Step #1: Create Your Account
Before you can do anything, you must create an FSA ID. The student and one parent/guardian will need to create a FSA ID. Creating an FSA ID is easy. The button will take you to the FSA ID website. See the video below for the steps to create an FSA ID.
Step #2: Completing the FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a form completed by current and prospective college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid. The FAFSA is different from CSS Profile, which is also required by some colleges. The CSS is a fee-based product of the College Board and is used by the colleges to distribute their own institutional funds, rather than federal or state funding. This year it opens on December 1, 2024. Class of 2025 students should complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA.