Items You'll Need to Complete the FAFSA

To apply for next year's college financial aid, you'll need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®), as well as any additional financial aid applications required by the colleges where the student has applied. The FAFSA typically becomes available on October 1^st of each year, but it will not be available until approximately December 1, 2024 for families completing the 2025-26 application.

Before you start, check out our Financial Aid Checklist, which provides some important steps to take even before you begin your first application. And then once you're ready, you'll need to gather some information and documents to help you. We've included a list below. You'll be asked specific questions about parent and student income and assets, and several questions will refer to your tax return from two years prior.

Items you'll need for your financial aid applications (both parent and student information is needed):

• FSA ID
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Current bank statement(s)
• Business and investment records

As you journey through the financial aid process, know there are many free resources to help you. Refer to our Guide for Financial Aid Help for key phone numbers, email addresses, and websites where you can reach out to ask questions and learn more information. And remember, MEFA is always ready to assist you. You can contact us at (800) 449-MEFA (6332) or collegeplanning@mefa.org.

Learn more about the FAFSA