The FAFSA® Is Open: 3 Steps to Take Now

The 2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is open. This is your chance to obtain federal student aid to help pay for your college or postsecondary education.

We have three key steps to help you feel more prepared to complete the application and get answers to questions about what comes next. 

1. Do This Before Completing FAFSA.

Before you apply, there are a few actions to take and materials to have handy when you complete the application.

Create an FSA ID.

Before you start your FAFSA you will need to create a studentaid.gov account, commonly called the FSA ID. An FSA ID is a username and password used to access and sign the FAFSA electronically take out loans and log in to all Federal Student Aid websites. 

Your account contains your personal information and represents your legal signature. Everyone must have their own StudentAid.gov account. 

You can’t share an account with a parent, spouse, or anyone else. Anyone who contributes to your FAFSA, such as parents, guardians, or spouses, will need to create an FSA ID. 

Unsure if you need to ask your parent(s) to provide information on the FAFSA? Use the “Who’s the Parent on the FAFSA Form?” Wizard to determine which parent(s) should participate.

Collect Documents.

Review a list of documents you need to get started.

Prepare a List of Schools.

You’ll be asked to provide the names of colleges, universities, or career schools you’d like to share your FAFSA information with.

2. Complete the FAFSA Application.

Filling out the FAFSA as early as possible ensures you’ll be considered for all types of federal financial aid. Keep in mind that you should check application requirements and filing deadlines posted on financial aid websites for your selected schools. This will do more than help you qualify for federal financial aid. It will also allow you to be eligible for any scholarships provided by your selected schools.

Be prepared to provide consent and approve sharing tax information from both you and your contributors. Consenting to allow the IRS to share your tax information with the FAFSA is required to be eligible for federal financial aid. This is required even if you or your parent(s) or guardian(s) didn’t file taxes, filed taxes outside of the Unites States, or don’t have an SSN. 

If you or your parent(s) or guardian(s) don’t provide consent, you won’t be eligible for federal financial aid. For assistance filling out your FAFSA, go to Federal Student Aid’s Filling Out the FAFSA Form.

3. Stay Connected. 

Congrats on submitting your FAFSA application! You’ll receive confirmation online and via email. 

The best way to stay informed about your chosen school’s process is by checking your student portal or student account for updates. If you’ve been admitted, keep an eye on your email to be sure you don't miss any important notifications from schools.

Visit Federal Student Aid for more information after you submit your application. 

Bonus: Earn an Entry for BigFuture Scholarships. 

Completing the FAFSA will connect you to federal financial aid. But that’s not all. If you’re a senior, it can earn you an entry into monthly drawings to win a $500 or $40,000 scholarship from BigFuture.

BigFuture rewards students for taking steps to plan for life after high school, including completing the FAFSA. Scholarships are awarded monthly until February of your senior year. 

For more information on eligibility, review the Complete the FAFSA qualification or other Steps to Qualify.