FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid

You will need to reset your password through Student Aid.

Watch Troubleshooting your Account Username and Password (FSA ID)

By using the Data Retrieval Tool (DRT)! While you can manually enter in all of your and your spouses/parents tax information on the FAFSA, it is easier if you are able to use the DRT. This will be changing in the 2024-25 year. More information is still to come.

Generally speaking, yes. Your parents' contribution might be lower if both parents are working, and about 50% lower if they are helping more than one of their children through college or career school at the same time. This will be changing in the 2024-25 year. More information is still to come.

The parent who should complete the application is the one with whom you lived for the longest period during the last 12 months. This will be changing in the 2024-25 year. More information is still to come.

If you didn't live with either parent, or lived with each parent for an equal number of days, the application should be filled out by the parent who provided the most support for you during the last 12 months.

"Support" means money for such things as housing, food, clothes, transportation, medical and dental care, and school.

Grandparents, foster parents and legal guardians are not considered parents on the FAFSA unless they have legally adopted you.

Watch FAFSA: Determining your Dependency Status

Do I have to provide my parents information on the FAFSA form? See Filling Out the FAFSA® Form/Dependency Status

The FAFSA does require a step-parent's information to be included on the financial aid application if the biological parent they are married to is listed on the FAFSA. This is true even if they do not feel that they have responsibility for paying for your schooling.

Watch this brief Overview of the Financial Aid Process video (above) from Federal Student Aid or checkout this graphic description on their How Financial Aid Works webpage.