2025–26 FAFSA® Preview Presentation
October 2024
Topics
2
Overview (1 of 4)
3
Dependent Student Invites Parent
4
Dependent Student FAFSA® Landing Page
5
This is the main FAFSA® landing page. On this page, students are directed to "Start New Form" or “Edit Existing Forms." For this section of the presentation, the student is beginning a new application.
Dependent Student Log In
6
If the student selects "Start New Form" from the FAFSA® landing page and they are not logged in to StudentAid.gov, they are taken to the "Log In" page to enter their credentials. To access the FAFSA form, all students are required to have an FSA ID (StudentAid.gov account username and password). If the student doesn't have an FSA ID, they can select "Create an Account."
Dependent Student Roles
7
After logging in, the student can select the applicable role to fill out the FAFSA® form: "Student" or "Parent." The student selects "Student."
Student Onboarding (1 of 4)
8
When the student starts the 2025–26 FAFSA® form for the first time, they are taken through the FAFSA onboarding process. The first onboarding page provides an introduction of the FAFSA form and an accompanying video.
Dependent Student Onboarding (2 of 4)
9
The second FAFSA® onboarding page provides information about contributors that may be required to participate in the student’s FAFSA form, including an accompanying video that explains contributors, and information on how the student will invite them. Documents that may be needed to fill out the form are also included on this page.
Dependent Student Onboarding (3 of 4)
10
The third FAFSA® onboarding page provides information about what the student can expect when completing their FAFSA form. This includes information about consent and approval, a time estimate for completing the form, and that they can save the form and return later if needed, along with an accompanying video.
Dependent Student Onboarding (4 of 4)
11
The last FAFSA® onboarding page provides information about what to expect once the FAFSA form is completed, submitted, and processed. On this page, the student can select "Start FAFSA Form" to begin.
Dependent Student Identity Information
12
This is the first page within the student section. The student can verify that their personal information is correct. To update any of the personal information, the student must access their Account Settings on StudentAid.gov.
Dependent Student State of Legal Residence
13
The student is asked about their state of legal residence. The student selects the state from a drop-down box and provides the month and year when they became a legal resident.
Dependent Student Provides Consent and Approval
14
This page informs the student about consent, approval, and the use of their federal tax information. By providing consent and approval, the student’s federal tax information is transferred directly into the FAFSA® form from the IRS to help complete the "Student Financials" section.
Dependent Student Provides Consent and Approval (Continued)
15
This is a continuation of the consent and approval page. Frequently asked questions about consent and approval are also provided that the student can expand and collapse. The student selects "Approve" to provide consent and approval, and they are taken to the next page.
Dependent Student Imports IRS Information
16
This page imports the student’s federal tax information by directly transferring it into the FAFSA® form from the IRS to help complete the "Student Financials" section.
Dependent Student Imports IRS Information (Continued)
17
This page displays the results from the IRS import for the student. For this scenario, the student is starting a new FAFSA® form and there is no federal tax information available from the IRS.
Dependent Student Personal Circumstances
18
This is the first page within the "Student Personal Circumstances" section. It provides an overview of the section.
Dependent Student Marital Status
19
The student is asked about their marital status. The student selects the "Single (never married)" option.
Dependent Student College or Career School Plans
20
The student is asked about their college grade level for the 2025–26 school year and if they will have their first bachelor’s degree. The student selects that they will be a "First year (freshman)" and that they will not have their first bachelor’s degree.
Dependent Student Personal Circumstances
21
The student is asked if any of the listed personal circumstances apply to them. The student selects "None of these apply."
Dependent Student Homelessness
22
The student is asked if they were homeless or at risk of being homeless. The student selects "No."
Dependent Student Unusual Circumstances
23
The student is asked if unusual circumstances prevent them from contacting their parent(s). The student selects "No."
Student Dependency Status: Dependent Student
24
Based on the answers provided by the student, they are considered a dependent student. The student is asked if they want a financial aid administrator to determine their eligibility for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan only. This is an option if the student’s parents are unwilling to provide information. The student selects "No,“ and if the student had selected “Yes,” a modal would appear to warn them about missing out on other potential federal student aid.
Dependent Student: Tell Us About Your Parents
25
As the student is considered dependent, they are asked to provide information about their parents. The FAFSA® form considers their “parent" to be their legal (biological or adoptive) parent. The student is asked if their parents are married. The student selects "Yes" and is instructed to provide information about both their parents on the FAFSA form.
Dependent Student Invites Parents to FAFSA® Form
26
The student is asked to enter personal information about their parents in order to send them an invite to their FAFSA® form. In this scenario, the student invites one parent.
Introduction: Dependent Student Demographics
27
This is the first page within the "Student Demographics" section. It provides an overview of the section.
Dependent Student Demographic Information
28
The student is asked about their gender identity. The student selects “Prefer not to answer.”
Dependent Student Race and Ethnicity
29
The student is asked if they are of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin. The student selects the checkboxes that apply to them.
Dependent Student Race and Ethnicity (Continued)
30
This is a continuation of the student race and ethnicity page. The student is asked to identify their race. The student selects the checkboxes that apply to them.
Dependent Student Citizenship Status
31
The student is asked about their citizenship status. The student selects the "U.S. citizen or national" option.
Dependent Student’s Parent Education Status
32
The student is asked about their parents’ education status. The student selects the "Neither parent attended college" option.
Dependent Student’s Parent Killed in Line of Duty
33
The student is asked if their parent was killed in the line of duty. The student selects the "No" option.
Dependent Student High School Completion Status
34
The student is asked about what their high school completion status will be when they start the 2025–26 school year. The student selects the "High school diploma" option.
Dependent Student High School Information
35
The student is asked which high school they did or will graduate from. The student enters their high school’s state and city. After selecting "Search," they select the correct high school from the search results.
Dependent Student Confirms High School
36
The student has the option to edit the high school information presented on this page by selecting "Edit," which will return them to the high school information page. The student confirms their high school information and selects "Continue" to proceed to the next section.
Introduction: Dependent Student Financials
37
This is the first page within the "Student Financials" section. It provides an overview of the section. The student can select the hyperlink if they want to learn about special financial circumstances.
Dependent Student Tax Filing Status
38
The student is asked about their tax filing status. The student selects "Yes" to "Did or will the student file a 2023 IRS Form 1040 or 1040-NR?"
Dependent Student Tax Return Information
39
The student is asked about their 2023 tax return. The student selects "Single" as their filing status.
Dependent Student Tax Return Information (Continued)
40
The student is asked about their taxes, income, and other financial information. The student enters dollar amounts in the responses.
Dependent Student Assets
41
The student is asked about their assets. The student enters a response in each entry field.
Introduction: Dependent Student Select Colleges
42
This is the first page in the "Select Colleges and Career Schools" section, which is the final part of the FAFSA® form’s student section to require information. It provides an overview of the section.
Dependent Student College Search
43
The student is asked to search for the colleges and/or career schools they would like to receive their FAFSA® information. The student searches for a school by entering a state, city, and/or school name and selecting "Search." If the student can’t find a school searching by school name or state, they can search by school code. The student must add at least one college or career school to continue.
Dependent Student College Search (Continued)
44
After entering a school’s state, city, and/or school name and selecting "Search," the student selects the correct school(s) from the search results. Students can send their FAFSA® information to a maximum of 20 schools.
Dependent Student College Search (Continued)
45
After the student selects the correct school(s) from the search results, they can review the school(s) they chose before continuing.
Dependent Student Review Page
46
The review page displays the responses that the student has provided in the FAFSA® form. The student can view all their responses by selecting "Expand All" or expand each section individually. To edit a response, the student can select the question’s hyperlink to be taken to the corresponding page.
Dependent Student Review Page (Continued)
47
This is a continuation of the student review page. Since the student invited their parent to their form, they see the parent contributor section and the status of their parent’s invite.
Dependent Student Signature
48
On this page, the student reviews the terms and conditions of the FAFSA® form and what they’ll agree to if they sign the form.
