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In this post, we’ll explore some of the most common FAFSA mistakes that could cost you thousands, and we’ll provide tips on how to avoid them.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is one of the most important steps in securing financial aid for college, but it’s also one of the most common areas where students make costly mistakes. For many, the FAFSA is their ticket to getting federal, state, and institutional aid that makes college more affordable. However, errors in the FAFSA process can mean missing out on thousands of dollars in funding, delays in processing, or even disqualification for certain aid programs.
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The good news is that these mistakes are often avoidable if you know what to look for. In this post, we’ll explore some of the most common FAFSA mistakes that could cost you thousands, and we’ll provide tips on how to avoid them.
The FAFSA has multiple deadlines, and missing even one can result in lost financial aid opportunities. The federal FAFSA deadline for the 2025–2026 academic year is June 30, 2026, but many states and colleges have earlier deadlines to ensure that students are considered for state aid and institutional scholarships. By missing your state or school’s deadline, you might not only lose out on grants or scholarships but may also be left with loan-only offers, which can add to your overall cost of education. While the federal deadline is still an important date to keep in mind, it's crucial to be aware of earlier institutional and state deadlines. For example, many states like California and New York have priority deadlines as early as February or March. Getting your application in before these deadlines gives you the best chance of receiving the most financial aid possible.
Read more: The Power of Early FAFSA Filing: Why It Pays to Apply ASAP
A common mistake on the FAFSA is submitting incorrect or incomplete information. Even small errors—like entering your Social Security number incorrectly, missing a required field, or misunderstanding a question—can delay the processing of your application or cause it to be rejected entirely. For instance, if you mistakenly enter your date of birth wrong, it could trigger a verification request or, in the worst case, lead to a complete denial of your application. Additionally, students often forget to include all of their sources of income or neglect to report the correct financial details. These errors can result in your financial aid being calculated incorrectly, meaning you might receive less money than you’re entitled to.
A critical step in completing the FAFSA is reporting your tax information from the correct year. For the 2025–2026 academic year, the FAFSA will require you to provide information from your 2024 tax return. However, some students mistakenly use older or incorrect tax years, leading to errors that could affect their eligibility for aid. Using the wrong year could mean that your application is flagged for discrepancies, delaying the processing of your financial aid. Additionally, this could lead to a reduction in the amount of aid you qualify for if your financial situation has changed and is not reflected accurately.
Many students forget that both the student and, in some cases, the parent need to sign the FAFSA before it can be processed. An unsigned FAFSA application will be considered incomplete, and no financial aid will be awarded until both signatures are provided. While this may seem like an easy thing to overlook, it’s one of the most common reasons why FAFSA applications are delayed.
One of the most common errors on the FAFSA is incorrect reporting of dependency status. Your dependency status determines whether you need to report your parent’s financial information, which can dramatically affect the amount of aid you qualify for. Independent students are not required to include parental income and assets, which often results in a higher aid package. On the other hand, dependent students must report parental information. Many students mistakenly believe they’re independent, leading to inaccurate applications.
If your financial situation changes after submitting the FAFSA, such as losing a job or experiencing a major life event (e.g., a parent’s death), failing to update your FAFSA could result in your financial aid being calculated inaccurately. This could significantly lower the aid you’re eligible for or prevent you from receiving the full amount. The good news is that you can always update your FAFSA if there’s a change in your circumstances. Schools are also often willing to adjust your aid package if you can demonstrate that your financial situation has worsened.
Once you receive financial aid offers from multiple schools, it can be tempting to just accept the first one that comes your way. However, not all financial aid packages are created equal, and some schools may offer more generous grants or scholarships than others. It's essential to compare the total cost of attendance, not just the bottom-line figure. Some schools may offer additional scholarships, work-study opportunities, or reduced loan amounts to help offset costs. If you receive a better offer from another school, don’t hesitate to reach out to your chosen school to see if they can match or beat that offer.
Many students focus exclusively on federal aid and overlook the other funding sources available to them through state programs and institutional scholarships. In fact, FAFSA is often used as the application for state-based scholarships and institutional aid, so it's important to ensure you’re applying for all of the opportunities that could reduce your overall college costs. Some states, like California and Texas, offer significant scholarships based on FAFSA information, but if you miss the FAFSA deadline, you could miss out on those opportunities.
Filling out the FAFSA correctly is a crucial step in securing financial aid for college. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can ensure that you don’t miss out on thousands of dollars that could make your education more affordable. From meeting deadlines to ensuring accuracy, a little attention to detail can go a long way in maximizing your aid package and reducing the financial burden of college.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about the FAFSA process, don’t worry—you don’t have to do it alone. Our team is here to provide personalized assistance to ensure your FAFSA is completed correctly and on time. Join our portal today for access to expert guidance, additional scholarships, and resources that can help you make college more affordable.
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