Completing the FAFSA can bring up a lot of questions for students and families! Check out some of the most frequently asked questions that often come up when completing the FAFSA–and our answers!

I’m having trouble accessing my StudentAid.gov account. How do I regain access?

• You can regain access to your StudentAid.gov account by selecting the “Forgot My Username” or “Forgot My Password” links on the login screen. It will ask for personal information to retrieve your account. 
• If you cannot access your account due to using an old or incorrect email, you can submit a “Recover Your Account” request directly on the Federal Student Aid website. 

I am undocumented. Am I eligible to receive federal financial aid?

• To complete the FAFSA, you must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen. This unfortunately means that undocumented students are not eligible to receive any type of federal aid. However, some states offer their own financial aid application that undocumented students can complete to be considered for state and institutional aid.
• Undocumented students can also apply for scholarships to help cover their educational costs. Find scholarships here with no citizenship requirements and scholarships specifically for undocumented students and DACA recipients. You can also use our free Scholarship Finder to apply for scholarships specifically available to DACA recipients and undocumented students! 
• Generally, if a scholarship doesn’t specify a citizenship requirement, you can assume you’re eligible to apply. You can also reach out directly to the scholarship organization to ask about eligibility if it’s unclear. 

My parents are undocumented. Can I still complete the FAFSA and receive federal financial aid?

Yes! If you are a citizen or eligible noncitizen, you can complete the FAFSA regardless of your parents’ citizenship status. 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. 

Will I see my contributors’ income information on the FAFSA?

No. The application uses a role-based format, so you’ll only see questions relevant to you when completing your portion. Contributors (parents) will consent to an IRS data transfer and complete the financial section in their part of the application. The final contributor will then sign and submit the application.

What is the downside of completing the FAFSA?

There is no downside! While it takes effort and time to complete the FAFSA, it’s one of the most important things that eligible students can do when applying to college. Filling out the form gives you a chance to access types of aid you might be eligible for, including grants, scholarships, work-study, and federal student loans.

Whose income do I report on my FAFSA?

There are a few key questions that help you determine which parent’s income you will report on your FAFSA:

• Are your parents married to each other?
  • If yes, you need to report both parents’ incomes.
  • If not, go to the next question!
• If your parents are not married, do they live together?
  • If yes, you need to report both parents’ incomes.
  • If not, go to the next question!
• If your parents are not married and do not live together, which parent provided more financial support?
  • You want to report the parent who provided more support.
  • If they are re-married, you will also have to include the income of your stepparent.
  • If they are not re-married, you will just report the income of the parent who provided the most financial support.
  • If your parents are separated and they both provided equal financial support, report the income of the parent who earns more per year.

How do I contact Federal Student Aid?

You can reach FSA by phone, email, or live chat. You can find all of their contact information directly on their website. Due to the high volume of calls, you may need to try more than once. 

What disqualifies a student from being able to complete the FAFSA?

The following factors may lead to a student not receiving federal aid:

• Citizenship status. Students must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen to complete the FAFSA.
• Criminal convictions. Eligibility for aid can be affected by incarceration history.
• Not renewing every academic year that you are in school.
• Not maintaining satisfactory academic progress in college. 

Will FSA check my or my parents’ bank account?

No, FSA does not check your bank account once you’ve submitted the FAFSA. However, students and contributors report checking and savings account balances and sign at the end of the form indicating that all the information is accurate. Students may also be selected for verification after submitting the application, which can require them to submit additional documentation like bank or tax statements for their FAFSA to be successfully processed. 

How much money do my parents have to make per year to disqualify me from receiving federal aid?

There's no specific income level that automatically disqualifies a student from federal financial aid eligibility. The only way to find out exactly how much aid you may qualify for is to complete the application accurately and thoroughly.

How far back does FSA look at parents' income?

The FAFSA requires income information from two years prior to the academic year you're applying for. For example, if you're applying for aid for the 2025-2026 school year, you’ll need to report tax information from 2023.

Can I skip questions about my parents' assets?

The FAFSA uses skip logic, so you’ll only see questions that apply to you when completing your portion of the application. Students eligible for the maximum Pell Grant award or those from families earning less than $60,000 a year won’t need to report asset information. However, if you're asked about parent assets, be sure to provide accurate details.

Can I make corrections to my FAFSA after it’s been submitted? 

Yes! Once your application has been processed, you can sign into your StudentAid.gov account to make corrections or update information. Check out FSA’s website for more information. 

FAFSA is asking for my college’s financial aid code. How do I find it?

It’s super easy! Just Google “school name + fafsa code” and it should come up. You can also look directly on the financial aid website of your college. 

Have any questions about completing the FAFSA or applying for college financial aid? 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!