From how to complete the application to details on FAFSA delays, here's everything you need to know about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
You may just be settling into the idea of your child’s upcoming senior year, but college will be here before you know it. Sending a kid off to college isn’t just a huge emotional milestone, it’s a pretty big financial one, as well. With the average cost of one year at a public university ringing in at $27,146 according to the Education Data Initiative. Even more expensive is the average cost of one year at a private college, which now reaches an average of $58,628. Needless to say, a solid plan to responsibly foot those kinds of bills is critical. Luckily, for many families, the cost of higher ed becomes a little less expensive with help from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (commonly known as FAFSA), which determines your child’s eligibility for both federal grants and student loans. The process can be complicated, especially given recent FAFSA delays, so read on for everything you need to know.
The Deets on FAFSA Delays
If you’re already familiar with FAFSA, you may have heard about recent FAFSA delays. Last year the FAFSA application form for 2025-26 was not available to all students until December 1. So far this year, things are on track and the application should be made available on October 1, the usual opening date.
What has caused the recent FAFSA delays? For that answer, we’ll rewind back to 2023. That’s when the Education Department revamped the FAFSA, hoping to make it easier for people to complete. Instead, it was the opposite. From FAFSA delays to technical glitches, the rollout was anything but smooth.
In hopes of not repeating history, the Education Department tested out the 2025-26 FAFSA form with a select group of students and institutions to hopefully, work out the kinks before it was fully released. “The goal of the phased rollout of the 2025-26 FAFSA form, consistent with software industry best-practices, is to work with limited groups of users to identify and resolve the kind of system errors that can derail millions of students and contributors and thousands of colleges,” said the Education Department in a statement. “A phased rollout will also allow the Department to incorporate user feedback to ensure the application’s instructions are clear and easy-to-use for students and contributors and provide resources for the community that supports students and families.”
Be Ready When the 2026-27 FAFSA is Available
Barring any FAFSA delays for the 2026-2027 application, you should take steps now to be ready when the time comes to apply.
To help, we’ve compiled a checklist of all the information you’ll need, so you can secure the best financial outcome for yourself — and your future college grad.
First, Get Your FSA ID
The first step in filling out your FAFSA is applying for your FSA ID. You can do so by visiting the Federal Student Aid website. You’ll need to enter your email address, date of birth, full name and Social Security number, as well as choose a username and password. You don’t have to wait until filing, so get this step out of the way in advance!
Gather Your Documents
There’s a long list of paperwork you’ll want to have handy as soon as you start filling out the FAFSA. Keep everything together in a folder prior to starting your application, and double-check the list to make sure nothing is missing.
For the student:
- Social Security number
- Driver’s license
- Prior year W-2
- Prior year tax return
- Prior year untaxed income records (if applicable)
- Current bank statement(s) and any investments (if applicable)
- List of the schools the student is interested in attending
- If your child doesn’t file taxes, have a driver’s license or have a checking account, don’t sweat it! It just means less paperwork to gather.
For the parents:
- Prior year W-2
- Prior year tax return
- Prior year untaxed income records (if applicable)
- Current business and investment records
- Current bank statement(s)
Check Your Family Circumstances
Filling out the FAFSA isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. Whether you’re divorced, widowed, in a same-sex marriage, or a legal guardian, lots of situations fall outside of the standard application guidelines. If you have a nontraditional family, you can find out how to proceed on your FAFSA with this handy guide.
Complete the Application
Once you have your ducks in a row, make sure you fill out the application as soon as possible. Write it on your calendar, set a reminder on your phone, and put a Post-It note on your mirror. You want to give your student the best chance at getting all the financial aid they are eligible for.
Even if you think your income might bar your student from receiving aid, don’t skip out on the FAFSA. Many scholarships and grants require you to fill it out, even those not based on income. Plus, the FAFSA gives your student a chance to access cheap (and sometimes forgivable) federal student loans. No matter what your situation, the FAFSA is a must, so fill it out as soon as you can.
Here's another great read on preparing for your child's college life: Why You Should Approach Your Child’s College Choice Like Buying Your First Home.
Source: HerMoney.com