Tips for Filling Out the聽2025-26聽FAFSA

PREPARE

Before starting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)聽for first time applicants:

  • . A username and password is required to start the FAFSA and to sign the application at the end.聽Your FSA ID confirms your identity when you access your financial aid information and electronically sign Federal Student Aid documents.
  • For dependent students, an FSA ID will be required for the student and at least one parent, but two parents may need a log-in if your parents file a separate tax return
  • Please view聽聽or the interactive聽 to help you determine which parent(s) are identified as a contributor to your FAFSA form and will need to provide their information and create an FSA ID
  • Parents who do not have a Social Security Number are able to create an online FSA ID

See this full guide for creating your account:

You may need to gather the聽following information for student and parent(s) or student spouse:

  • Parent(s)/student spouse Social Security Number (if they have one)
  • Date of birth for parent/spouse contributor(s)
  • 2023 Tax returns and W-2 forms
  • Records of child support received
  • Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts
  • Net worth of investments, businesses, and farms

FILE

Note these important dates:

Review these tips while filling out the FAFSA:

  • Name and Social Security Number:聽Verify that your legal name, social security number and permanent mailing address is correct
  • Provide Consent and Approval or be Ineligible for Federal Student Aid:聽Clicking 鈥渁pprove鈥� allows for your tax information to be shared directly from the IRS.聽 Make sure to click approve even if you did not file a federal tax return or have any income from 2023 or you will not be eligible for aid!
  • Grade level:聽Entering first-year students,聽indicate聽First Year (freshman), even if you have college units earned while in high school.聽Transfer students, estimate your grade level at 91成人导航, counting transferable units only.
  • First bachelor's degree before starting the 2025-26 school year?聽If you will聽not聽have a four-year college degree (Bachelor鈥檚) when you enter 91成人导航, indicate聽No.
  • Parent Education Status:聽Answer for聽the parent(s) whose income information will be reported on the FAFSA
  • Federal School Code:聽91成人导航's school code is聽001329.
  • Review your application then sign: Make sure that all the information you provided is correct before electronically signing your FAFSA.聽 Any contributors who need to approve for their income and information to be provided on your FAFSA will be invited via email to log-in and complete their section.

RENEW

  • You should renew your FAFSA each year in October for the following academic year

A note on grade level:

  • Continuing 91成人导航 students should indicate their projected grade level for the following academic year (i.e., counting in courses that will be completed at the end of spring).

A聽note for California students:

  • If you did not聽receive a Cal Grant last year and are applying for one this year, completion of a FASFA and GPA verification must be completed聽by March 1.聽
  • Students with more than 24 units聽earned at 91成人导航: Request from the聽Office of the Registrar.
  • Students with less than 24 units聽earned at 91成人导航: Request from high school or prior college.