FAFSA Submission

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is necessary if you plan on securing financial aid for your college education.

Once you’ve completed the FAFSA form, submitting it electronically is a quick and easy process.

This guide will walk you through the FAFSA submission process, answer common questions about where your forms are saved, and explain how you can check your application status.

How do I do FAFSA Submission?

There are two ways to submit your FAFSA. These are electronically and by mail.

While submitting electronically is faster and more secure, you can choose the method that best suits you.

Electronic Submission:

  1. Visit the Federal Student Aid website (https://studentaid.gov/).
  2. Click on the “Create FSA ID” button if you haven’t already created one. An FSA ID is your electronic signature for federal student aid purposes.
  3. Log in to your account using your FSA ID and password.
  4. Select the appropriate academic year for which you are applying for aid.
  5. Review your FAFSA information carefully. You can make any necessary corrections before submitting.
  6. Once you’re satisfied with the information, electronically sign your FAFSA using your FSA ID. Your parent(s) will also need to sign electronically if required.

Paper Submission:

  1. You can download a paper FAFSA form from the Federal Student Aid website.
  2. Complete the form accurately and carefully. Double-check all information before mailing.
  3. Mail the completed form to the address provided on the form.

Where are my forms saved after FAFSA Submission?

After you submit your FAFSA electronically, your data is saved securely within the Department of Education’s system.

You cannot access or download a copy of the submitted FAFSA from the website.

However, you can always review and update your application information by logging into your account on the Federal Student Aid website.

How to Check your application status after FAFSA Submission

After submitting your FAFSA, it’s important to track the progress of your application. This is how you can do so:

  1. Confirmation Email: After a successful electronic submission, you should receive a confirmation email within a few days. This email will serve as proof of your submission.
  2. StudentAid.gov: Starting in March, you can check the status of your application by logging in to your account on StudentAid.gov. This will show you if your application has been processed, if any other information is required, or if your financial aid award information is available.
  3. FAFSA Submission Summary: If you provided an email address on your FAFSA form, you will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary via email within 3-5 days of processing. This summary provides a detailed overview of the information you submitted on your application. If you did not provide an email address, a paper copy of the summary will be mailed to you within three weeks.