Prepare for the FAFSA
Know which accounts, contributors, and information to gather before starting the official form.
You will learnPrepare for the correct FAFSA aid year without sharing credentials or paying for the form.
Quick scenario
Choose an answer to see the explanation.Which statement about accessing the FAFSA is accurate?
Worked example
Preparing before the form opens
A student checks the FAFSA page for the correct aid year, creates their own StudentAid.gov account, confirms which parent or other contributor may need a separate account, and gathers the requested financial information. Each person keeps their own login private.
- 01Confirm the aid year
- 02Identify contributors
- 03Keep logins separate
Key ideas
Three things to know
Start at StudentAid.gov
FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Use the official StudentAid.gov site and select the correct aid year. Students generally complete a form for each year they seek aid.
Contributors use separate accounts
A contributor is someone whose information is required on the form. Being a contributor does not by itself make that person responsible for paying college costs. Each contributor uses their own StudentAid.gov account and should not share credentials.
Read more
- StudentAid.gov account for the student
- Separate account for each required contributor
- Requested identity and financial information
- School list and submission confirmation
Submission is not the final offer
After processing, review the FAFSA Submission Summary and correct errors when needed. Colleges use FAFSA information to develop aid offers. Compare those offers later; the FAFSA itself is not a promise of a particular grant or loan amount.
Practice
Prepare without storing private data here
Use information you can confirm as you work through the checklist.
Interactive checklist
Prepare for the FAFSA
Do not enter names, account credentials, or financial details here.
Knowledge check
Check your understanding
Question 1 of 2