Start with the official form
The FAFSA is free. Complete it at StudentAid.gov, rather than a service charging to submit it. The student and each required contributor need their own account.
Match the form to your attendance year
As checked on October 12, 2026, Federal Student Aid lists these forms:
| Attendance period | FAFSA form | Tax information |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 | 2026–27 | 2024 |
| July 1, 2027–June 30, 2028 | 2027–28 | 2025 |
For summer study, ask your school which form applies. Check the official preparation instructions and federal, state, and school deadlines before submitting; one deadline does not cover every source of aid.
Finish all required sections
List the schools you are considering. Required contributors must complete their sections, provide the required tax-information consent, and sign. Check your processed submission for corrections or outstanding actions. Its aid estimates are not the school’s final offer. Federal Student Aid’s submission guidance.
Your SAI is not your college bill
The Student Aid Index is an eligibility index used by financial aid offices. It is not the amount of aid you will receive, an amount your family must pay, or a final offer. Do not subtract the SAI from a program’s advertised tuition to calculate a personal price. Official SAI explanation.
Compare actual offers, not just their headline amounts
For each school, identify the program’s attendance budget, including tuition, fees, books, living costs, and transportation. Separate grants and scholarships from loans. Borrowing can help pay a bill; it does not remove the expense or the resulting debt.
Compare the costs left after grants and scholarships, then plan how you would cover them. Ask each school’s aid office about unclear amounts, changed circumstances, and costs omitted from its offer. Federal Student Aid explains how to compare school aid offers.
Put aid beside the degree comparison
Our degree guides and cost methodology describe published educational costs. They do not predict your aid award. Use a school’s actual offer to evaluate your personal budget, and confirm how outside scholarships affect the offer with its aid office.
Sources & verification
Check the applicable academic year and confirm your final costs directly with the institution.
- Federal Student Aid: comparing school financial aid offersU.S. Department of Education — Federal Student Aid · Checked 2026-10-12
- Federal Student Aid: filling out the FAFSA formU.S. Department of Education — Federal Student Aid · Checked 2026-10-12 · 2026–2027 and 2027–2028
- Federal Student Aid: what the Student Aid Index meansU.S. Department of Education — Federal Student Aid · Checked 2026-10-12