FAFSA Tips

Steps to Fill Out the FAFSA

  1. Get your FSA ID (username) and password.
    You’ll use this to log into your FAFSA, sign your FAFSA and check your FAFSA status online. If you’ll need a parent to provide info for your FAFSA and to sign your FAFSA, your parent should also make his/her own FSA ID.

  2. Gather the financial documents you’ll need to refer to when you fill out the FAFSA.
    For the 2023-24 FAFSA, refer to 2021 tax returns.  

  3. Fill out the FAFSA.
    Most people need about 30-45 minutes to do this. (If you are able to use the IRS Data Retrieval tool, filling out the FAFSA is even faster!)

In Arizona, students secure an average of almost $10,000 per year in federal financial aid just by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Complete your FAFSA as early as possible. The application opens on Oct. 1 for the next school year and will make it possible for you to receive federal Pell grants, lower-interest federal loans, work-study opportunites, and scholarships that require a FAFSA on file.


What You’ll Need

  • Your family’s tax information from the prior-prior year (eg, 2021 federal tax return for the 2023-24 FAFSA) and other financial records. See full list.

  • Social Security numbers (SSN) for the student and parents

    • If your parents do not have an SSN, they’ll report all zeros for their SSN on the FAFSA

  • FSA ID (username and password for FAFSA site) - The student AND one parent will each create their own FSA IDs, using two separate email accounts.

    • Parents who do not have an SSN won’t be able to make an FSA ID, and will instead print, sign and mail a FAFSA parent signature page. See FAFSA help for details.

FAFSA Help