AptKeysMoney · Paying for college
FAFSA, step by step
The FAFSA is the free federal form colleges and career schools use to decide your grants, work-study and loans. Fill it out every year you want aid. The 2027–28 form is open now, and most people finish their own section in about 12 minutes.
You'll need
- A StudentAid.gov account for you, and one for each parent who has to add information
- Your Social Security number, if you have one
- A parent's email address, if you're a dependent student
- The schools you're applying to
Do it like this
- Make your StudentAid.gov account, using your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card. Each parent who needs to add information makes their own account.
- Start the right year. The 2027–28 form covers school between July 1, 2027, and June 30, 2028, and asks for 2025 tax information.
- Answer the questions about you. The form asks questions to figure out whether you're a dependent or independent student. If you're dependent, a parent adds their own information from their own account.
- Everyone who adds information must consent to having their federal tax information transferred from the IRS. Without that consent, the student won't be eligible for federal aid.
- Add every school you're applying to, up to 20 online, even if you haven't been accepted yet. Schools can't see which other schools you listed.
- Sign and submit. The form isn't complete until every required person has finished, signed and given consent.
Watch out The FAFSA is free and lives on a.gov website. If you're asked for a credit card while filling it out online, you're not on the official site. Never share your account username or password, even with someone who's helping you.
Dad note Do it in October with a parent at the kitchen table. Free money doesn't wait for you to feel ready.