The new 2024-25 FAFSA is open, but some families have experienced difficulty navigating the application process. In this webinar for students and families, we review known issues, technical bugs, and workarounds (when available) of the new FAFSA. We also discuss the impact of the delayed FAFSA launch on financial aid deadlines and the release of financial aid offers, as well as the process of updating and correcting FAFSA data.

This webinar provides a detailed overview of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the main application for college financial aid. Learn step-by-step instructions on completing the application, helpful tips on answering questions correctly, and important next steps.

If you’re filing the FAFSA, you’ll need to have an FSA ID. All students will need to create an FSA ID, and for most traditional undergraduate students, at least one parent, possibly two, will need to create an FSA ID. Learn how to determine which parents should create an FSA ID in our short video. If you’re filing the FAFSA, you’ll need to have an FSA ID. All students will need to create an FSA ID, and for most traditional undergraduate students, at least one parent, possibly two, will need to create an FSA ID. Learn how to determine which parents should create an FSA ID in our short video.

The Student Aid Index, or SAI, is a number that represents your family’s financial strength and ability to pay for college, and helps to determine how much financial aid you’re eligible to receive.

Do 529 accounts owned by a grandparent affect financial aid? Do families receive less financial aid if they saved in a 529 account? Get the answers to these questions and others in our short video.

This webinar introduces the nuts and bolts of the CSS Profile^®, a financial aid application required by roughly 200 colleges, universities, and scholarship agencies across the country. Topics include tips on completing the Profile, specific financial and household data collected, and how colleges and universities use the application information.

If you’re applying to college Early Action/Early Decision, you won’t be able to submit the FAFSA at the same time you submit your application for admission, as the 2024-25 FAFSA won’t be available until December 2023. You’ll want to make sure you check the financial aid webpage of every college where you are applying early to find out about any other required financial aid applications they might require, such as the CSS Profile^® or an institutional financial aid application. For more information on the new FAFSA, read our blog post, What You Need to Know about the New FAFSA

Learn about IDOC, a service used to submit additional documents, such as tax returns and bank statements, to colleges that require the CSS Profile^®.

If you plan to submit the FAFSA to apply for college financial aid, you’ll need to create an FSA ID first, which allows you to begin the FAFSA process. And you need to create your FSA ID at least a few days before you start the FAFSA, so now’s a great time to check that step off your list. This webinar will walk you through the process of creating an FSA ID, explain who needs to create one, and discuss other things to know before completing the FAFSA.

If you need financial aid for college, you'll have to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). The FAFSA becomes available every year on October 1st for the following academic year. Learn what you'll need to include on the form and how you can complete it.