How To Check Your FAFSA Status

Applying for FAFSA is an important aspect in finding the right financial aid to support your higher education.

So after submitting the application, it’s natural to wonder about your FAFSA status and what happens next. 

How To Check Your FAFSA Status

There are two main ways to check your FAFSA status, depending on how you submitted your application:

  1. Online: If you submitted your FAFSA electronically on the Federal Student Aid (FSA) website, you can check your status by logging in to your account. Here’s how:
    1. Visit the Federal Student Aid website.
    2. Click on the “My Aid” button in the top navigation bar.
    3. Log in using your FSA ID username and password.
    4. Once logged in, you’ll be directed to your “My FAFSA” page, which will display your application status.
  2. Paper: If you submitted a paper FAFSA application, you will be unable to check your FAFSA status online until it has been processed by the Department of Education. This typically takes around 7-10 business days from the date you mailed your application. You won’t receive any notifications about your application being processed, so you’ll need to wait until the timeframe has passed before checking online.

How do I see my FAFSA details?

Once you’ve logged in to your FSA ID account and accessed your “My FAFSA” page, you’ll find a section dedicated to your application status.

This section will display various details, including:

  1. Application year: This confirms which academic year your FAFSA application pertains to.
  2. Federal processing status: This is the most important section and will indicate the current stage of your application. Here are some of the most common FAFSA status:
    • Processing: This means your FAFSA has been received and is undergoing initial processing.
    • Processed: This indicates your FAFSA has been successfully processed, and your information has been sent to the schools you listed on your application.
    • Selected data verification: In some cases, the Department of Education may require additional verification of certain information on your FAFSA. You’ll receive instructions on how to complete this step.
    • Awaiting information from you: This status appears if there’s missing or incorrect information on your application that needs your attention. You’ll be prompted to take corrective action.
  3. Expected family contribution (EFC): This number is calculated based on your financial information and determines your eligibility for federal student aid.
  4. Schools you listed: This section confirms the colleges and universities you included on your FAFSA application.

FAFSA Status Processing Time

The processing time for your FAFSA application can vary depending on several factors, but here’s a general timeline to give you an idea:

  1. Online submissions: Normally processed within 3-5 business days.
  2. Paper submissions: Processed within 7-10 business days after being received.
  3. Verification process: If additional verification is required, it can add 4-6 weeks to the processing time.

What Happens After Your FAFSA is Processed?

Once your FAFSA is processed, the Department of Education will electronically send your information to the colleges you listed on your application.

Each school’s financial aid office will then use your FAFSA data to determine your financial aid eligibility and award package.

This may include federal grants, loans, and work-study programs.