Filing the FAFSA is a critical first step in the financial aid process, but not the last. Understanding what happens next, and when, will make navigating the rest of the process easier!
What Happens After I Submit My FAFSA?
Your FAFSA will be process in 1-3 days. If you provided a valid email address, an email will be sent notifying you that your FAFSA has been processed and will include a link to your Student Aid Report (SAR).
What Do I Need to Do Next?
Review Your Student Aid Report (SAR)
Once your FAFSA has been processed, an email that includes a link to view your SAR will be sent to your email address (so long as you provided one and it was valid). You can also go directly to FAFSA.gov anytime to check your FAFSA status and view your SAR.
You’ll need to log in with your (the student’s) FSA ID (username and password) to access your SAR. Click on “View Student Aid Report” (third option near the bottom of the page) to view your SAR. If you have previously made corrections to your FAFSA, this link will have been retitled to “View Correction History.”
Review your SAR carefully to check for and correct any errors.
If you used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer your tax information into your FAFSA, that data will not be visible. The information comes directly from the IRS and cannot be updated.
Add Additional Schools or Make Corrections
- To add additional schools or make corrections, go to FAFSA.gov and “Log In” under Returning User.
- Next, click on “I am the student” and provide your (the student’s) FSA ID.
- To add an additional school, click on “Update Schools.” To make corrections, click on “Edit FAFSA Form.”
- Create a Save Key and then add or correct required information.
- Once complete, submit your updated FAFSA.
Watch for Requests for Information from Your School(s)
Your school(s) may ask you to verify the information you provide on your FAFSA. This process is referred to as verification and does not mean you did anything wrong!
Activate your student portal and school email for all of the schools you listed on your FAFSA. This is the primary way you will receive updates and information from the Financial Aid Office.
Keep These Things in Mind
Your SAR may list your estimated eligibility for Federal Pell Grants and/or Federal Direct Student Loans. These are the only types of aid that can be estimated when filing the FAFSA.
You will find out about any other types of aid you are offered in the financial aid notification that will come directly from your school after you have been offered admission.
You can always check your FAFSA status or access your SAR by logging into FAFSA.gov with your FSA ID. To access your SAR, click on the “Student Aid Report” link.
When Will I Receive My Financial Aid Notification?
Most schools will not begin sending financial aid notifications until February. Also, you must be accepted for admission before the school will offer financial aid. For most students, there will be a gap in time from when the FAFSA is submitted until a financial aid notification is sent.
What Should I Do Once I Receive My Financial Aid Notifications?
If you are applying to multiple schools, thoroughly review and compare your financial aid offers from all schools before making a final decision about which school to attend. Keep in mind the school with the highest tuition and fees may not be the most expensive.
Use FAME’s “Comparing Costs & Financial Aid Offers” to help you get an “apples-to-apples” comparison of the offers you have received.
