2025-26 FAFSA Checklist: What You'll Need to Complete Your Application

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): you may have heard about it before. It's the application you must complete to qualify for all financial aid. Looking for federal grants? You need to complete the FAFSA. Searching for state aid? You need to complete the FAFSA. Hoping for financial help from your college choice? You need to complete the FAFSA. So, you may be asking yourself questions like: What documents do I need for the FAFSA, and what information does FAFSA need from parents? First, you need to know that we've got you covered. It's our mission to help students pay for college, and providing FAFSA help is one way we do that. Secondly, you need to prepare to fill out the new FAFSA application. It's essential to familiarize yourself with the following topics: • What's the FAFSA? And Why You Should Care
• Why Should I Complete the FAFSA?
Finally, you need to know when to complete the FAFSA. The form will be available by December 1, 2024, so it's time to gather everything you need to complete it. Remember, the early bird catches the worm, and in this case, completing the FAFSA early can significantly improve your financial aid opportunities. Depending on your circumstances (when you filed taxes or what tax form was used), you may or may not need the following information or documents as you fill out the FAFSA.

FAFSA Document Checklist:

Your Social Security card and driver's license, and/or alien registration card if you are not a US citizen. Your 2023 federal income tax returns (you don't have to wait - you can use the most recent returns you have from last year), W-2s, and other records of money earned. (The IRS Data Retrieval Tool can help you transfer your federal tax return information right into your FAFSA form.) Your parents' income tax returns, W-2 forms, and 1040 forms if you are a dependent (and you are unless declared otherwise). Suppose you or your parents still need to complete their taxes. In that case, you can estimate your income and other tax return information and then correct your application after filing your taxes. Records and documentation of other nontaxable income received such as welfare benefits, Social Security income, veteran's benefits, military or clergy allowances (if applicable). Any additional applicable financial information, such as taxable work-study, assistantships, fellowships, grants, and scholarship aid reported to the IRS, combat pay or special combat pay, and cooperative education program earnings. Records of any additional nontaxable income: Examples include child support received, veterans' non-education benefits, money received or paid on your behalf, etc. Current bank and brokerage account statements, including records of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other investments (if applicable). Business or investment farm records (if applicable). Records relating to any unusual family financial circumstances. This can include anything that changed from last year or anything that separates your family from a "typical" family in unusual marital situations, living situations, separations, etc. Examples include high non-reimbursed medical and/or dental expenses, unusually high dependent care costs (e.g., for a special needs child or an elderly parent), death, divorce, salary reductions, job loss, and private K-12 tuition. Title IV Institution Codes for each school you are applying to. You can get this code from the school (some have them listed on their websites), or you can use FinAid's Title IV School Code Database. When filling out and submitting your FAFSA electronically, you'll need your FSA ID to sign the form. If you don't have one, you can create an FSA ID online. If you are applying as a dependent - again, you are a dependent unless declared otherwise - one parent is required to sign as well. To electronically fill out your FAFSA online, your parent should apply for a FAFSA ID at the same site. Remember, preparation is key. Download the Department of Education's 2025-26 FAFSA information worksheet when it becomes available during your preparation process to doubly ensure you have all of the information you need. The more prepared you are, the smoother the FAFSA process will be.

Additional Financial Aid and FAFSA Advice:

We suggest you gather your materials and fill out your forms sooner rather than later because the process can take a while. Plus, many states award financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis (even though the federal FAFSA deadline is June 30), meaning you may get more financial assistance if you file in December versus April. Putting off your financial aid is not something you want to do! Once you complete your FAFSA, save copies of the completed form and all the information you gathered to complete it. Keep all documents in a safe place—you never know when you'll need to reference them. This is also a way to prove that you submitted the form on time since no late applications are accepted!

Need more FAFSA help? Find everything you need to help you file for financial aid here on Fastweb.