After You Apply: The Financial Aid Process

Submitting the FAFSA^® and the CSS Profile^® are huge steps in the financial aid application process. After you have completed one or both applications, you should feel accomplished that you've finished a significant step within the process. At this stage, it's important to understand what happens next.

Receive Confirmation

After submitting your FAFSA, you will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS), which confirms that your FAFSA has been received and includes a summary of your FAFSA data, your Student Aid Index (SAI), and an estimate of the federal financial aid you are eligible to receive.

Based on the requirements of the colleges you are considering, you may have also completed the CSS Profile. After submitting your CSS Profile, you will receive access to a dashboard that notes your application status, college-specific messages, and payment information, as well as the ability to upload your documents through the Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC).

Make Corrections or Updates

If you need to make a correction to the data you submitted on the FAFSA or the CSS Profile, log in to each application to do so.

If your financial or household situation changes after you submit your applications (you lose your job, incur a large expense, or gain a family member), then send an email explaining your special circumstances and how they will affect your ability to pay for college to each college's financial aid office.

Complete Verification

Due to a federally-mandated process called Verification, or if a college simply needs more details, you may be asked to submit additional information or documentation to the financial aid offices. Comply with all requests ASAP.

Evaluate Your Offers

Based on your financial aid application data and the school's resources and goals, colleges will determine your financial aid offer. You should expect to receive your offers via mail or email, either with the admissions decision or shortly thereafter. That means they'll likely arrive in November or December for the Early Decision or Early Action admissions process, and in late March or early April if you applied via the regular admissions process.

Carefully review your financial aid offers and make sure you understand the types of aid included. Use our College Cost Calculator to compare your net cost at each school. Register to attend a Financial Aid Offers & the College Bill webinar to help you understand your offers and make your college decision.

Select Your College

Send your admissions deposit to the college you choose to attend by the school's deadline (usually May 1^st). Once you commit to a college or university, you should expect to receive your bill for the fall semester in late June or July. Read our details on paying the college bill to prepare for this next step.