Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The 2018-19 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now open. Encourage students to file for financial aid as soon as possible.  

To view current data on FAFSA submissions and completions by high school and district, visit the FAFSA Completion Tool.

In 2016, the following changes to the FAFSA went into effect:

• The FAFSA form is now available every year on Oct. 1.
• Applicants must use prior-prior year (PPY) tax information when reporting personal and family income.

NACAC Members Discuss Implementation of Early FAFSA, a report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling, features summary findings based on interviews with professionals at both secondary schools and institutions of higher education before and after the change to “early FAFSA” and the use of prior-prior year tax information when applying for federal financial aid.

The following resources were created in 2016 to further assist professionals working with students and families about the changes to the financial aid application process:

• An animated video for students and fact sheets for counselors, admission professionals, and students (including a Spanish language version) are available.
• NACAC partnered with The College Board and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) to provide free webinars highlighting changes to the FAFSA: Counseling Series- The 2017-18 FAFSA: What School Counselors Need to Know (ASCA); Planning for Changes Coming with the 2017-18 FAFSA​ (The College Board); Ethics and the Early FAFSA (NACAC). Admission Series- Practical Implications for the 2017-2018 FAFSA on Admission and Enrollment Management Offices​ (AACRAO); Essential Information for “Road Warriors”: Helping Admission Staff Talk with Students and Families about the 2017 – 2018 FAFSA​ (NACAC); Prepping for Prior-Prior Year: Key Questions for Admission Offices​​ (The College Board)
• Videos of two educational sessions presented at NACAC’s 2016 national conference can also provide answers as you help students and families navigate the financial aid application process: The FAFSA: What You Need to Know for 2017-18; Prior–Prior Year and You.