Dependent Student Signature (Continued)
49
This is a continuation of the student signature page. After agreeing to the terms and conditions of the FAFSA® form and signing, the student is able to submit their section of the FAFSA form. Since parent information has not been provided, the FAFSA form is not considered complete and can’t be processed yet.
Dependent Student Section Complete
50
Upon signing the student section, the student is presented “The student section is complete!” page. The student is reminded that their FAFSA® form is not completed and can’t be submitted until the parent completes the contributor section of the form and signs it. This page also displays next steps the student can take, including tracking and managing their form.
Dependent Student Section Complete (Continued)
51
This is a continuation of the student section complete page. This page displays information for the student about next steps, including checking their email and a reminder that their FAFSA® form is not completed and can’t be submitted until the parent completes the contributor section of the form and signs it. Next, in this scenario, the student’s invited parent will enter the FAFSA form and complete the parent section.
Dependent Student’s Parent Email
52
This is NOT a view within StudentAid.gov or the FAFSA® form. This view demonstrates a parent opening the FAFSA invitation from their email. The parent selects "Get Started" and is taken to StudentAid.gov.
Dependent Student’s Parent Log In
53
The parent is taken from their email to the "Log In" page to enter their credentials. To access the FAFSA® form, all users are required to have an FSA ID (StudentAid.gov account username and password). If the parent doesn't have an FSA ID, they can select "Create an Account."
Parent Status Center – My Activity
54
After successfully logging in, the parent is taken to their "My Activity" section. The parent sees an invitation to be a contributor on the student’s FAFSA® form.
Parent Status Center – My Activity (Continued)
55
When the parent selects "Accept Invitation," a pop-up window appears to remind the parent that their personal information is needed to fill out the student’s FAFSA® form. The parent selects "Continue" to agree to sharing their information and enters the FAFSA form.
Dependent Student’s Parent Onboarding (1 of 4)
56
When the parent enters a 2025–26 FAFSA® form for the first time, they are taken through the FAFSA onboarding process. The first onboarding page provides an introduction of the FAFSA form and an accompanying video.
Dependent Student’s Parent Onboarding (2 of 4)
57
The second FAFSA® onboarding page provides information about contributors that may be required to participate in the student’s FAFSA form, including an accompanying video that explains contributors, and information on how the parent will invite them. Documents that may be needed to fill out the form are also included on this page.
Dependent Student’s Parent Onboarding (3 of 4)
58
The third FAFSA® onboarding page provides information about what the parent can expect when completing the student’s FAFSA form. This includes information about consent and approval, a time estimate to complete the form, and that they can save the form and return later if needed, along with an accompanying video.
Dependent Student’s Parent Onboarding (4 of 4)
59
The last onboarding page provides information about what to expect once the FAFSA® form is completed, submitted, and processed. On this page, the parent selects "Start FAFSA Form" to begin the parent section.
Dependent Student’s Parent Identity Information
60
This is the first page within the parent section. The parent can verify that their personal information is correct. To update any of the personal information, the parent must access their Account Settings on StudentAid.gov.
Dependent Student’s Parent Identity Information �(Continued)
61
This is a continuation of the first page within the parent section. The parent can verify their mailing address on this part of the page. To update this information, the parent must access their Account Settings on StudentAid.gov.
Dependent Student’s Parent Provides �Consent and Approval
62
This page informs the parent about consent, approval, and the use of their federal tax information. By providing consent and approval, the parent’s federal tax information is transferred directly into the FAFSA® form from the IRS to help complete the "Parent Financials" section.
Dependent Student’s Parent Provides Consent and Approval (Continued)
63
This is a continuation of the consent and approval page. Frequently asked questions about consent and approval are also provided that the parent can expand and collapse. The parent selects "Approve" to provide consent and approval, and they are taken to the next page.
Dependent Student’s Parent Imports IRS Information
64
This page imports the parent’s federal tax information by directly transferring it into the FAFSA® form from the IRS to help complete the “Parent Financials" section.
Dependent Student’s Parent Imports IRS Information (Continued)
65
This page displays the results from the IRS import for the parent. For this scenario, the parent is contributing to a new FAFSA® form and there is no federal tax information available from the IRS.
Introduction: Dependent Student’s Parent Demographics
66
This is the first page in the "Parent Demographics" section. It provides an overview of the section.
Dependent Student’s Parent Current Marital Status
67
The parent is asked about their current marital status. They select the "Married (not separated)" option.
Dependent Student’s Parent State of Legal Residence
68
The parent is asked about their state of legal residence. The parent selects the state from a drop-down box and provides the month and year when they became a legal resident.
Introduction: Dependent Student’s Parent Finances
69
This is the first page within the "Parent Financials" section. It provides an overview of the section.
Dependent Student’s Parent Federal Benefits Received
70
This page asks the parent if they or anyone in their family has received federal benefits. The parent selects "None of these apply."
Dependent Student’s Parent Tax Filing Status
71
This page asks the parent about their tax filing status. The parent selects "Yes" to "Did or will the parent file a 2023 IRS Form 1040 or 1040-NR?" and “Yes” to “Did or will the parent file a 2023 joint tax return with their current spouse?”
Dependent Student’s Parent Family Size
72
This page displays the family size for the student. The parent has the option to enter the number of children or other dependents who live with the parent and will receive more than half of their support from the parent between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.
Dependent Student’s Parent Number in College
73
This page asks the parent how many people in the family will be in college between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The parent enters a response into the entry field.
Dependent Student’s Parent Tax Return Information
74
The parent is asked questions about their 2023 tax return. The parent enters a response in each entry field.
Dependent Student’s Parent Assets
75
The parent is asked about their assets. The parent enters a response in each entry field.
Dependent Student’s Other Parent Information
76
The parent is asked to provide information about their spouse or partner. In this example, the other parent does not need to contribute to the student’s FAFSA® form because the parents filed taxes jointly. After providing the other parent’s information, all required parent information will be complete.
Dependent Student’s Parent Review Page
77
The review page displays the responses that the parent has provided in the FAFSA® form. The parent can only view responses within the parent section of the student’s FAFSA form. The parent can view all their responses by selecting "Expand All" or expand each section individually. To edit a response, the parent can select the question’s hyperlink to be taken to the corresponding page.
Dependent Student’s Parent Signature
78
On this page, the parent acknowledges the terms and conditions of the FAFSA® form and signs their section. Since all required sections are complete, the parent can both sign and submit the student’s FAFSA form.
Dependent Student FAFSA® Confirmation
79
Upon submitting the student’s FAFSA® form, the parent is presented an abbreviated confirmation page. This page displays information about tracking the student’s FAFSA form and next steps. The student will receive an email with the full, detailed confirmation. With the student and parent sections completed and signed, the FAFSA form is now considered complete and submitted for processing.
Parent Starts and Submits a FAFSA® Form Without Student Consent or Signature
80
Parent FAFSA® Landing Page
81
This is the main FAFSA® form landing page. On this page, students and parents are directed to "Start New Form" or “Edit Existing Forms." For this section of the presentation, the parent is beginning a new application on behalf of their child.
Parent Log In
82
If the parent selects "Start New Form" from the FAFSA® landing page and they are not logged in to StudentAid.gov, they are taken to the "Log In" page to enter their credentials. To access the FAFSA form, all parents are required to have an FSA ID (account username and password). If the parent doesn't have an FSA ID, they can select "Create an Account."
Parent Roles
83
After logging in, the parent selects the applicable role to fill out the FAFSA® form: "Parent."
Parent’s Student Information
84
The parent is asked to provide the student’s information. Since the student has not started a FAFSA® form yet, they will receive an email notifying them that a FAFSA form was started on their behalf. The student can then enter the form to provide consent, sign the form, and make any needed corrections.
Parent Onboarding (1 of 4)
85
When the parent starts the 2025–26 FAFSA® form for the first time, they are taken through the FAFSA onboarding process. The first onboarding page provides an introduction of the FAFSA form and an accompanying video.
