FAFSA
FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
This is a form you fill out with the federal government that takes your family’s financial information and determines what kind of financial aid you qualify for.
You must fill out the FAFSA every year that you are in school. You will always fill out the FAFSA one year in advance (ex. you will fill it out your senior year of high school for your freshman year of college).
Even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for aid, still apply! Some scholarships require FAFSA completion (like the Opportunity Scholarship).
Get started by checking out this step-by-step FAFSA guide (PDF)
Items Needed To Complete The FAFSA
A contributor
A contributor is a parent who will fill out a portion of your FAFSA form. In some cases, both parents are required to be a contributor. If you do not have a parent(s) and you only have a guardian, you do not need a contributor on your FAFSA form.
FSA ID
Both you and a contributor will need a FAFSA account, also known as an FSA ID.
To create an FSA ID, students must have a Social Security Number or an A Number (Green Card #). Parents without Social Security Numbers can still create an FSA ID.
Federal Tax Return
Also known as a 1040, parents will need a federal tax return from two years prior (ex. if you are filing the 26-27 FAFSA, you will need your 2024 taxes).
If you cannot find your taxes from two years prior, use the IRS retrieval tool.
Most likely, your taxes will be automatically imported from the IRS. However, it is always good to have your tax return on hand as a back up.
Record of Your Assets
The FAFSA form will ask you and your contributors questions about your assets and investments, so make sure you have those records on hand. This includes the current balances of your cash, checking, and savings accounts; the current net worth of your businesses and/or income-producing farms; and the current net worth of your investments. Note: Your cash, checking, and savings accounts are considered assets, not investments.
Government Identification
- Students that do not have Social Security Numbers are unable to file FAFSA unless they meet eligible non-citizen requirements.
- Contributors who don’t have Social Security Numbers can still obtain an FSA ID and submit the FAFSA. Use step-by-step instructions for Contributors without SSNs (PDF). A quick identity validation process will also be required after submission to finalize the application.
List of Schools You’re Interested in Attending
The FAFSA form will ask you what schools you are interested in attending. Be sure to add any colleges, universities, or technical colleges you’re considering, even if you haven’t applied or been accepted yet. You can list up to 20 schools on the online FAFSA form.
How To Start The FAFSA
The students will start the FAFSA form every time. To start, students will simply login using their FSA ID information and start a new form.
After the student has completed their section, they will then invite their contributor. This is done by inputting the email that matches their contributor’s FSA ID.
Once you start the form, you have 45 days to complete the form before the form deletes itself.
Get started by checking out this step-by-step FAFSA guide (PDF).
Access the FAFSA form through StudentAid.gov.
Need it in another language? See multi-lingual FAFSA resources (Google Spreadsheet).
What If I’m Unable To File FAFSA?
Students that do not have Social Security Numbers are unable to file FAFSA unless they meet eligible non-citizen requirements.
If you cannot file FAFSA due to documentation status, check out our DACA/undocumented resources (Google Document).
CSS Profile
The CSS Profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid.
An online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid.
The only Utah school that participates in this is Westminster University. Their CSS Code is 4948.
Get started by checking out the CSS Profile Guide and CSS Profile Checklist.
Access the CSS Profile through CollegeBoard.org.
View 2026-2027 CSS Profile Participating Institutions and Programs.
Make an appointment with your College Access Advisor if you need help or have any additional questions about FAFSA or the CSS profile.
