Is the FAFSA Really Sent?

Done and submitted are not the same thing. Your part can be done while the whole FAFSA is still waiting. These five steps help you be sure.

Step 1. Every required person finishes and signs

Your section is one piece. A parent, stepparent, or spouse may need to finish and sign a piece too.

If one required signature is missing, the whole form can still be waiting.

Step 2. Check that the whole FAFSA was submitted

A message that only your section is complete is not the same thing. Also look for the email from Federal Student Aid, and keep it for your own records.

Step 3. Check the processing status

After you submit, Federal Student Aid checks the form and prepares your results. This is called processing.

Many online FAFSAs process right away. Some can take one to three days. A delay by itself does not mean you were approved or denied.

Step 4. Open your FAFSA Submission Summary

When processing is done, open your FAFSA Submission Summary. It is the results page. It is not a financial aid offer.

The next guide, Your FAFSA results are back, shows what to check.

Step 5. Watch for messages from your schools

A processed FAFSA does not always mean your aid file at a school is finished. A school may still ask for more information.

Check your school email and student portal. Only send documents the way the school tells you to.

Who does what

You, the studentFinish and sign your section. Check My Activity to see that the whole FAFSA was submitted.

Parent or other contributorUse your own account to finish and sign your own section.

Federal Student AidProcesses the form and prepares your FAFSA results.

Your collegesMay ask for more information. Later, each college sends its own financial aid offer.

What each status means

In ReviewThe form was submitted, but it is not finished processing yet.

Action RequiredThere is something you need to do. Follow the official next step, or use Get Help on StudentAid.gov.

ProcessedProcessing is finished. You can open your FAFSA Submission Summary.

Checklist

Every required person finished and signed their own section.
StudentAid.gov says the whole FAFSA was submitted, not only my section.
I checked the processing status under My Activity.
I opened my FAFSA Submission Summary after it was processed.
I checked my school email and portals for requests.
I saved the confirmation email for my own records.