Parent Onboarding (2 of 4)
86
The second FAFSA® onboarding page provides information about contributors that may be required to participate in the student’s FAFSA form, including an accompanying video that explains contributors, and information on how the parent will invite them. Documents that may be needed to fill out the form are also included on this page within a drop-down menu and may include tax returns; record of child support received; current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts; and net worth of investments, businesses, and farms.
Parent Onboarding (3 of 4)
87
The third FAFSA® onboarding page provides information about what the parent can expect when completing the student’s FAFSA form. This includes information about consent and approval, a time estimate to complete the form, and that they can save the form and return later if needed, along with an accompanying video.
Parent Onboarding (4 of 4)
88
The final FAFSA® onboarding page provides information about what to expect once the FAFSA form is completed, submitted, and processed. On this page, the parent can select "Start FAFSA Form" to begin.
Parent’s Student Identity Information
89
After starting the FAFSA® form, the parent sees the first page within the parent section. The parent can verify that the student’s personal information is correct. To update any of the personal information, the student must access their Account Settings on StudentAid.gov. The parent will not be able to update the student’s information on this page.
Parent’s Student Identity Information (Continued)
90
This is a continuation of the "Parent Identity Information" page. The parent can verify that the student’s personal information is correct.
Parent’s Student State of Legal Residence
91
The parent is asked about the student’s state of legal residence. The parent selects the state from a drop-down box and provides the month and year when the student became a legal resident.
Introduction: Parent’s Student Personal Circumstances
92
This is the first page within the "Student Personal Circumstances" section. It provides an overview of the section.
Parent’s Student Marital Status
93
The parent is asked about the student’s marital status. The parent selects the "Single (never married)" option.
Parent’s Student College or Career School Plans
94
The parent is asked about the student’s college grade level for the 2025–26 school year and if the student will have their first bachelor’s degree. The parent selects that the student will be a "First year (freshman)" and that they will not have their first bachelor’s degree.
Parent’s Student Personal Circumstances
95
The parent is asked if any of the listed personal circumstances apply to the student. The parent selects "None of these apply."
Parent’s Student Homelessness
96
The parent is asked if the student was unaccompanied and either homeless or at risk of being homeless. The parent selects "No."
Parent’s Student Unusual Circumstances
97
The parent is asked if unusual circumstances prevent the student from contacting their parent(s). The parent selects "No."
Parent’s Student Dependency Status: Dependent Student
98
Based on the answers provided by the parent, the student is considered a dependent student. The parent is asked if they want a financial aid administrator to determine the student’s eligibility for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan only. This is an option if they are unwilling to provide their information. The parent selects "No."
Parent Identity Information
99
This is the first page within the parent section. The parent can verify that their personal information is correct. To update any of the personal information, the parent must access their Account Settings on StudentAid.gov.
Parent Identity Information (Continued)
100
This is a continuation of the first page within the parent section. The parent can verify their mailing address on this part of the page. To update this information, the parent must access their Account Settings on StudentAid.gov.
Parent Provides Consent and Approval
101
This page informs the parent about consent, approval, and the use of their federal tax information. By providing consent and approval, the parent’s federal tax information is transferred directly into the FAFSA® form from the IRS to help complete the "Parent Financials" section.
Parent Provides Consent and Approval (Continued)
102
This is a continuation of the consent and approval page. Frequently asked questions about consent and approval are also provided that the parent can expand and collapse. The parent selects "Approve" to provide consent and approval, and they are taken to the next page.
Parent Imports IRS Information
103
This page imports the parent’s federal tax information by directly transferring it into the FAFSA® form from the IRS to help complete the “Parent Financials" section.
Parent Imports IRS Information (Continued)
104
This page displays the results from the IRS import for the parent. For this scenario, the parent is starting a new FAFSA and there is no federal tax information available from the IRS.
Introduction: Parent Demographics
105
This is the first page in the "Parent Demographics" section. It provides an overview of the section.
Parent Current Marital Status
106
The parent is asked about their current marital status. They select the "Single (never married)" option.
Parent State of Legal Residence
107
The parent is asked about their state of legal residence. The parent selects the state from a drop-down box and provides the month and year when they became a legal resident.
Introduction: Parent Financials
108
This is the first page within the "Parent Financials" section. It provides an overview of the section.
Parent Federal Benefits Received
109
This page asks the parent if they or anyone in their family has received federal benefits. The parent selects "None of these apply."
Parent Tax Filing Status
110
This page asks the parent about their tax filing status. The parent selects "Yes" to "Did or will the parent file a 2023 IRS Form 1040 or 1040-NR?"
Parent Family Size
111
This page displays the family size for the parent. The parent has the option to enter the number of children or other dependents who live with the parent and will receive more than half of their support from the parent between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.
Parent Number in College
112
This page asks the parent how many people in the family will be in college between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The parent enters a response into the entry field.
Parent Tax Return Information
113
The parent is asked questions about their 2023 tax return. They enter a response in each entry field.
Parent Assets
114
The parent is asked about their assets. The parent enters a response in each entry field.
Parent Review Page
115
The review page displays the responses that the parent has provided in the previous student and parent sections of the student’s FAFSA® form. The parent can view all their responses by selecting "Expand All" or expand each section individually. To edit a response, they can select the question’s hyperlink to be taken to the corresponding page.
Parent Signature
116
On this page, the parent acknowledges the terms and conditions of the FAFSA® form and signs their section. After agreeing and signing, the parent is able to submit their section of the FAFSA form. Since the student section is incomplete, the FAFSA form is not considered complete and can’t be processed yet.
Parent Section Complete
117
Upon signing the parent section, the parent is presented “The parent section is complete!” page. This page displays information for the parent about next steps, including tracking the student’s FAFSA® form. The parent is reminded that the student’s form is not complete and can’t be processed until the student section is complete.
Parent Section Complete (Continued)
118
This is a continuation of the parent section complete page. This page displays information for the parent about next steps, including checking their email. The parent is told that they can manually provide their information, but the student will not be eligible for federal student aid until the student provides consent, approval, and their signature. Next, in this scenario, the parent selects "Provide Student Information Manually" and enters the student section.
Introduction: Parent’s Student Demographics
119
This is the first page within the "Student Demographics" section. It provides an overview of the section.
Parent’s Student Demographic Information
120
The parent is asked about the student’s gender identity. The parent selects “Prefer not to answer.”
Parent’s Student Race and Ethnicity
121
The parent is asked if the student is of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin. They are also asked about the student’s race. The parent selects checkboxes to answer both questions.
Parent’s Student Citizenship Status
122
The parent is asked about the student’s citizenship status. The parent selects the "U.S. citizen or national" option.
Parent Education Status
123
The parent is asked about their education status. They select the "Neither parent attended college" option.
Parent Killed in Line of Duty
124
The parent is asked if the student's parent or guardian was killed in the line of duty. The parent selects the "No" option.
Parent’s Student High School Completion Status
125
The parent is asked what the student’s high school completion status will be when they start the 2025–26 school year. The parent selects the "High school diploma" option.
Parent’s Student High School Information
126
The parent is asked which high school the student did or will graduate from. The parent enters the student’s high school’s state and city. After selecting "Search," they select the correct high school from the search results.
Parent Confirms High School
127
The parent is asked to confirm the high school information. By selecting "Edit," they will return to the high school information page. The parent verifies the student’s high school information and selects "Continue" to proceed to the next section.
Introduction: Parent’s Student Financials
128
This is the first page within the "Student Financials" section. It provides an overview of the section.
Parent’s Student Tax Filing Status
129
This page asks the parent about the student’s tax filing status. The parent selects "Yes" to "Did or will the student file a 2023 IRS Form 1040 or 1040-NR?"
Parent’s Student Tax Return Information
130
Since the student has not provided consent and approval for their federal tax information to be transferred directly into the FAFSA® form, the parent is asked to manually enter the student’s 2023 tax return information. The parent selects their tax filing status and enters a response in each entry field.
Parent’s Student Tax Return Information (Continued)
131
This is a continuation of the student’s 2023 tax information page. The parent enters a response in each entry field.
Parent’s Student Assets
132
The parent is asked about the student’s assets. The parent enters a response in each entry field.
