Level All Team
•
December 19, 2025
•
3 min
If paying for college feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. The cost of higher education continues to rise, but completing the FAFSA is one of the most important steps you can take to make college more affordable.
This step-by-step guide explains how to fill out the FAFSA for the 2025–26 school year, what documents you need, and how to maximize your eligibility for grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Whether you’re applying to a four-year university, community college, or trade school, submitting the FAFSA early can open the door to thousands of dollars in financial aid.
The FAFSA is a free application you’ll submit each year to qualify for federal student aid. But its impact doesn’t stop there—your FAFSA also determines your eligibility for state aid, school-specific grants, work-study programs, and even some scholarships. You’ll need to complete it every year you’re in school, starting in your senior year of high school. Some states even require FAFSA completion for high school graduation. And because much of the aid is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, submitting early can give you a major advantage.
Need help keeping deadlines straight? Use our FAFSA Checklist to stay on track.
Before you start the FAFSA, you’ll need to create your FSA ID, which is your login for the application. If you’re a dependent student, one or both of your parents will also need FSA IDs as contributors. Then, gather essential documents: Social Security numbers, 2023 tax returns (for the 2025–26 FAFSA), asset information, and your list of colleges. You can list up to 20 schools, and each one will use your FAFSA data to build a financial aid offer. Don’t wait until you’ve finalized your college list—submit early and update later if needed.
Grab everything you need with our FAFSA Document Checklist.
The 2025–2026 FAFSA now requires all contributors with U.S. tax records to use the FA-DDX, a tool that pulls your IRS tax data directly into the FAFSA form. This makes the application faster and more accurate—and reduces the chance of being selected for verification. You’ll need to give consent for this transfer, and so will any contributors. If you or your parents didn’t file a U.S. tax return, you’ll manually enter income details, but most applicants will complete this section automatically using the FA-DDX.
Not sure how it works? Visit our guide to FA-DDX and Tax Data Transfers.
Your answers to dependency questions—like whether you’re over 24, married, or have children—determine whether you’ll need to include contributor information, such as a parent’s or spouse’s financial data. If you’re a dependent student, the FAFSA will walk you through who counts as a contributor, even in complicated family situations like divorce or blended households.
Each contributor must log in, provide their information, and consent to the IRS data transfer. The FAFSA won't be processed until all required parties have signed.
Once you've confirmed your identity and dependency status, you’ll move on to entering financial details—yours and your contributors’. The FAFSA will automatically populate data from the IRS for most people, but you’ll still need to double-check everything, including your current bank balances and investment information. Certain assets, like retirement accounts or home equity, aren’t counted in the formula. Be sure not to overreport and lose out on aid unnecessarily.
To complete the FAFSA, you’ll list at least one college where you want your FAFSA sent. Even if you haven’t finalized your list, you can start with one and update it later. After a final review, you’ll electronically sign the form using your FSA ID. Your contributors will do the same. Once everyone’s signed, your FAFSA is officially submitted. You’ll get a confirmation and, shortly after, a FAFSA Submission Summary that includes your Student Aid Index (SAI)—a number that colleges use to determine your financial need.
After submission, colleges will begin building your financial aid package. Some may request additional documents—especially if your FAFSA is selected for verification. Respond quickly to any requests to avoid delays or missed aid opportunities. If your financial circumstances change after filing (for example, if a parent loses a job), contact your college’s financial aid office to ask about a need-based appeal.
You can also follow our Appeal Your Financial Aid Guide for help making your case.
Filing the FAFSA opens the door to financial aid, but it’s just the beginning. Some schools require an additional form, like the CSS Profile, to award institutional aid. You can also apply for outside scholarships—private funds from organizations that can stack on top of your aid. And if your FAFSA doesn't fully cover your costs, you may be eligible for federal student loans. Finally, don’t forget about merit-based aid—some colleges may offer additional scholarships based on your achievements, especially if you reach out and ask.
Explore more options:
Final Tip on How to Maximize Your Financial Aid Opportunities: Completing the FAFSA isn’t just about filling out a form—it’s about giving yourself every opportunity to afford the college experience you want. Start early, stay organized, and use the resources available to you. You’ve got this—and Level All is there to guide you every step of the way.
