know what comes later: the aid offer
What it means
A financial aid offer comes from a college or school. It tells you what aid that school is offering you. It is different from your FAFSA confirmation, FAFSA Submission Summary, and SAI.
Why it matters
Think of FAFSA as sending your financial-aid information out. The aid offer is the school's response later. FAFSA results alone do not tell you exactly how much aid a school will offer, and filing FAFSA does not accept a loan.
Where to find it
Watch the school's email and financial aid portal. If you cannot find the offer or do not understand it, contact the school's financial aid office.
What you need
- Access to school messages
4Fix or changeCorrect a FAFSA answerAdd or remove a schoolWhen your finances or family situation changesand 1 more →Close ↑
Correct a FAFSA answer
What it means
A FAFSA correction fixes information on a FAFSA that has already been processed. Some answers can be corrected online. Other changes must go through the financial aid office.
Why it matters
Think of a correction as fixing the record, not starting a new FAFSA. An error or missing signature can hold up aid, but a correction is not a reason to replace the required tax year with a newer tax return.
Where to find it
Open your processed FAFSA in My Activity or use Make a Correction from the FAFSA Form Answers section of your Submission Summary.
What you need
- Your official form
- The correct information or school instructions
Add or remove a school
What it means
After your FAFSA is processed, you can add or remove schools that should receive your FAFSA information.
Why it matters
Think of this as changing the delivery list. Adding a school sends it your FAFSA information for financial-aid review. It does not apply you to that school.
Where to find it
Use Make a Correction in your official FAFSA and search for the exact school or campus.
What you need
- Correct school names or codes
When your finances or family situation changes
What it means
FAFSA may use an older tax year even when your family's finances have changed. If your family lost income, had a job loss, or had large medical expenses after that tax year, the old tax information may no longer show your situation well. FAFSA calls these kinds of changes 'special financial circumstances.'
Why it matters
Example: your parent made $60,000 in 2025, then lost their job the next year. FAFSA still starts with the required 2025 tax information. The college financial aid office may review what changed and decide whether an adjustment is appropriate. Asking for a review does not guarantee more aid.
Where to find it
Complete FAFSA using the required information first. Then contact the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend and ask about its process for changed financial circumstances. The school may ask for proof, such as a layoff notice or newer income records.
What you need
- The school’s instructions
- Documentation of the change if requested
Fix an identity mismatch
What it means
An identity mismatch means something like your name, birth date, or Social Security number does not match the record the system is checking. It could be a typing mistake, an account problem, or an official record that needs to be updated.
Why it matters
Think of two records that are supposed to match letter for letter. If one is different, the system may stop until the correct record is fixed. The important part is figuring out which record is wrong before changing anything.
Where to find it
Read the exact error message. Compare your own official records with the information in your StudentAid.gov account. Follow the official instructions for the record that needs correction.
What you need
- Your own identity records
- The exact error message, without sharing the identifier in Project Bridge
In California? Cal Grant and the California Dream Application (CADAA) have their own steps. 4 short topics cover them.See California steps
Get ready for CADAA
What it means
The California Dream Act Application, or CADAA, is California’s application for state and college financial aid. It has its own account and instructions. It does not apply you for federal student aid.
Why it matters
The right path depends on your situation. CSAC also publishes guidance for some mixed-status families. A parent without an SSN does not automatically decide your path.
Where to find it
Open CSAC’s CADAA FAQ and official application site. Use an email you can keep after high school. Your counselor can help you confirm which application and award year to use.
What you need
- Your own email access
- Records listed by the official CADAA guidance
Complete CADAA on the official site
What it means
Complete and submit your CADAA at CSAC’s official website. Project Bridge helps you find the instructions and report progress.
Why it matters
CADAA has its own questions, parent-signature process, and California requirements. FAFSA account, consent, school-limit, and screen instructions are not interchangeable with it.
Where to find it
Use the help in the CADAA application and CSAC’s FAQ. A returning student uses the existing account; parent signatures have an official entry on the landing page.
What you need
- Your CADAA account
- Requested records
- Required parent participation if applicable
Check CADAA confirmation and next steps
What it means
Submitting CADAA begins the next part of the process. Review the confirmation and follow-up messages from CSAC and the schools you listed.
Why it matters
An application does not guarantee an award. CSAC or a school may still need a matched GPA record, corrections, or other information.
Where to find it
Use your CADAA account, email, WebGrants 4 Students, and school portals. Follow the current official account instructions; keep account identifiers in your own records.
What you need
- Access to official messages
- Any request from CSAC or a school
Get help with CADAA corrections
What it means
CADAA corrections use CSAC’s process. Do not use the FAFSA correction route for a CADAA problem.
Why it matters
An incorrect record, missing signature, wrong award year, or wrong application can need a different fix. A one-size-fits-all instruction to start over can create more confusion.
Where to find it
Open your CADAA account and the official CSAC guidance. Contact CSAC or your college financial aid office when the needed change is not clear.
What you need
- Your official account
- Description of the issue without sensitive identifiers
This guide does not list dates. Check StudentAid.gov for current dates.
Checked against StudentAid.gov.
Project Bridge is not part of the U.S. Department of Education. File the FAFSA only at StudentAid.gov.