The first mistake many students and families make is assuming they can't afford college. Don't be discouraged until you know how much financial aid may be available to you. 

It all starts with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 

Completing Your FAFSA

You will need to fill out the FAFSA once for each academic year that you will attend school. The farther in advance you do it, the better! 

2026-27 Academic Year

After more than a month of beta testing, the Department of Education on September 24, 2025 officially launched the 2026-27 FAFSA, one week ahead of its October 1 deadline, marking the earliest launch in the program’s history. 

2025-26 Academic Year

The Department of Education officially launched the 2025-26 FAFSA on November 21, 2024 after completing an extensive testing process. Students and families will now also be able to access and submit a paper form.

You may also want to view or/print off this FAFSA checklist, which tells you what information and forms you need to have on hand to help you fill out the FAFSA.

• The FSA ID, made up of a username and password, is used to confirm your identity when you access your financial aid information and electronically sign your federal student aid documents. While you are not required to have an FSA ID to complete and submit a FAFSA on the Web application, it is the fastest way to sign your application and have it processed. It is also the only way to access or correct your information online, or to pre-fill a FAFSA on the Web application with information from your previous year’s FAFSA. If you don't already have an FSA ID, you can create one now.

Avoid Common Errors

Mistakes can delay your application and limit the amount of aid you are eligible to receive. To avoid errors, carefully read all of the questions on the FAFSA. Some of the most common FAFSA errors are:

• Leaving blank fields: Too many blanks may cause miscalculations and an application rejection. Enter a '0' or 'not applicable' instead of leaving a blank.
• Using commas or decimal points in numeric fields: Always round to the nearest dollar.
• Listing an incorrect Social Security Number or driver's license number: Double-­check and triple-­check these entries to ensure accuracy. 
• Failing to use your legal name: Your name must be listed on your FAFSA as it appears on your Social Security card. Don't enter nicknames or other variations on your name.
• Entering the wrong address: Don't enter a temporary campus or summer address as your permanent address.
• Entering the wrong federal income tax paid amount: This amount is on your income tax return forms from two years prior, not your W‐2 form(s). 
• Listing Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) as equal to total income from working: AGI and total income from working are not necessarily the same. In most cases, the AGI is larger than the total income from working.
• Incorrectly filing income taxes as head of household: If there is an error in the head of household filing status, the school will need an amended tax return to be filed with the IRS before paying out aid awards.
• Listing marital status incorrectly: The Department of Education wants to know your marital status on the day you sign the FAFSA. If you are in a legally recognized same-­sex marriage, you will need to provide your spouse's information as well.
• Listing parent marital status incorrectly: If your parent of record (the parent who is providing the most financial support) has remarried, you'll need to include the stepparent's information on the FAFSA. If you have two parents in a legally­‐recognized same-­sex marriage, you'll need to list both parents.
• Failure to list both parents if they live together: If both your legal parents (defined as biological or adoptive parents) live in the same household, you are required to list both parents on the FAFSA even if they are not married.
• Failing to count yourself as a student: The student completing the FAFSA must count himself or herself as a member of the household attending college during the award year.
• Forgetting to list the college: Obtain the Federal School Code for the college you plan on attending and list it along with any other schools you've applied to attend.
• Forgetting to sign and date: If you're filling out the paper FAFSA, be sure to sign it.
• Sending in a copy of your income tax returns: You do not need to include a copy of your tax returns with your FAFSA. Any information sent with your FAFSA will be destroyed. In addition, do not write any notes in the margins of your FAFSA.

Get Help

Check the Help section of the FAFSA website or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-­800-­4­‐FED AID (1-800-433-3243). The Department of Education also provides answers to frequently asked questions about the FAFSA, and FAFSA on the Web Live Help, a secure online chat session that allows you to ask questions of customer service representatives. You can get help directly from the Federal Student Aid office on the phone, via live chat, or by email. 

You can also check out our list of FAFSA tips and common mistakes to avoid and our list of frequently asked questions about financial aid.

To Look up your Federal Student Aid History

The National Student Loan Data System lets you access your federal student aid records and inquire about the status of loans and grants you have already received.