Introduction: Parent Select Colleges
133
This is the first page in the "Select Colleges and Career Schools" section, which is the final part of the FAFSA® form’s student section to require information. It provides an overview of the section.
Parent College Search
134
The parent is asked to search for the colleges, career schools, and/or trade schools they would like to receive the student’s FAFSA® information. The parent searches for a school by entering a state, city, and/or school name. After selecting "Search," they select the correct school(s) from the search results. Parents can send the student’s FAFSA information to a maximum of 20 schools. The parent is required to add at least one college or career school.
Parent Selected Colleges
135
The parent can view which colleges, career schools, and/or trade schools they have selected for the student. If the parent has not selected 20 schools, they have the option to search and select more schools. When the parent selects "Continue," they will have completed entering the required student information for the student section and can proceed to the review page.
Parent’s Student Review Page
136
The review page displays the responses that the parent has provided in the FAFSA® form on behalf of the student. The parent can view all the responses by selecting "Expand All" or expanding each section individually. To edit a response, the parent can select the question’s hyperlink and will be taken to the corresponding page. The parent cannot provide a signature for the student.
Parent’s Student Review Page (Continued)
137
This is a continuation of the review page displays the responses that the parent has provided in the FAFSA® form in the parent sections. The parent can view all the responses by selecting "Expand All" or expanding each section individually. To edit a response, the parent can select the question’s hyperlink and will be taken to the corresponding page.
Parent Receives Student Missing Consent Message
138
The parent is presented the missing student consent and approval message after hitting the "Submit" button on the review page. This message explains that because the student’s consent and approval and signature are missing, the student is currently ineligible for federal student aid, including grants and loans.
Parent’s Student Section Complete
139
The parent is presented the student section complete page after the parent hits "Submit" on the message. This page displays information for the parent about next steps, including tracking the student’s FAFSA® form. Because the student’s consent and approval and signature are missing, the student is currently ineligible for federal student aid, including grants and loans. The student must enter their form, provide their consent and approval and signature, and submit the student section for their FAFSA form to be processed.
Independent Student Invites �Student Spouse
140
Married Student FAFSA® Form Landing Page
141
This is the main FAFSA® form landing page. On this page, students are directed to "Start New Form" or "Edit Existing Forms." For this section of the presentation, the student is beginning a new application.
Married Student Log In
142
If the student selects "Start New Form" from the FAFSA® landing page and they are not logged in to StudentAid.gov, they are taken to the "Log In" page to enter their credentials. To access the FAFSA form, all students are required to have an FSA ID (account username and password). If the student doesn't have an FSA ID, they can select "Create an Account."
Married Student Roles
143
After logging in, the student selects the applicable role to fill out the FAFSA® form: "Student."
Married Student Onboarding (1 of 4)
144
When the student starts the 2025–26 FAFSA® form for the first time, they are taken through the FAFSA onboarding process. The first onboarding page provides an introduction of the FAFSA form and an accompanying video.
Married Student Onboarding (2 of 4)
145
The second FAFSA® onboarding page provides information about contributors that may be required to participate in the student’s FAFSA form, including an accompanying video that explains contributors, and information on how the student will invite them. Documents that may be needed to fill out the form are also included on this page within a drop-down menu and may include tax returns; record of child support received; current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts; and net worth of investments, businesses, and farms.
Married Student Onboarding (3 of 4)
146
The third FAFSA® onboarding page provides information about what the student can expect when completing their FAFSA form. This includes information about consent and approval, an estimated time to complete the form, and that they can save the form and return later if needed, with an accompanying video.
Married Student Onboarding (4 of 4)
147
The last FAFSA® onboarding page provides information about what to expect once the FAFSA form is completed, submitted, and processed. On this page, the student can select "Start FAFSA Form" to begin.
Married Student Identity Information
148
This is the first page within the student section. The student can verify that their personal information is correct. To update any of the personal information, the student must access their Account Settings on StudentAid.gov.
Married Student Identity Information (Continued)
149
This is a continuation of the first page within the student section. The student can verify their mailing address on this part of the page. To update this information, the student must access their Account Settings on StudentAid.gov.
Married Student State of Legal Residence
150
The student is asked about their state of legal residence. The student selects the state from a drop-down box and provides the month and year when they became a legal resident.
Married Student Provides Consent and Approval
151
This page informs the student about consent, approval, and the use of their federal tax information. By providing consent and approval, the student’s federal tax information is transferred directly from the IRS into the FAFSA® form to help complete the "Student Financials" section.
Married Student Provides Consent and Approval (Continued)
152
This is a continuation of the consent and approval page. Frequently asked questions about consent and approval are also provided. The student selects "Approve" to provide consent and approval, and they are taken to the next page.
Married Student Imports IRS Information
153
This page imports the student’s federal tax information by directly transferring it into the FAFSA® form from the IRS to help complete the "Student Financials" section.
Married Student Imports IRS Information (Continued)
154
This page displays the results from the IRS import for the student. For this scenario, the student is starting a new FAFSA and there is no federal tax information available from the IRS.
Introduction: Married Student Personal Circumstances
155
This is the first page within the "Student Personal Circumstances" section. It provides an overview of the section.
Married Student Marital Status
156
The student is asked about their marital status. The student selects the "Married (not separated)" option.
Married Student College or Career School Plans
157
The student is asked about their college grade level for the 2025–26 school year and if they will have their first bachelor’s degree. The student selects “Master’s or doctorate program (such as, M.A., MBA, M.D., J.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.)" and that they will have their first bachelor’s degree. Because they have answered "Yes," the student is asked if they will be pursuing an initial teaching certification. The student selects "No."
Married Student Personal Circumstances
158
The student is asked if any of the listed personal circumstances apply to them. The student selects "None of these apply.”
Married Student Homelessness
159
The student is asked if they were unaccompanied and either homeless or at risk of being homeless. The student selects "No."
Married Student Dependency Status: Independent Student
160
Based on the answers provided by the student, they are considered an independent student. The student is not required to provide information about their parents due to this status.
Introduction: Married Student Demographics
161
This is the first page within the "Student Demographics" section. It provides an overview of the section.
Married Student Demographic Information
162
The student is asked about their gender identity. The student selects their response from the options listed.
Married Student Race and Ethnicity
163
The student is asked if they are of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin. They are also asked about their race. The student selects checkboxes to answer both questions.
Married Student Citizenship Status
164
The student is asked about their citizenship status. The student selects the "U.S. citizen or national" option.
Married Student’s Parent Education Status
165
The student is asked about their parents’ education status. The student selects the "Neither parent attended college" option.
Married Student’s Parent Killed in Line of Duty
166
Since the student is under the age of 33, they are asked if their parent was killed in the line of duty. The student selects the "No" option.
Married Student High School Completion Status
167
The student is asked about what their high school completion status will be when they start the 2025–26 school year. The student selects the "High school diploma" option.
Married Student High School Information
168
The student is asked which high school they did or will graduate from. The student enters their high school’s state and city. After selecting "Search," they select the correct high school from the search results.
Married Student Confirms High School
169
The student has the option to edit the high school information presented on this page by selecting "Edit," which will return them to the high school information page. The student confirms their high school information and selects "Continue" to proceed to the next section.
Introduction: Married Student Financials
170
This is the first page within the "Student Financials" section. It provides an overview of the section.
Married Student Federal Benefits Received
171
This page asks the student if they or anyone in their family has received federal benefits. The student selects "None of these apply."
Married Student Tax Filing Status
172
This page asks the student about their tax filing status. The student selects "Yes" to "Did or will the student file a 2023 IRS Form 1040 or 1040-NR?" and "No" to "Did or will the student file a 2023 joint tax return with their current spouse?"
Married Student Family Size
173
This page displays the family size for the student. The student has the option to enter the number of children or other dependents who live with the student and will receive more than half of their support from the student between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.
Married Student Number in College
174
This page asks the student how many people in the family will be in college between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The student enters a response into the entry field.
Married Student Tax Return Information
175
The student is asked questions about their 2023 tax return. The student enters a response in each entry field.
