FAFSA Frequently Asked Questions
The following FAQs are direct questions we have received from students and families in our 2024-25 PreFAFSA Release Webinars
No. You will use the same FSA ID as it is connected to your Identity.
The order to create the FSA ID does not matter, you can make your FSA ID accounts at any time before completing the FAFSA. However, the student will initiate the FAFSA process.
Each parent should create an FSA ID account. The student will initiate the FAFSA process, but parent information will need to be added as a contributor. The student will answer questions to determine who the parent on the FAFSA is. If married filing jointly only one parent needs to be added as a contributor as that parent will provide the other parent's information when they complete their part.
Work-study eligibility is need-based aid, if the student was eligible for work-study in past years and there has been no extreme change in household income for the 2022 tax year they will likely be eligible again. If they are working they may speak with their department about their continued role.
Yes! FAFSA application is completed every year! It required tax information from 2 years back. Ex: 2024/25 FAFSA uses 2022 tax information.
The Department of Education requires information from 2 years back per FAFSA year. Thus, the 2022 tax information is required for the 24/25 FAFSA.
You may save and come back to the application. It will be deleted if not completed in 45 days.
We encourage all students to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. Please be aware that students must have a FAFSA on file to be reviewed for financial aid eligibility. For California residents, the priority deadline to submit the FAFSA for 2024/25 is April 2nd, 2024.
The FAFSA can be completed at: www.studentaid.gov
You will use the same FSA ID account and begin a new FAFSA application for 2024/25 when it is available.
Yes. The student should still complete the FAFSA and the parent should still consent to their information being imported by the IRS as they will confirm the earnings and tax filing status from 2022.
You would still complete a FAFSA and import IRS data as they will confirm your earnings and tax filing status.
Yes! Returning students who have completed a FAFSA in the past will use the same FSA ID information.
It would not be an additional expense on the FAFSA application; however, you may see this link for more information on special circumstance appeal scenarios and requirements.
The 2024/25 FAFSA will be released on 12/31/2023. Please complete it as soon as possible.
The FAFSA will ask questions about family size but the number in college is no longer used in the SAI calculation.
No. However, if you are married, spouse information would be required.
CA Dream Act is for DACA students in the state of California, and out-of-state undocumented complete the CSS Profile.
If you do not file taxes when completing that FAFSA as a contributor, you will still link your information to the FAFSA from the IRS, it will then search the federal database to verify the tax filing status and information to include on your behalf on the student's FAFSA application.
No. Your previous FSA ID account information will still be used going forward if you previously had an account.
Yes. Only one Parent FSA ID account is required even if you have multiple students.
No. The FAFSA is exclusive to US citizens/ permanent residents/eligible non-citizens.
A contributor refers to anyone (you, your spouse, your biological or adoptive parent, or your parent's spouse) who's required to provide information on your 2024–25 FAFSA form.
The FAFSA parent wizard will help you determine which parent would be your parent contributor. They both could be contributors for FAFSA purposes.
No. You are still considered dependent and would require parental information to submit the FAFSA.
A contributor refers to anyone (you, your spouse, your biological or adoptive parent, or your parent's spouse) who's required to provide information on your 2024–25 FAFSA form. Thus, if your grandparent is not your adoptive parent, they would not be a contributor.
When you transmit your information from the IRS on the 2024-25 FAFSA you will not need to manually enter the tax information.
A contributor refers to anyone (you, your spouse, your biological or adoptive parent, or your parent's spouse) who's required to provide information on your 2024–25 FAFSA form. The graduate student would include themself and their spouse if applicable.
The SAI will be calculated using the 2024/25 FAFSA information. See more information on the SAI calculation.
No. The FAFSA is a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, thus there is no cost to submit it.
Yes. If the change to income and employment status is active for 90 days you may pursue a special circumstance appeal after the FAFSA has been submitted and there is an initial offer of financial aid.
A FAFSA with Parental information would still be required for dependent students. Parents without an SSN would still be able to create an FSA ID as of 2024/25 FAFSA using their email, phone number and answering identifying questions.
The FAFSA parent wizard will help you determine which parent would be your parent contributor. They both could be contributors for FAFSA purposes.
You may create your FSA ID at any time. You do not need to wait for the FAFSA to be released.
Yes. If the student earned income in 2022 and/ or filed 2022 taxes they are required to report their income on the FAFSA.
Yes. However, school that have been removed from your list of school will not receive any updates made to the FAFSA after they are removed.
Please see this link for different parent scenarios and the best next steps for the 2024/25 FAFSA.
Special circumstance appeals may be submitted after the student has been accepted to the university and received their initial financial aid offer. A FAFSA must be on file to pursue a special circumstances appeal.
Parents may create their FSA ID and password at any time. Parents will need to wait to be invited as a contributor on the FAFSA in order to provide their information to the student's FAFSA as of 2024/25.
No. It typically takes 1-3 business days for the FSA ID to be ready to use after it is created.
No. Your FSA ID is connected to your personal identity. When entering your information as a parent on the FAFSA, you will be invited as a contributor.
If your child begins college in the Fall 2024 term that begins in August 2024, you would need to complete a 2024-25 FAFSA with your 2022 tax information.
A parent's credit score does not affect the ability to complete the FAFSA application. However, if they pursue a private or parent PLUS loan on the student's behalf, credit would be a factor.
Merit scholarships are not affected by FAFSA data. FAFSA data could affect need-based institutional, state, and federal eligibility.