How Long Will a FAFSA Be In Review?
Navigate the FAFSA's post-submission journey. Understand processing expectations, how to monitor your application, and reasons for varying review durations.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) serves as a gateway to federal student aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans. States and individual colleges also use this application to determine eligibility for their financial aid programs. This article clarifies what happens during the FAFSA review period and what applicants can expect once their application is submitted.
The FAFSA Review Process Explained
When a FAFSA form is submitted, it enters a review process with the U.S. Department of Education. This process validates the provided information through automated and manual checks to ensure accuracy.
The Department of Education conducts data validation by matching the submitted information with various federal databases, such as the Social Security Administration for identity verification. This ensures accuracy and consistency.
Expected Timelines for FAFSA Processing
The duration of FAFSA review and processing varies by submission method and time of year. Online submissions generally process within three to five business days.
Paper submissions require a significantly longer processing period, taking approximately three weeks after being mailed. Peak seasons often lead to increased processing times due to the high volume of applications received.
Monitoring Your FAFSA Status
Applicants can monitor their FAFSA application status by logging into the StudentAid.gov website. This requires using their Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID, which serves as a username and password for accessing and signing the FAFSA form electronically.
Once logged in, the application status can be found under the “My Activity” section. Possible statuses include “Draft” for incomplete forms, “In Progress” for forms started but not yet submitted, and “In Review” if the form has been submitted but is awaiting processing.
Factors Affecting Processing Time
Several factors can influence how long a FAFSA application takes to process. Errors or incomplete information on the form are common reasons for delays. Such issues might necessitate manual review or require the applicant to make corrections, extending the processing time.
A percentage of FAFSA applications are selected for “verification,” which means additional documentation is required to confirm the accuracy of the submitted data. Being selected for verification can significantly prolong the processing time, as the financial aid office at the applicant’s chosen school will request supporting documents like tax transcripts or W-2 forms. The submission method also plays a role, with paper applications inherently taking longer to process than online submissions. Submitting the FAFSA during periods of high application volume can also contribute to longer review times.
Receiving Your Student Aid Report
Once the FAFSA review process is complete, applicants receive a Student Aid Report (SAR), now referred to as the FAFSA Submission Summary. This document summarizes all the information provided on the FAFSA form. It includes the Student Aid Index (SAI), which replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), and an estimate of eligibility for federal aid, such as Federal Pell Grants.
Applicants can access their FAFSA Submission Summary online by logging into their StudentAid.gov account. Reviewing this summary for accuracy is important, and any necessary corrections can be made through the website. The FAFSA data is subsequently sent to the schools listed on the application, and these institutions will then use this information to calculate and provide financial aid offers.