Married Student Assets
176
The student is asked about their and their spouse’s assets and the amount of child support received. The student enters a response in each entry field.
Invite Spouse to Your FAFSA® Form
177
Based on their marital status and the information provided by the student, the student is required to invite their spouse to their FAFSA® form to complete the required student spouse sections. The student enters the personal information about their spouse in order to send them an invite to their form.
Introduction: Married Student Select Colleges
178
This is the first page in the "Select Colleges and Career Schools" section, which is the final part of the FAFSA® form’s student section to require information. It provides an overview of the section.
Married Student College Search
179
The student is asked to search for the colleges and/or career schools they would like to receive their FAFSA® information. The student searches for a school by entering a state, city, and/or school name. After selecting "Search," they select the correct school(s) from the search results. Students can send their FAFSA information to a maximum of 20 schools.
Married Student Selected Colleges
180
The student can view which colleges and/or career schools they have selected. If the student has not selected 20 schools, they have the option to search and select more schools, and, in some states, they have the option to reorder the list of selected schools. When the student selects "Continue," they will have completed entering the required student information for their section and can proceed to review and sign their form.
Married Student Review Page
181
The review page displays the responses that the student has provided in the FAFSA® form. The student can view all their responses by selecting "Expand All" or expand each section individually. To edit a response, the student can select the question’s hyperlink and will be taken to the corresponding page. Additionally, since the student invited their spouse into the form, they see the spouse contributor section and the status of their spouse’s invite.
Married Student Signature
182
On this page, the student reviews the terms and conditions for signing their FAFSA® form. They agree to a list of statements that they certify before providing their signature.
Married Student Signature (Continued)
183
This is a continuation of the student signature page. After agreeing to the terms and conditions of the FAFSA® form and signing, the student is able to submit their section of the FAFSA form. Since the student spouse information has not been provided, the FAFSA form is not considered complete and can’t be processed yet.
Married Student Section Complete
184
Upon signing the student section, the student is presented the student section complete page. This page displays information for the student about next steps, including tracking their FAFSA® form. The student is reminded that their form is not completed and can’t be submitted until their spouse completes the contributor section of the form and signs it.
Married Student Section Complete (Continued)
185
This is a continuation of the student section complete page. This page displays information for the student about next steps, including checking their email and a reminder that their FAFSA® form is not completed and can’t be submitted until the student spouse completes the contributor section of the form and signs it. Next, in this scenario, the student’s invited spouse will enter the FAFSA form and complete the spouse section.
Student Spouse Email
186
This is NOT a view within StudentAid.gov or the FAFSA® form. This view demonstrates a student spouse opening the FAFSA invitation from their email. The student spouse selects "Get Started" and is taken to StudentAid.gov.
Student Spouse Log In
187
The student spouse is taken from their email to the "Log In" page to enter their log-in credentials. To access the FAFSA® form, all users are required to have an FSA ID (StudentAid.gov account username and password). If the student spouse doesn't have an FSA ID, they can select "Create an Account."
Student Spouse Status Center – My Activity
188
After successfully logging in, the student spouse is taken to their "My Activity" section. The student spouse sees an invitation to be a contributor on the student’s FAFSA® form.
Student Spouse Status Center – My Activity (Continued)
189
When the student spouse selects "Accept Invitation," a pop-up window appears to remind the student spouse that their personal information is needed to fill out the student’s FAFSA® form. The student spouse selects "Continue" to agree to sharing their information and enters the FAFSA form.
Student Spouse Contributing to the FAFSA® Form
190
This page provides information about being a contributor on a FAFSA® form.
Student Spouse Identity Information
191
This is the first page within the student spouse section. The student spouse can verify that their personal information is correct. To update any of the personal information, the student spouse must access their Account Settings on StudentAid.gov.
Student Spouse Provides Consent and Approval
192
This page informs the student spouse about consent, approval, and the use of their federal tax information. By providing consent and approval, the student spouse’s federal tax information is transferred directly from the IRS into the FAFSA® form to help complete the "Student Spouse Financials" section.
Student Spouse Provides Consent and Approval (Continued)
193
This is a continuation of the consent and approval page. Frequently asked questions about consent and approval are also provided. The student spouse selects "Provide Approval" to provide consent and approval, and they are taken to the next page.
Student Spouse Imports IRS Information
194
This page imports the student spouse’s federal tax information by directly transferring it into the FAFSA® form from the IRS to help complete the "Student Spouse Financials" section.
Student Spouse Imports IRS Information (Continued)
195
This page displays the results from the IRS import for the student spouse. For this scenario, the student spouse is contributing to a new FAFSA® and there is no federal tax information available from the IRS.
Introduction: Student Spouse Financials
196
This is the first page within the "Student Spouse Financials" section. It provides an overview of the section.
Student Spouse Tax Filing Status
197
This page asks the student spouse about their tax filing status. The student spouse selects "Yes" to "Did or will the student’s spouse file a 2023 IRS Form 1040 or 1040-NR?"
Student Spouse Tax Return Information
198
The student spouse is asked questions about their 2023 tax return. The student spouse enters a response in each entry field.
Student Spouse Review Page
199
The review page displays the responses that the student spouse has provided in the FAFSA® form. In this scenario, the student spouse can only view responses within the student spouse section of the student’s FAFSA form. The student spouse can view all their responses by selecting "Expand All" or expand each section individually. To edit a response, the student spouse can select the question’s hyperlink to be taken to the corresponding page.
Student Spouse Signature
200
On this page, the student spouse acknowledges the terms and conditions of the FAFSA® form and signs their section. Since all required sections are complete, the student spouse can both sign and submit the student’s FAFSA form.
Student Spouse Confirmation
201
Upon submitting the student’s FAFSA® form, the student spouse is presented an abbreviated confirmation page. This page displays information about tracking the student’s FAFSA form and next steps. The student will receive an email with the full, detailed confirmation. With the student and student spouse sections completed and signed, the FAFSA form is now considered complete and submitted for processing.
Independent Student Who Is Single�and a Non-Tax Filer
202
Independent Student FAFSA® Form Landing Page
203
This is the main FAFSA® form landing page. On this page, students are directed to "Start New Form" or “Edit Existing Form." For this section of the presentation, the student is beginning a new application.
Independent Student Log In
204
If the student selects "Start New Form" from the FAFSA® landing page and they are not logged in to StudentAid.gov, they are taken to the "Log In" page to enter their credentials. To access the FAFSA form, all students are required to have an FSA ID (StudentAid.gov account username and password). If the student doesn't have an FSA ID, they can select "Create an Account."
Independent Student Roles
205
After logging in, the student selects the applicable role to fill out the FAFSA® form: "Student."
Independent Student Onboarding (1 of 4)
206
When the student starts the 2025–26 FAFSA® form for the first time, they are taken through the FAFSA onboarding process. The first onboarding page provides an introduction of the FAFSA form and an accompanying video.
Independent Student Onboarding (2 of 4)
207
The second FAFSA® onboarding page provides information about contributors that may be required to participate in the student’s FAFSA form, including an accompanying video that explains contributors, and information on how the student can invite them. Documents that may be needed to fill out the form are also included on this page.
Independent Student Onboarding (3 of 4)
208
The third FAFSA® onboarding page provides information about what the student can expect when completing their FAFSA form. This includes information about consent and approval, a time estimate to complete the form, and that they can save the form and return later if needed, along with an accompanying video.
Independent Student Onboarding (4 of 4)
209
The last FAFSA® onboarding page provides information about what to expect once the FAFSA form is completed, submitted, and processed. On this page, the student can select "Start FAFSA Form" to begin.
Independent Student Identity Information
210
This is the first page within the student section. The student can verify that their personal information is correct. To update any of the personal information, the student must access their Account Settings on StudentAid.gov.
Independent Student Identity Information (Continued)
211
This is a continuation of the first page within the student section. The student can verify their mailing address on this part of the page. To update this information, the student must access their Account Settings on StudentAid.gov.
