Apply for Financial Aid – Complete the FAFSA
- Apply for an FSA ID by Creating an Account at StudentAid.gov. The FSA ID allows you to sign the FAFSA electronically.
- Complete the FAFSA at StudentAid.gov as soon as possible after the FAFSA is available the year before you are requesting aid. Most years the FAFSA will be available on October 1, but for the 2024-25 academic year, the FAFSA was available in December 2023.
- Check with the school you are attending and your state department of higher education for specific deadlines.
- Have the following items for you and your parent(s), if applicable, on hand when you prepare to complete the FAFSA:
- Income tax return
- Other records of money earned, including untaxed income
- Current bank statements
- Business and farm records
- Records of investments
- Drivers’ licenses
- Social Security cards
- Dates of birth
- Answer all questions.
- Sign the FAFSA electronically with your FSA ID. If you cannot use an FSA ID, you can print, sign, and mail the signature page.
- Watch for notification that your Student Aid Report (SAR) is available, usually within two weeks after submitting your completed and signed FAFSA.
- Review the financial aid offer/award letter you receive from each college listed on your FAFSA. The colleges you list on the FAFSA automatically receive your results and use them to prepare your financial aid package. The award letter lists the financial aid you are eligible to receive at that college.