Unleash Your PHIRE!

 Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form allows you to be considered for federal student aid. In addition, states and colleges use FAFSA information to award their own grants, scholarships, and loans. But, since some aid is limited, you have to meet the deadlines! 

To be eligible for federal student aid through FAFSA, you generally need to be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen with a valid Social Security number, possess a high school diploma or equivalent, and be enrolled or accepted into an eligible program at an accredited institution. While there's no strict income cutoff, your financial need will be assessed for most programs.  

•  Citizenship: You must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen, which includes permanent residents and those with specific refugee or asylum statuses.
• Social Security number: A valid Social Security number is typically required, with some exceptions for citizens of certain Pacific island nations.
• Education: You need a high school diploma, GED, or completion of a state-approved homeschooling program.
• School enrollment: Enrollment or acceptance as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program at an accredited institution is necessary.
• Academic progress: If currently enrolled, you must meet your school's satisfactory academic progress standards.
• Financial need: Most programs require demonstrating financial need, which is determined by your income and used to calculate your Student Aid Index (SAI).
• Certification statement: You must agree to the FAFSA's terms, including confirming you are not in default on federal loans or owe refunds on federal grants and that aid will be used for educational purposes. 

To get your FSA ID (Federal Student Aid Identification), which you need for the FAFSA, visit the StudentAid.gov website and click on "Create an Account" or "Create an FSA ID". You'll need your Social Security number, an email address, and a mobile phone number to register, create a unique username and password, set up security questions, and enable two-step verification. It takes 1-3 days for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify your information before your account is fully active for use with the FAFSA.    

 Each college and career/trade school may have its own deadline. Check with the school you’re interested in attending. You may also want to ask about the school’s definition of an application deadline. For example, the deadline could be the date your FAFSA form is processed or the date the school receives your processed FAFSA data. 

August 1, 2026

Applications must be submitted by Aug. 1, 2026, midnight Central time (CT) for all first-time applicants enrolled in a community college, business school, trade or technical school, hospital school of nursing, designated Pennsylvania open-admission institution, or nontransferable two-year program.
May 1, 2026
All other applicants must apply by May 1, 2026, midnight CT. Additional forms may be required. 

  You might need the following information or documents as you fill out the FAFSA form:

• Tax returns (will be automatically transferred from IRS into your FAFSA form
• Records of child support received
• Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts
• Net worth of investments, businesses, and farms
• Your parent’s SSN if they have an SSN and you’re a dependent student (for the 2026–27 FAFSA form only)

Keep these records! You may need them again. Do not mail these supporting records to us unless otherwise instructed to do so.

 While completing the FAFSA form, you must list at least one school to receive your information. The schools you list will use your FAFSA information to determine the types and amounts of student aid you may receive. Use the School Search to find the colleges or career/trade schools you’re interested in including on your FAFSA form.  You can list up to 20 schools online or up to 10 schools on a FAFSA PDF. (You can add or delete schools on your FAFSA form later.) Schools you list on the application will automatically receive your FAFSA results electronically.