Independent Student State Of Legal Residence
212
The student is asked about their state of legal residence. The student selects the state from a drop-down box and provides the month and year when they became a legal resident.
Independent Student Provides Consent and Approval
213
This page informs the student about consent, approval, and the use of their federal tax information. By providing consent and approval, the student’s federal tax information is transferred directly from the IRS into the FAFSA® form to help complete the "Student Financials" section.
Independent Student Provides Consent and Approval (Continued)
214
This is a continuation of the consent and approval page. Frequently asked questions about consent and approval are also provided that the student can expand and collapse. The student selects "Approve" to provide consent and approval, and they are taken to the next page.
Independent Student Imports IRS Information
215
This page imports the student’s federal tax information by directly transferring it into the FAFSA® form from the IRS to help complete the "Student Financials" section.
Independent Student Imports IRS Information (Continued)
216
This page displays the results from the IRS import for the student. For this scenario, the student is starting a new FAFSA and there is no federal tax information available from the IRS.
Independent Student Personal Circumstances
217
This is the first page within the "Student Personal Circumstances" section. It provides an overview of the section.
Independent Student Marital Status
218
The student is asked about their marital status. The student selects the "Single (Never Married)" option.
Independent Student College or Career School Plans
219
The student is asked about their college grade level for the 2025–26 school year and if they will have their first bachelor’s degree. The student selects that they will be a "First Year (freshman)" and that they will not have their first bachelor’s degree.
Independent Student Personal Circumstances
220
The student is asked if any of the listed personal circumstances apply to them. The student selects "None of these apply.”
Independent Student Homelessness
221
The student is asked if they are unaccompanied and either homeless or at risk of being homeless. The student selects "No."
Student Dependency Status: Independent Student
222
Because the student’s date of birth is before Jan. 1, 2002, they are considered an independent student.
Introduction: Independent Student Demographics
223
This is the first page within the "Student Demographics" section. It provides an overview of the section.
Independent Student Demographic Information
224
The student is asked about their gender identity. The student selects “Prefer not to answer.”
Independent Student Race and Ethnicity
225
The student is asked if they are of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin. The student selects checkbox that applies to them.
Independent Student Race and Ethnicity (Continued)
226
A continuation of the student race and ethnicity page. The student is asked to identify their race. The student selects the checkboxes that apply to them. After making their selection, a second drop-down appears, and the student selects the checkboxes that apply to them.
Independent Student Citizenship Status
227
The student is asked about their citizenship status. The student selects the "U.S. citizen or national" option.
Independent Student’s Parent Education Status
228
The student is asked about their parents’ education status. The student selects the "Neither parent attended college" option.
Independent Student’s Parent Killed in Line of Duty
229
Since the student is under the age of 33, they are asked if their parent was killed in the line of duty. The student selects the "No" option.
Independent High School Completion Status
230
The student is asked about what their high school completion status will be when they start the 2025–26 school year. The student selects the "High school diploma" option.
Independent Student High School Information
231
The student is asked which high school they did or will graduate from. The student enters their high school’s state and city. After selecting "Search," they select the correct high school from the search results.
Independent Student Confirms High School
232
The student has the option to edit the high school information presented on this page by selecting "Edit," which will return them to the high school information page. The student confirms their high school information and selects "Continue" to proceed to the next section.
Introduction: Independent Student Financials
233
This is the first page within the "Student Financials" section. It provides an overview of the section. The student can select the hyperlink if they want to learn about special financial circumstances.
Independent Student Federal Benefits
234
The student is asked if they or anyone in their family has received federal benefits. The student selects “None of these apply.”
Independent Student Tax Filing Status
235
This page asks the student about their tax filing status. The student selects "No" to "Did or will the student file a 2023 IRS Form 1040 or 1040-NR?" Because of this selection, the student is asked if they earned income in a foreign country, were employed by an international organization but not required to report income on any tax return, or filed a tax return with Puerto Rico or another U.S. territory. The student selects "No."
Independent Student Number in College
236
This page asks the student how many people in the family will be in college between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The student enters a response into the entry field.
Introduction: Independent Student Select Colleges
237
This is the first page in the "Select Colleges" section, which is the final part of the FAFSA® form’s student section to require information. It provides an overview of the section.
Independent Student College Search
238
The student is asked to search for the colleges and/or career schools they would like to receive their FAFSA® information. The student searches for a school by entering a state, city, and/or school name. After selecting "Search," they select the correct school(s) from the search results. Students can select to send their FAFSA information to a maximum of 20 schools. The student is required to add at least one college or career school.
Independent Student Selected Colleges
239
The student can view which college(s) and/or career school(s) they have selected. If the student has not selected 20 schools, they have the option to search and select more schools. When the student selects "Continue," they will have completed entering the required student information for their section and can proceed to review and sign their form.
Independent Student Review Page
240
The review page displays the responses that the student has provided in the FAFSA® form. The student can view all the responses by selecting "Expand All" or expand each section individually. To edit a response, the student can select the question’s hyperlink and they will be taken to the corresponding page.
Independent Student Signature
241
On this page, the student reviews the terms and conditions of the FAFSA® form and what they’ll agree to if they sign the form.
Independent Student Signature (Continued)
242
This is a continuation of the student signature page. After agreeing to the terms and conditions of the FAFSA® form and signing, the student is able to submit their section of the FAFSA form. Since all required sections are complete, the student can both sign and submit the FAFSA form.
Independent Student Confirmation Page
243
The student is presented the confirmation page. This page displays information for the student about their completion date and data release number for their FAFSA® form, along with an estimate for their Student Aid Index. The student is informed they may be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, which may be a result of their negative SAI.
Independent Student Confirmation Page (Continued)
244
This is a continuation of the student section complete page. This page displays information for the student about next steps, including checking their email, tracking their FAFSA® form, and receiving communications from their school.
FAFSA Submission Summary
245
FAFSA Submission Summary Landing Page
246
The student receives a FAFSA Submission Summary for their processed FAFSA® form and any subsequent corrections that they submit. The FAFSA Submission Summary is broken into four tabs: “Eligibility Overview,” “FAFSA Form Answers,” “School Information,” and “Next Steps.” At the top, the student will see when their form was received and processed. They also have the option to print their FAFSA Submission Summary to keep for their records.
Eligibility Overview
247
On the "Eligibility Overview" tab, the student sees information about what federal student aid they may be eligible for, such as a Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loans. Any amounts of financial aid that display on this tab are estimates and are not guaranteed. Final determination of the student’s financial aid eligibility is provided by their school’s financial aid office.
Eligibility Overview (Continued)
248
This is a continuation of the "Eligibility Overview" tab of the FAFSA Submission Summary. Final determination of the student’s financial aid eligibility is provided by their school’s financial aid office. They are also able to view their Student Aid Index.
FAFSA Form Answers
249
On the "FAFSA Form Answers" tab, the student sees the answers that they provided on their FAFSA® form. If any of the provided answers are incorrect, the student can choose make a correction.
FAFSA Form Answers (Continued)
250
This is a continuation of the "FAFSA Form Answers" tab, where the student sees the answers that they provided on their FAFSA® form.
FAFSA Form Answers Contributors
251
This is a continuation of the "FAFSA Form Answers" tab. If applicable, student sees the answers their contributor(s) provided on their FAFSA® form.
School Information
252
On the "School Information" tab, the student sees information about the college(s) and/or career school(s) that they selected to send their FAFSA® information. The student can compare the graduation rate, retention rate, transfer rate, default rate, median debt upon completion, and average annual cost of their selected schools.
Next Steps
253
On the "Next Steps" tab, the student sees comments that pertain to their FAFSA® form. Some comments may require the student to make a correction or send additional documentation to their school. Other comments may be informational and do not require any further action from the student.
More Resources
254
Lastly, along the right side of their FAFSA Submission Summary, the student can access additional resources, including visiting “My Aid” or College Scorecard.
