Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is one of the most important things you can do to increase your chances of receiving many forms of financial aid for college! We break down the information you'll need to complete the FAFSA.

Before starting your FAFSA

You and your contributors must create StudentAid.gov accounts (formerly known as FSA IDs) to be able to complete the FAFSA. A contributor is anyone who is required to provide information on your FAFSA, such as:

• Students (that’s you!)
• Parent(s)/Stepparent(s)
• Spouses (if applicable)

While you and your contributors can technically create your StudentAid.gov accounts right before completing the FAFSA, we strongly recommend that you create them 1-3 days in advance. This will allow time 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. If you create your StudentAid.gov accounts right before completing the FAFSA, you will have to enter all of your personal information manually.

What information do I need to complete the FAFSA?

Here is everything you will need to complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA:

• Your Social Security number.
• Your contributors’ Social Security numbers.
• USCIS Registration Number for eligible noncitizens.
• 2023 federal tax information, tax documents, or tax returns, including IRS W-2 forms or information for you and your contributors (this will be pulled electronically from the IRS, but is good to have on hand).
• Records of your untaxed income, such as child support received for you and for your contributors if you are a dependent student.
• Checking and savings account balances.
• Net worth of investments, including stocks, bonds, real estate (but not including the home in which you live), and business and farm assets for you and your contributors.
• A list of colleges (up to 20) you intend to apply to (if you’re completing the FAFSA for the first time). You do not need to be accepted to any of these colleges at the time of completing your FAFSA.

Contributing to a student's FAFSA as an undocumented parent/guardian

If you’re a dependent student living with one or more undocumented parents, you can still complete the FAFSA with your Social Security number. Parent(s) without an SSN can still make a StudentAid.gov account and contribute to a student’s FAFSA. Just have them select the "I do not have a Social Security number" box on the account creation page.

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. 

Complete the FAFSA! 

To complete your portions of the FAFSA, you and your contributor(s) can head to studentaid.gov, log in using your StudentAid.gov accounts, and begin!

Have any questions about completing 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!