It should take three to five days from the moment you submit your online FAFSA form for it to be processed. Once it is, you’ll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). This report will detail your eligible aid and your Expected Family Contribution. This six-digit number shows what you and ...
Important changes to FAFSA filing dates One big change to the FAFSA has been the new filing window. After numerous delays and trying to remedy last year's issues, the 2025–2026 FAFSA is set to open on December 1, a few months later than the historical date of October 1...
If selected, you should see an asterisk next to the expected family contribution on the Student Aid Report, a summary document you will receive after filing the FAFSA. The financial aid offices from the schools listed on your application may also send you an email or physical letter asking for...
The FAFSA isn’t just for federal student aid. Many colleges and states use information provided on the FAFSA to evaluate students’ financial need for assistance offered by school or state programs. If you think your family income is too high to qualify for need-based aid, or you don’t ...
Fill out the forms.The FAFSA takes about 30 minutes to complete. Review your SAR.After you submit the FAFSA, the Department of Education will send you a Student Aid Report (SAR), which shows you a summary of all the information you’ve entered. Review the SAR for accuracy. ...
What do I need to do to get my loans paid off as part of the program? Sign upfor the department's "federal student loan borrower updates" emails to be notified when the application is live. Check your communication preferences on your FAFSA and loan servicer accounts so you know where,...
Pell Grant:A Pell Grant is a free federal grant you received because a) you filled out the FAFSA and b) you qualified. If you check your FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR), you will either see Pell Grant with its amount listed or you will only see the standard federal loan. ...