Dependent Student and Direct Unsubsidized Loan
255
Dependency Status: Dependent Student
256
If the parents of a dependent student are unwilling to provide their information but the student doesn’t have an unusual circumstance, the student can choose to have their school determine their eligibility for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan only. �Note: Selecting “Yes” here makes the student ineligible for other types of federal student aid, such as Federal Pell Grants, Federal Work-Study, or Direct Subsidized Loans.
Dependent Student Selects Direct Unsubsidized Loan Only
257
If the student selects "Yes" to have their school determine their eligibility for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan only and then selects "Continue," a pop-up window appears warning the student that they will not be eligible for most federal student aid.
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
258
Student Homelessness
259
The student is asked if they were unaccompanied and either homeless or at risk of being homeless. The student selects "Yes." Next, the student is asked who determined that they are homeless or at risk of being homeless. They select "None of these apply."
Impact of Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Status
260
Based on the answers provided by the student, they are not required to provide parent information on the FAFSA® form. The student is able to sign and submit the FAFSA form, but they will need to contact the financial aid office at their school about their circumstances. The school will be required to make �a determination of the student’s unaccompanied homeless youth status based on a written statement from the student or a documented interview with the student. Until the student’s circumstances are verified, the U.S. Department of Education's office of Federal Student Aid will only provide the student an estimate of their federal student aid eligibility.
Provisionally Independent Student
261
Student Unusual Circumstances
262
The student is asked if unusual circumstances prevent them from contacting their parent(s). The student selects "Yes."
Impact of Provisionally Independent Status
263
Based on the answers provided by the student, they are considered a provisionally independent student and are not required to provide parent information. The student is able to sign and submit their FAFSA® form, but they will need to contact their school to see what supporting documentation they need to submit. A financial aid administrator at the school will review and make a determination regarding a dependency override. Until the student’s circumstances are verified, the U.S. Department of Education's office of Federal Student Aid will only provide the student an estimate of their federal student aid eligibility.
Student Adds Schools to FAFSA® Form
264
Add Schools Log In
265
To access an existing FAFSA® form, the student is required to have an FSA ID (StudentAid.gov account username and password).
Add Schools Dashboard
266
On the account Dashboard, the student can see their most recent 2025–26 FAFSA® activity under the "My Activity" section. In this scenario, the student has a processed 2025–26 FAFSA form. To see further information about this application, the student selects the application and is taken to the "Details" page.
Add Schools Details
267
On the "Details" page, the student sees information related to their processed FAFSA® form, such as when it was started and processed, their FAFSA Submission Summary, and additional resources. Within the "Actions" menu, the student can select "Add or Remove Schools.” Selecting this option will start a voluntary correction to update their selected schools.
Add Schools Details (Continued)
268
Farther down the "Details" page, the student sees their invited contributor(s), selected school(s) and FAFSA® submission history. In this scenario, the student selects "Add or Remove Schools" within the "Actions" menu to update their selected schools.
Add Schools Onboarding
269
When the student starts a 2025–26 FAFSA® correction, they are taken through the FAFSA correction onboarding process. A correction should only be submitted if critical information was missing, incorrect information was provided, the student needs to update their selected school(s), and/or a correction was requested by a financial aid administrator. The student selects "Add or Remove Schools" to begin their correction.
Add Schools Selected Colleges and Career Schools
270
The student can view which college(s), career school(s), or trade school(s) they selected in their processed application. If the student has not selected 20 schools, they have the option to search and select more schools, and, in some states, they have the option to reorder the list of selected schools. In this scenario, the student wants to remove their selected school and add new ones. The student selects "Remove" for the listed school.
Add Schools Selected Colleges and Career Schools (Continued)
271
After removing the school, the student selects "Search and Select More Schools" and is taken to the college search page.
Add Schools College Search
272
The student is asked to search for the colleges, career schools, or trade schools they would like to receive their FAFSA® information. The student searches for a school by entering a state and a city and/or school name.
Add Schools College Search (Continued)
273
After entering a school’s state and city and/or school name and selecting "Search," the student selects the correct school(s) from the search results. Students can send their FAFSA® information to a maximum of 20 schools.
Add Schools Selected Colleges
274
The student can view which new college(s), career school(s), and/or trade school(s) they have selected. When they select "Continue," they will have completed updating the "Select Colleges and Career Schools" section and can proceed to the review changes page.
Add Schools Review Changes Page
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The review page displays the school(s) that the student has added and/or removed. If the student needs to make additional updates to the rest of their form, they can select "Make More Changes." The student is ready to submit their correction and selects "Continue."
Sign and Submit Changes to the FAFSA Form
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On this page, the student reviews the terms and conditions of the FAFSA® form and what they’ll agree to if they sign the form.
Sign and Submit Changes to the FAFSA Form (Continued)
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This is a continuation of the student signature page. After agreeing to the terms and conditions of the FAFSA® form and signing, the student is able to resubmit their section of the FAFSA form.
Add Schools Confirmation
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After the student has submitted their correction, they are presented the confirmation page. This page displays information for the student about next steps, including tracking their FAFSA® correction.
Student Submits a FAFSA® Correction to Homeless Determination
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Homeless Determination Correction Log In
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To access an existing FAFSA® form, the student is required to log in using their FSA ID (StudentAid.gov account username and password).
Homeless Determination Correction Dashboard
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On the account Dashboard, the student can see their most recent 2025–26 FAFSA® activity under the "My Activity" section. In this scenario, the student has a processed 2025–26 FAFSA form. To see further information about this application, the student selects the application and is taken to the "Details" page.
Homeless Determination Correction Details
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On the "Details" page, the student sees information related to their processed FAFSA® form, such as when it was started and processed, their FAFSA Submission Summary, and additional resources. Within the "Actions" menu, the student can select "Make Corrections" to start a voluntary correction.
Homeless Determination Correction Onboarding
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When the student starts a 2025–26 FAFSA® correction, they are taken through the FAFSA correction onboarding process. A correction should only be submitted if critical information was missing, incorrect information was provided, the student needs to update their selected school(s), and/or a correction was requested by a financial aid administrator.
Homeless Determination Correction Select Correction Type
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A student can choose to update their selected schools, answers to questions on their FAFSA® form, and/or contributor contact information (if a contributor was invited to their form). In this scenario, the student selects "Update Answers to Questions on Your FAFSA® Form."
Homeless Determination Correction Select Correction Type (Continued)
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When the student selects to update their answers to questions on their FAFSA® form, a message displays explaining when a correction should and shouldn’t be submitted. In this scenario, the student’s school instructed them to update their response to the homeless determination question. The student selects "Continue."
Homeless Determination Correction Section Summary
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The "Section Summary" page displays all the sections belonging to the logged-in user, which in this case is the student. The student selects to enter "Section 1: Personal Circumstances" where the homeless determination question was answered. This takes the student to the first question within the "Student Personal Circumstances" section.
Homeless Determination Correction Marital Status
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The Student Marital Status page is the first question within the "Student Personal Circumstances" section. The student is asked about their current marital status. They maintain their response of "Single (never married)."
Homeless Determination Correction College or Career School Plans
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The student is asked about their college grade level for the 2025–26 school year and if they will have their first bachelor’s degree. The student maintains their response of being a "First year (freshman)" and not having their first bachelor’s degree.
Homeless Determination Correction Personal Circumstances
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The student is asked if any of the listed personal circumstances apply to them. The student maintains their response "None of these apply."
Homeless Determination Correction Other Circumstances
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The student is asked if they were homeless or at risk of being homeless. The student updates their response to "Yes." After selecting this response, the student is asked who made the homelessness determination. They select "Financial aid administrator."
Homeless Determination Correction Other �Circumstances (Continued)
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When the student selects "Continue," a message displays informing the student that their dependency status has changed. They select "Continue."
Homeless Determination Correction Dependency Status
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Based on the updated answers provided by the student, they are considered an independent student. The student selects "Continue" and enters the "Student Demographics" section.
Homeless Determination Correction Demographic Information
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The student is asked about their gender identity. They maintain their response of "Female." Since the student has finished their correction, they select "Skip to end of form" to proceed with submitting their correction.
