To make sure you’re ready to submit your FAFSA as soon as it opens, here’s what you need to gather and how to get started. ✨
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To make sure you’re ready to submit your FAFSA as soon as it opens, here’s what you need to gather and how to get started. ✨
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Prior to December 1st, students and parents can create their FSA ID, a requisite first step of FAFSA completion. To create an FSA ID, students, parents, and other contributors must initiate creating an FSA ID and then wait 1-3 days for verification. Counselors can send regular reminders to students and families about this critical step and share important tips. Of note, students will need to use an email address or phone number they have regular access to now and will continue to have access to after high school graduation. To that end, students should not use their district-issued email address as they will likely lose access upon graduation.
To start, you'll need a StudentAid.gov account to access and complete the 2024–25 FAFSA form. Each person who will provide information on your FAFSA (referred to as a contributor) must also have their own account. This includes you, your parents, spouse, or your parent's spouse if applicable.
If you’re a student, you’ll need your Social Security Number (SSN) to create your account (unless you're a citizen of the Freely Associated States). As a change for 2024–25, contributors who don’t have an SSN can also create an account to complete their part of your FAFSA form.
Create your StudentAid.gov account now so you’re ready when the FAFSA form launches. 🚀
When you fill out the FAFSA, you’ll answer questions that will help determine who needs to be a contributor on your form. For now, it’s a good idea to identify your contributors to get a head start on gathering their details.
For parents who are divorced, the parent who has provided more financial support over the past year will be considered your contributor. If both parents contributed equally, the parent with the higher income and assets will be identified as the contributor.
Example:
If Parent A earns $60,000 and has $80,000 in assets, and Parent B earns $120,000 and has $100,000 in assets, Parent B will be the contributor. 💡
If you’re married and filed taxes jointly with your spouse, their information will be used on the FAFSA, but they won’t be identified as a contributor. However, if you didn’t file jointly, your spouse will be considered a contributor.
When inviting contributors to your FAFSA, you'll need their:
The 2024–25 FAFSA will require you and your contributors to provide consent to have your 2022 federal income tax information automatically transferred into the form from the IRS. This step is mandatory to be eligible for federal student aid, even if you didn’t file a tax return, filed outside the U.S., or if your contributor doesn’t have an SSN.
Be sure to report 2022 income on your FAFSA form, not 2023 income, even if there has been a significant change in your financial situation. If you or a contributor’s financial situation has changed since 2022, contact the school you plan to attend, as they may adjust your FAFSA after reviewing the updated information.
You and your contributors may need to report any untaxed income, like child support or interest income. Be prepared to answer questions on the FAFSA using 2022 income details.
The FAFSA form will also ask for information about your assets. Be sure to have records of:
Make sure to report the current amounts as of the date you sign your FAFSA form.
While you don’t need to have been accepted to a school yet, it’s important to list any colleges, trade schools, or career schools you're interested in on your FAFSA. You can list up to 20 schools. This ensures that your financial aid results are sent to these schools for review.
If you add a school but later decide not to apply, that’s fine! The school won’t offer aid until you're accepted, but it’s always better to list schools early to avoid missing out on potential aid.
Tip: Some states may have specific requirements on how you list schools for state aid purposes. Make sure to check if your state has such requirements.
Once the 2024–25 FAFSA form is available, you’ll be able to start filling it out at fafsa.gov. Get started early to ensure you’re on track to receive financial aid. If you need additional help, reach out to your school or financial aid office for support.
By staying organized and gathering all necessary documents now, you can make the FAFSA process smoother when it's time to apply for aid. 📝✨
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