Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Application for the ongoing Federal Student Aid (FSA) is free. Read below to learn if you are eligible for grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and loans for college or career school.

Applying for the  Federal Student Aid (FSA) gives you access to the largest source of financial aid for school. You must submit your FAFSA application on time to be considered for federal student aid. States and colleges also use FSA information to award their own financial aid packages.

How to apply

Create an account and get a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. You can use your FSA ID right away to sign and submit your first FAFSA form. But to use your FSA ID for anything else, you will have to wait up to three days for your information to be confirmed by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Check your FAFSA application status

After submitting your application, check its status to make sure it has been processed. You can:

• Log in to your account at fafsa.gov, or
• Contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center

If you submit a paper FAFSA form, you can check its status 7–10 days after you mail it.

You will receive a report with a summary of the information you entered on your FAFSA form. Review it and make any necessary corrections by the due date.

Application deadlines

• For the school year 2024-25, the federal deadline to submit the FAFSA is June 30, 2025.
• For the school year 2025-26, the federal deadline to submit the FAFSA is June 30, 2026.

Apply here.