In order to access and complete the FAFSA, you will need to create a StudentAid.gov account (formerly known as an FSA ID). Your StudentAid.gov account is used to confirm your identity when accessing federal financial aid information and to sign your FAFSA electronically when you submit it. You are required to create a StudentAid.gov account to access, sign, and complete the FAFSA. Dependent students (students who live with their parent(s)/stepparent(s) and rely on them for financial support) will have contributors to their FAFSA application. Contributors will need to create their own StudentAid.gov accounts to complete their portion of the FAFSA. In this article, we'll show you how to create a StudentAid.gov account!

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What information will I need to create my StudentAid.gov account?

• Email address (each contributor will need their own unique email address).
• Reliable phone number.
• Social Security number (contributors without an SSN will use FSA's manual identity verification process).
• Multi-Factor Authentication.

Creating a StudentAid.gov account and completing the FAFSA as an undocumented contributor

Parent(s) without an SSN can still make a StudentAid.gov account and contribute to a student’s FAFSA by using FSA's manual identity verification process. It’s important to understand that at this time, personal data submitted through the FAFSA–including a contributor’s citizenship status–may or MAY NOT be protected by the U.S. Department of Education. While contributing to a student’s FAFSA as an undocumented parent generally should not affect their eligibility to receive federal financial aid, other potential risks that undocumented contributors may face are currently unknown. Before completing the FAFSA, we advise you to talk to your family to make an informed decision that works best for you.

How to create a StudentAid.gov account

1. Go to studentaid.gov

2. Click "Create Account" at the top right of the home page

3. Create an account by clicking the "Get Started" button

Remember, you will need to create your own StudentAid.gov account separate from your contributors. After you create yours, they will need to create theirs.

4. Enter your personal information

Provide your name and Social Security number exactly as they appear on your Social Security card.

Personal information you will need to list when creating your StudentAid.gov account:

• Username and email address. Create a username that is unique and that you can easily remember. The email address you provide should be different from your contributors' email addresses.
• Address and phone number. Parents and students can list the same address, but cannot use the same phone number. Your phone number can be used to access your StudentAid.gov account if you forget your username or password when filling out your FAFSA.
• Challenge questions. If you ever forget your login information (and don't have access to your mobile number or email), you will be asked a question to confirm your identity. During setup, you get to choose a question and answer it. Later, if you need to gain access to your account, your challenge question will be shown to you, and the answer you provide must match the answer you submitted when you created your account. Be sure to write down the questions and answers you select.

5. Ensure that all of your information is correct and press submit

If there's an error with any of your personal information, it will cause issues after you submit your FAFSA–so be sure to verify that it’s all correct.

What's next after creating my StudentAid.gov account?

Once you and your contributors have created your StudentAid.gov accounts, you have two options for completing the FAFSA:

• You and your contributors can create your StudentAid.gov accounts in advance of completing the FAFSA. This allows time (1-3 days) for your StudentAid.gov accounts to be authenticated so that when you complete the FAFSA, all of your personal information will automatically appear on the form. We strongly recommend you create your StudentAid.gov accounts ahead of time. This can save you and your contributors a considerable amount of time and hassle. 
• You and your contributors can create your StudentAid.gov accounts the same day you complete the FAFSA. However, you will all have to manually enter your personal information onto the form.

Have any questions about creating a StudentAid.gov account or filling out the FAFSA? Text #FAFSA to 33-55-77 to chat with one of our advisors. If you're using a mobile device, click here to have the text message set up for you!