File the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

FAFSA

Billions of dollars in financial aid is waiting… but you can’t get it unless you apply!

Three-quarters of first-time college freshmen in Iowa receive some form of financial aid. If you want to be one of them, the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is where you start. You need this form to qualify for:

  • Need-based grants and scholarships, both federal and state
  • Work-study
  • Federal student loans

Applying for college admission is not the same as applying for financial aid—you’ll need to do both. No matter how many colleges you apply to, you only need to file one FAFSA. You will, however, need to file the FAFSA again for each year you plan to be in college.

Need help completing your FAFSA? Schedule a online appointment with a College Coach.

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Before the FAFSA

StudentAid.gov Account (FSA ID)

Every contributor — anyone (you, your spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or your parent's spouse) who's required to provide information on the FAFSA form — needs a StudentAid.gov account before accessing and completing their section of the online form. It is strongly recommended that you and your contributor(s) create your account before starting the FAFSA form, as it takes 1-to-3 days to verify your identity. Do not use an email address associated with your high school — you might lose access to the account after you graduate.

Note: Contributors without an Social Security Number (SSN) can create a StudentAid.gov account to fill out their portion of your FAFSA form online.

Documents Needed to Complete a FAFSA

You may need the following information for you and your parents:

  • Social Security Numbers for student and parent(s) (if applicable)
  • Federal income tax returns
  • Records of child support received (if applicable) 
  • Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts
  • Net work of investments, businesses, and farms
  • Alien Registration Number (if applicable)

Note: If you set up your StudentAid.gov account ahead of time, you don’t need to have your tax information in front of you. Your federal tax information will automatically transfer into the FAFSA form from the IRS. 

Are You an Independent Student?

Whether you need to include your parents’ financial information on your FAFSA depends on whether you are a dependent or independent student. You are considered independent and do not need to provide parental information if you meet any of these conditions:

  • Are 24 or older as of December 31 of the award year
  • Are a graduate student
  • Are married
  • Provide over 50% financial support for dependents
  • Are a U.S. Armed Forces veteran
  • Currently serve on active duty in the armed forces for purposes other than training
  • Are an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or at risk of being homeless
  • Are an emancipated minor or in legal guardianship
  • Since turning 13, were in foster care, a dependent or ward of the court; or both your parents are deceased

If you do not meet any independent student criteria, you must provide parental information. If special circumstances inhibit your ability to provide parental information (you can’t locate your parents, they are incarcerated, you left home due to an abusive situation or your parents refuse to provide their information and refuse to provide financial support), contact your college’s financial aid office.

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Filing the FAFSA

Application Form

You may choose any of these methods to file a FAFSA form: 

  • File online at FAFSA.gov
  • Complete a FAFSA PDF (note: you must print out and mail the PDF for processing)
  • Request a printed form by calling 1-800-4-FEDAID; then fill out the form and mail it for processing 

The FAFSA will gather information about your finances, your family’s finances, and your college plans. You can complete the FAFSA, using the previous year's tax information. (Example: You can complete the 2024-25 FAFSA using 2022's tax information.)

Filing Tips

  • Enter your legal name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card.
  • Provide consent and approval to transfer federal tax information from the IRS directly into the FAFSA form (required)
  • Enter up to 20 colleges or universities that you are considering. Your information will be shared with campus officials, who will evaluate your eligibility for federal, state and institutional financial aid.
  • Sign the FAFSA.
  • Print the confirmation page, which displays the exact date and time the form was received.

Application Deadlines

Your completed FAFSA should be submitted as soon after the FAFSA opening date as possible to receive financial aid in the next academic year. 

Colleges and universities have priority deadlines as early as January. Deadlines for grants and scholarships funded by the state of Iowa fall as early as March 1. Although you can file after the deadlines, some aid is limited and might no longer be available. 

Never Pay to File!

There are no fees to complete or submit the FAFSA.

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After the FAFSA

Verification

If your FAFSA is selected for verification, don’t panic. Roughly one-third of all FAFSAs are selected for this process, where colleges review student financial aid applications for accuracy. The process must be completed before financial aid can be awarded. Your college’s financial aid office will contact you and inform you of steps you need to take.

FAFSA Submission Summary

After you complete your FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education will process the data and compile your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS). The FSS is a summary of the FAFSA data you submitted. You (the student) will get your FAFSA Submission Summary after your FAFSA form is processed. Look over your FAFSA Submission Summary carefully, make sure you didn’t make a mistake on your FAFSA form, and make corrections to your FAFSA data if necessary. 

Expected Family Contribution

Your Student Aid Index, or SAI,  is a formula-based index number ranging from –1500 to 999999. Where your SAI falls within the SAI range helps your school determine how much financial support you may need.

A negative SAI indicates you have a higher financial need. For example, if you have an SAI of –1500, you’ll qualify for a maximum Pell Grant award assuming you have not exhausted your lifetime amounts and meet all student eligibility requirements. Learn how the SAI is calculated.

Financial Need 

Each college or university that you list on your FAFSA and accepts you for admission will determine what level of financial support you may need using your SAI and the Cost of Attendance (COA) at that institution. using your SAI. While Cost of Attendance varies by school, your SAI will remain the same in a given year (unless an unusual family situation arises) regardless of which college or university you attend. The amount of aid you receive cannot exceed the total Cost of Attendance.

Financial Aid Offer

Each college or university that you list on your FAFSA and that accepts you will send you a financial aid offer, outlining the federal, state and college-specific financial aid available to you. It might arrive by email or postal mail. It might come with your acceptance letter or shortly afterward. 

. To accept the financial aid package offered by a college or university, follow all instructions. This might involve entering aid amounts you intend to accept in an online form or signing and returning a paper document by a specified deadline—usually May 1. Talk to the financial aid office at the college or university if an unusual circumstance delays your response.

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