How to Edit Your FAFSA After Submitting
Guide to updating your FAFSA after submission. Learn the correction process, what information you can change, and what to expect next.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) provides access to federal grants, loans, and work-study programs for higher education. After initial submission, circumstances can change or errors may be discovered, making updates necessary. Correcting your FAFSA ensures your eligibility for financial aid is accurately assessed based on your current situation.
Eligibility and Scope of Corrections
Most demographic and financial details on your FAFSA can be updated after the initial submission. Information such as income, assets, household size, and contact details are typically eligible for correction online. You can also add or remove schools from your FAFSA, allowing up to 20 institutions to receive your information at one time. If you add more than 20 schools, any new additions will replace existing ones on the list.
Some changes cannot be made directly through the online FAFSA portal, requiring involvement from your school’s financial aid office. For example, federal tax information transferred directly from the IRS cannot be altered online. If you filed an amended tax return (IRS Form 1040-X), contact your college’s financial aid office. Significant changes to dependency status or parental information that might affect eligibility also require direct communication with the financial aid office, who may request additional documentation.
Corrections are generally permissible after your FAFSA has been processed and before specific federal and institutional deadlines. For the 2024-25 FAFSA, corrections can be made until September 14, 2025, and for the 2025-26 form, the deadline is September 13, 2026. However, individual schools and states often set earlier priority deadlines, so it is advisable to make any necessary corrections promptly. Before initiating an online correction, gather any supporting documentation, such as updated tax returns, W-2 forms, or pay stubs, to ensure accuracy in your revised submission.
Making Corrections Online
Accessing your FAFSA to make corrections begins by logging into StudentAid.gov using your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. Once logged in, navigate to your account Dashboard, where you will find a list of your submitted FAFSA forms.
Select the specific FAFSA submission you wish to correct from the “My Activity” section. If an action is required, such as a missing signature or consent, an alert will be visible under “Errors Found in Your Application.” For voluntary corrections, locate the “Actions” button and then choose “Make a Correction” to begin the process.
The online platform will guide you through the FAFSA sections, allowing you to identify and edit incorrect or outdated fields. As you make changes, the system typically saves your progress, though it is prudent to save frequently. If you are a dependent student and modify information related to your parent(s), they must re-sign the FAFSA electronically using their own FSA ID. This ensures all necessary parties approve the revised information.
To add or remove schools, select the “Add or Remove Schools” option within the correction process. You can search for schools by entering their federal school code, state, city, or name, ensuring each institution receives your updated financial aid information. After making all necessary changes, review the entire corrected FAFSA for accuracy before proceeding to the final submission step. Electronically sign the form to complete the submission of your corrected FAFSA.
After Submitting Your Corrections
Upon successfully submitting your FAFSA corrections online, you will typically receive a confirmation page and an email notification. You can also monitor the status of your corrected FAFSA by logging back into your StudentAid.gov account and checking the “My Activity” section.
The processing time for online FAFSA corrections is relatively quick, usually taking between one to three days. Once processed, a revised FAFSA Submission Summary will be generated, and the updated information will be made available to the schools listed on your FAFSA within approximately one day. This ensures that the financial aid offices at your chosen institutions receive the most current data for their assessment.
It is important to note that some corrections, particularly significant changes to reported income or household size, may trigger a process known as “verification.” Verification is a routine procedure where schools request additional documentation to confirm the information provided on your FAFSA. If selected for verification, your school will contact you directly with instructions on what documents to provide, such as tax transcripts or W-2 forms. Promptly responding to these requests is essential to prevent delays in your financial aid offer.
After your corrections are processed and shared with your schools, continuously monitor your financial aid portals and email for any updates or requests for further information. The financial aid office may adjust your aid offer based on the corrected data. Being proactive in checking your FAFSA status and responding to any communications from your schools helps ensure a smooth financial aid process.