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5 Tips to Complete the 2027-28 FAFSA

October 1, 2026
By Mireya Sandoval

5 Tips to Complete the 2027-28 FAFSA
The 2027-28 FAFSA is now available! It’s best to complete the FAFSA as early as possible so you don’t miss financial aid deadlines. The FAFSA is a form you fill out every year you’re in college to give your college, state, and federal government the information they need to determine your eligibility for financial aid. The FAFSA can feel overwhelming, but these five tips can help you prepare, avoid common mistakes, and navigate the process with confidence!
 

  1. Create your StudentAid.Gov Account 
    Your StudentAid.gov account, also known as an FSA ID, is a username and password that serves as your legal signature. You use it to complete the FAFSA and access information about your federal student aid. Everyone who needs to contribute to your FAFSA will need their own StudentAid.gov account. Depending on your situation, contributors may include a parent, stepparent, or spouse. To create your StudentAid.gov account, go to StudentAid.gov and select “Create Account.” uAspire’s StudentAid.gov Account How-to Guide can also walk you through the process.

  2. Collect the Information You May Need
    The 2027-28 FAFSA requires 2025 income and tax information. Most federal tax information will be transferred directly from the IRS once you and your contributors provide consent. However, it can still be helpful to have your 2025 tax documents available in case you need to answer additional questions. You may also need information that isn’t included on your tax return, such as current balances in cash, savings, and checking accounts or information about certain investments. If you or your contributors didn’t file taxes, that’s okay, you can still complete the FAFSA. Use our FAFSA Checklist to see a full list of information you may need.

  3. Provide Consent on the FAFSA
    To be eligible for federal student aid, like the Pell Grant or federal student loans, you must provide consent on the FAFSA. This allows the IRS to share your federal tax information with Federal Student Aid. This process is required for all contributors, even if they did not file taxes. Most contributors will see very few income and tax questions after consenting. If you submitted your FAFSA but are missing your consent or a contributor's, don't worry! You can log back in and make a correction.

  4. Double-Check Your Information 
    Before submitting your FAFSA, you’ll see a review page summarizing your responses. Take a few minutes to review your answers and make sure everything is accurate. This can help you catch mistakes and avoid delays later. If you do discover an error after submitting your FAFSA, don’t worry. You can make many corrections through your StudentAid.gov dashboard.

  5. Sign, Submit, and Review Your FAFSA Submission Summary
    You and all required contributors must complete and sign your respective sections before your FAFSA can be submitted. Most FAFSA forms are now processed immediately, although some may take one to three days. As soon as your FAFSA has been processed, make sure to review your FAFSA Submission Summary carefully to ensure everything looks correct. If you need to make a correction or provide additional information, do so as soon as possible. Remember that your FAFSA Submission Summary is not your financial aid offer. Your financial aid offers will come directly from your colleges.

For more FAFSA resources, go to uaspire.org/resources.