How do I access my existing FAFSA form?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is important to any American student seeking financial assistance for college or career school.

It determines your eligibility for federal grants, student loans, and work-study programs.

But what happens if you need to access your existing FAFSA form?

Whether you’re making corrections, adding schools, or simply want to review the information you submitted, knowing how to access your existing FAFSA form is important.

What is the FAFSA form?

The FAFSA form is a standardized application used by the Department of Education to assess a student’s financial need.

It collects information about your income, assets, and household situation to determine your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). 

Schools use your EFC to calculate your financial aid package, which may include grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study opportunities.

There are two types of FAFSA forms:

  1. 2024-2025 FAFSA form: This is for students applying to start school in the fall of 2024.
  2. 2023-2024 FAFSA form: This is for students who are currently enrolled or applying to start school between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.

How Do I Access My Existing FAFSA Form?

If you haven’t submitted your FAFSA yet and only saved it to complete later, you can access it through the Federal Student Aid website. Here’s how:

  1. Visit the FAFSA website and click “Start or Edit a FAFSA Form.”
  2. Select your role (student or parent) and click “Log In to Continue.”
  3. Enter your FSA ID (username and password) and log in.
  4. On your My FAFSA page, look for the “My Activity” section. You should see your saved application listed.
  5. Click on the saved application to resume filling it out.

How to access a Submitted Application

Once you’ve submitted your existing FAFSA form, you cannot directly edit the information.

However, you can still view the submitted data, check its status, and make some adjustments:

  1. Visit the Federal Student Aid website and log in to your account using your FSA ID.
  2. Go to your My Activity section. You should see your submitted FAFSA form listed.
  3. Click on the submitted form to view the details you provided.

How to Submit Your FAFSA Form

If you’ve completed your FAFSA form, you can submit it electronically on the Federal Student Aid website. 

Here are some important details to keep in mind:

  1. You can submit your FAFSA as early as October 1st for the following academic year.
  2. There are deadlines to consider, so check with the schools you’re interested in for their specific FAFSA deadlines.
  3. You can sign your FAFSA electronically using your FSA ID. Your parent(s) can also sign electronically if they have their own FSA ID.

How Long Does it Take to Verify My FAFSA?

After submitting your existing FAFSA form, it normally takes 1-2 weeks for the Department of Education to process and verify your information. 

You can check the status of your FAFSA through your My Activity section on the Federal Student Aid website.