This point in the school year is a critical time for counselors to ensure students and families are successfully completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Doing it now means that students will hopefully be able to have a full picture of their financial aid offerings as they make decisions about where to matriculate to college in the fall. Delaying submission could mean students miss out on key financial assistance that can be the difference between being able to attend college or not; in other words, FAFSA completion is a gatekeeper to a student’s ability to realize their postsecondary goals and dreams. 

This year, the FAFSA was available beginning at the end of November–later than the typical October 1st opening date. Because of this, there has been less time to push out information about the process to students and families. And families who have completed it previously for older siblings may have missed the opening because of the shifts in timeline or encountered issues with the updated FAFSA process. 

Families and students who have not yet submitted their form are likely in need of reminders or additional support to complete the process. Counselors can catalyze FAFSA-completion by tracking submission rates, sharing information and updates through multiple communication channels with students and families, and offering additional opportunities for guidance. 

Use the updates, resources, and links below in messaging to families and students to help support these efforts. 

1. New Tool to Determine Contributors: There is a new tool available to help students determine which parent(s) are required contributors and need to complete the FAFSA form. The Who’s My FAFSA Parent? Wizard walks students through a series of questions to help them identify who in their family should complete the form as a contributor. 

2. FAFSA Deadline: While the federal FAFSA deadline for the 2025-2026 FAFSA is June 30, 2026, some colleges require it to be filed sooner or have preferred or priority deadlines. Students and families should check in with colleges they are interested in to make sure they meet these important deadlines. 

3. FAFSA is Required for Financial Aid: Counselors know that students must complete the FAFSA to receive financial aid award letters from colleges. Remind students that the sooner they complete the FAFSA, the more time they have to compare aid packages from different colleges. 

4. Students Do Not Need to Pay Anything to Complete FAFSA: Counselors and families should be aware that there are websites, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education, offering to support students and families in filing the FAFSA for a cost. This can be confusing to students and families. It is critical that they are aware that there is no fee to complete the FAFSA. Students and families should know they can access the FAFSA–and relevant support–through the U.S. Department of Education’s website at no cost.

5. Funds Are First Come, First Serve: The money allotted for student aid via the FAFSA is first come, first serve. Students and families should apply for the FAFSA as soon as possible in order to receive the full amount of eligible funds. 

6. Understanding Key FAFSA Terms: Counselors might help students and families to understand the different terms used within the form to make the FAFSA application process as smooth as possible. For example, within the FAFSA form, there is a question that asks students if they would like their school to determine eligibility for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan only. If they select “Yes” and then select “Continue,” they will see a pop-up warning that they will not be eligible for most federal student aid. Direct Unsubsidized Loans are not based on need and are available to students enrolled at least half-time at participating schools. 

7. Correcting Form Errors: Once a student’s FAFSA form is submitted and processed, they will be able to view a Submission Summary on the Dashboard of their StudentAid.gov account. Within the Submission Summary, students can view their form responses. Students should make corrections if they notice a mistake in what they reported or if their form is in “Action Required” status. To begin the process of making a change to their form, they can select “Make a Correction” at the top.

8. Sending FAFSA to Additional Colleges: Students can add additional colleges or universities to receive FAFSA information once their form has been submitted and processed. To do so, student’s should log in to their account and view the Dashboard, select the submitted form, select the processed FAFSA in the “My Activity” section, and select “Add or Remove Schools.” From there, students can search for the school by name or code and then select the school within the results. Once complete, they should submit the update. While no more than 20 schools may be listed on the FAFSA form at one time, schools can be replaced on the list. 

9. Changes to Financial Situation After Submission: If a student or family’s financial situation changes significantly after the submission of the FAFSA, they may be eligible for an adjustment. If there is a job loss, drop in income, a divorce, or other type of economic shock, students should pursue filing an appeal. To do so, they should contact the financial aid office at the college or career school they plan to attend. The financial aid offices can then determine what adjustments should be made to the financial aid award. 

‍Smoother FAFSA Process This Year: This year’s FAFSA rollout has been much smoother than last year’s. With that, there is no need to delay completing the FAFSA. The phased approach, with adequate testing periods, transparent communication, and supports for students, families, and other stakeholders has resulted in a FAFSA experience that is relatively quick (less than an hour) and simple–hopefully reducing barriers to completion and expanding the numbers of students who can access financial aid to support their future plans and goals.