Homeless Determination Correction Review Changes Page
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The review page displays the responses that the student has updated in their FAFSA® form. The student can view all their updated answers and previous answers by selecting "Expand All" or by expanding each section individually. To edit a response, the student can select the "Edit" button beside each question and will be taken to the corresponding page. If the student needs to make additional updates, they can select "Make More Changes." The student is ready to submit their correction and selects "Continue."
Homeless Determination Correction Signature
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After confirming their changes, the student reviews, signs, and submits the terms and conditions of the FAFSA® form.
296
Homeless Determination Correction Confirmation
After the student has submitted their correction, they are presented the confirmation page. This page displays information for the student about next steps, including tracking their FAFSA® correction.
Student Manages FAFSA® Contributors
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Manage FAFSA® Contributors Log In
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To access an existing FAFSA® form, the student is required to have an FSA ID (StudentAid.gov account username and password).
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Dashboard
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On the account Dashboard, the student can see their most recent 2025–26 FAFSA® activity under the "My Activity" section. In this scenario, the student has a processed 2025–26 FAFSA form. To see further information about this application, the student selects the application and is taken to the "Details" page.
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Details
300
On the "Details" page, the student sees information related to their processed FAFSA® form, such as when it was started and processed, their FAFSA Submission Summary, and additional resources. If a required contributor was invited to the student’s form, the student can select "Edit Contributor Information" within the "Actions" menu. This option allows the student to resend the invitation if they provided the wrong information for their contributor.
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Details (Continued)
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Farther down the "Details" page, the student sees their invited contributor(s), selected school(s), and FAFSA® submission history. In this scenario, the student selects "Edit Contributor Information" within the "Actions" menu to resend an invitation to their spouse.
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Onboarding
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When the student starts a 2025–26 FAFSA® correction, they are taken through the FAFSA correction onboarding process. A correction should only be submitted if critical information was missing, incorrect information was provided, the student needs to update their selected school(s), and/or a correction was requested by a financial aid administrator.
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Update Contributor
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This page displays the invitation(s) that were sent on the processed form. When the student selects "Update Information" on their spouse’s invitation, a message displays informing the student that if they choose to update their spouse’s information, their spouse’s section will be reset on their FAFSA® form and a new invitation will be sent. The student selects "Confirm."
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Update Contributor Details
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The student is able to provide information for their new spouse and send a new invitation. As a result, the information provided in the student spouse section will be reset. The new student spouse will have to accept the new invitation, provide consent and approval (if not previously provided), and provide their signature for the student’s FAFSA® form to be processed successfully.
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Update Contributor Details (Continued)
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The student provides the remaining information for their new spouse. To confirm the updated information and send the new contributor invite, the student selects "Invite Spouse."
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Invite Sent
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This page informs the student that the invite to their new spouse has been sent. The student spouse will receive an email inviting them to enter the FAFSA® form to complete their required sections. The student closes their FAFSA correction by selecting "Exit."
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Correction Details
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After updating contributor information and exiting the FAFSA® form, the student returns to the "Details" page. The student sees information related to their FAFSA correction. In this scenario, the student chooses to return to their form and enter the student spouse section. To begin this process, the student selects "Edit Form."
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Section Summary
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After selecting "Edit Form," the student reenters their FAFSA® correction. The "Section Summary" page displays all the sections of the student’s FAFSA form.
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Section Summary (Continued)
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This is a continuation of the "Section Summary" page. The remaining sections of the student’s FAFSA® form are displayed. In this scenario, the student selects the hyperlink to "Provide Contributor Information."
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Section Summary (Pop-Up) 1
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After the student selects "Provide Contributor Information," a message displays informing the student that their contributor will be required to review and sign the changes that the student makes to their contributor’s section(s). The student selects "Confirm Changes."
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Student Spouse Section Summary
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After the student confirms that they want to make updates to a contributor section, the "Section Summary" page displays all the sections belonging to the contributor(s), which in this case is the student spouse. The student selects to enter the "Student Spouse Financials" section.
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Section Summary (Pop-Up) 2
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When the student selects to enter the "Student Spouse Financials" section on their FAFSA® form, a message displays explaining that the student spouse will need to review and sign the changes made in this section. The student selects "Confirm Changes."
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Student Spouse Identity Information
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This is the first page within the student spouse section. The student can verify that the student spouse’s personal information is correct. To update any of the personal information, the student spouse must access their Account Settings on StudentAid.gov.
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Student Spouse Finances
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This page provides an overview of the "Student Spouse Finances" section.
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Student Spouse �Tax Return Information
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The student is asked questions about the student spouse’s tax filing status. The student selects the appropriate response.
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Student Spouse �Tax Return Information (Continued)
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Since the student spouse has not provided consent for their federal tax information to be transferred directly into the FAFSA® form, the student must manually
enter their spouse’s 2023 tax return information. The student enters a response
in each entry field.
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Review Changes Page
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The student is taken to a page that tells them they are almost done. If the student needs to make additional updates, they can select "Make More Changes." The student is ready to submit their correction and selects “Continue."
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Signature
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On this page, the student acknowledges the terms and conditions of the FAFSA® form, signs, and submits their correction.
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Signature (Pop Up)
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When the student signs their correction on their FAFSA® form, a message displays informing the student that contributor consent and approval is missing. The student has the option to submit without the contributor consent and approval, but they won’t be eligible for federal student aid until it is provided. The student selects "Sign and Exit."
Manage FAFSA® Contributors Confirmation
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After signing their FAFSA® form, the student has submitted their correction and is presented the confirmation page. This page displays information for the student about next steps, including tracking their FAFSA correction. The student is informed that their form is not complete because their new spouse needs to resolve error(s) in the contributor section(s) and provide their signature.
Parent Submits a Required FAFSA® Correction for Missing Consent and Approval
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Consent and Approval Correction Log In
322
To access an existing FAFSA® form, the parent is required to log in using their FSA ID (StudentAid.gov account username and password).
Consent and Approval Correction Dashboard
323
On the account Dashboard, the parent can see their most recent 2025–26 FAFSA® activity under the "My Activity" section. In this scenario, the parent’s child has a processed 2025–26 FAFSA form with an "Action Required" status. To see further information about this application, the parent selects the application and is taken to the "Details" page.
Consent and Approval Correction Details
324
On the "Details" page, the parent sees information related to their child’s processed FAFSA® form, such as when it was started and processed and additional resources. In this scenario, the parent hasn’t provided consent and approval on the form. Selecting "Approve" starts a required correction.
Consent and Approval Correction Onboarding
325
When the parent starts a 2025–26 FAFSA® correction, they are taken through the FAFSA correction onboarding process. A correction should only be submitted if critical information was missing, incorrect information was provided, the student needs to update their selected school(s), and/or a correction was requested by a financial aid administrator.
Consent and Approval Correction Provide Consent and Approval
326
This page informs the parent about consent, approval, and the use of their federal tax information. By providing consent and approval, the parent’s federal tax information is transferred directly from the IRS into the FAFSA® form to help complete the "Parent Financials" section.
Consent and Approval Correction
Provide Consent and Approval (Continued)
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This is a continuation of the consent and approval page. Frequently asked questions about consent and approval are provided that the parent can expand and collapse. The parent selects "Approve" to provide consent and approval. Because the parent had previously completed the "Parent Financials" section, when they select "Approve" to provide consent and approval, they are taken directly to the signature page.
Consent and Approval Correction Review Changes Page
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The parent is ready to sign and submit their correction and selects "Continue."
Consent Loading Page
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This page imports the parent’s federal tax information by directly transferring it into the FAFSA® form from the IRS to help complete the “Parent Financials" section.
Consent Results Page
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If the data import from the IRS is not successful, an error message will appear saying “Data Not Received.” The parent can then continue to manually input their financial information in the “Parent Financials” section.
Consent and Approval Correction Signature
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After the parent fills out their financial information, they need to acknowledge the terms and conditions of the FAFSA® form, sign, and submit their correction.
Consent and Approval Correction Confirmation
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The parent is presented the confirmation page. This page displays information for the parent about next steps and tracking their FAFSA® correction.
Conclusion
333