Apply for college financial aid
Get ready for the FAFSA and keep track of the steps that unlock your aid review.
Responsible agency: U.S. Department of Education · Reviewed 2026-09-29.
Steps to prepare
Prepare your account and information
Create your StudentAid.gov account. Required contributors, such as a parent or spouse, need their own accounts.
Complete the right FAFSA form
Choose the year you plan to attend school, add your schools, and invite any required contributors. Check school, state, and federal deadlines.
Confirm submission and review
All required contributors must finish and sign. Review your FAFSA Submission Summary and respond to requests from your schools.
Eligibility to check
- Federal aid has eligibility requirements.
- Your school determines your aid offer after reviewing the required information.
Information or documents to prepare
- StudentAid.gov accounts for required contributors
- Tax and financial information requested on the form
- List of schools
Cost and timing
Cost: The FAFSA application is free.
Timing: Federal, state, and school deadlines differ; use the earliest applicable deadline.
Your next step
Get your StudentAid.gov account and contributor information ready.
Read the official U.S. Department of Education source
This is an independent preparation guide, not an application or eligibility decision. Confirm current requirements with the agency.