After the FAFSA

See the things to do after you complete the FAFSA Form and what to do if your FAFSA is selected for verification. 

Things to do
Verification

THINGS TO DO AFTER THE FAFSA

1. Review Your Student Aid Report (SAR)

After you submit your FAFSA, you’ll get a Student Aid Report (SAR) within three days if you signed online or three weeks if you mailed in your signature page. Carefully review your SAR to make sure all the information is correct. You can print your SAR by logging in here with your FSA ID and clicking on the appropriate school year. You can also check the status of your application if you have not yet received your SAR.

2. Review Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

When reviewing your SAR, look for the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) number. You can find your EFC in the box at the top of the first page of your SAR, under your Social Security Number. Your EFC is a number used by your school to calculate how much financial aid you are eligible to receive. Your EFC is calculated by a formula established by law that considers your family’s: taxed and untaxed income, assets, benefits (like Unemployment and Social Security), family size, and number of family members who will attend college during the year. Schools use your EFC to determine your federal student aid eligibility and your financial aid award. However, your EFC is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college nor is it the amount of federal student aid you will receive. If you have questions about your EFC, you can ask your school’s Financial Aid Office.

3. Make Corrections if Needed

If needed, you can make corrections to your FAFSA after it has been processed.

To make corrections to your FAFSA:

  1. Log in here with your FSA ID.
  2. Click “Make FAFSA Corrections” and update your information.
  3. After you click “Submit,” you cannot make additional corrections until your FAFSA has been successfully processed.

Corrections should be processed in three to five days; then you will receive a revised SAR to review.

4. Complete your School(s) Admission Applications

Follow up with the Financial Aid Office at the school(s) you applied to. Sometimes schools need additional paperwork or have other deadlines. Schools need both your completed admission application and your FAFSA to process an award letter.

FAFSA Verification

What is FAFSA verification?

Verification is the process to make sure the information reported on your FAFSA is accurate. About a third of all applications are selected for verification. Your SAR will tell you if you are selected for verification. If you’re selected for FAFSA verification, you’ll be asked to provide documentation that proves the information you submitted is accurate.

If the Student and/or Parent Filed Taxes

If you filed a tax return, but are unable to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, you will need to request a copy of your Tax Return Transcript from the IRS and submit the transcript to your financial aid office.

If the Student and/or Parent Did Not File Taxes

The federal government now requires U.S. citizens and permanent residents to have the IRS verify if no tax return was filed. If you did not file a tax return, you must request a Verification of Non-Filing Letter from the IRS and submit the non-filing letter to your financial aid office. IRS Form 4506-T can be requested free of charge.

Verification Steps

#1

Gather your Documentation

To prove the information you provided on your FAFSA is accurate, you’ll be asked to submit documentation or signed statements for each point household size, number of family members in college, adjusted gross income (AGI), taxes paid, and untaxed income and benefits.

#2

Fill out the Forms

Your school will send you FAFSA verification worksheets to complete as part of the process. You need to complete each worksheet and submit it along with any necessary documentation. Double-check each worksheet to ensure you completed it accurately and completely.

#3

Correct any Mistakes

You may find out during the verification process that you made an error, such as writing down the wrong number. You’ll need to fix that mistake before you submit it. The quickest and easiest way to fix your FAFSA is to do so online at FAFSA.gov or inform your financial aid office.

#4

Turn in the Documents On Time

When you receive the FAFSA verification notice, the letter will state when you need to submit your documentation and worksheets. It’s essential that you meet the deadline. If you’re late, you risk losing out on your federal financial aid eligibility.