Pursuing the unknown can be scary. But when the unknown involves furthering your education, you shouldn’t feel overwhelmed. Instead, you should be excited to pursue this new chapter of your life!
Yet, statistics show that many college students fear they won’t qualify for financial aid, assume they don’t need it. Because of these common misconceptions, students don’t file a FAFSA® – the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.1
Filing a FAFSA is the first step towards determining financial aid eligibility, including assistance from the federal and state government, colleges and scholarships. Federal programs disbursed $117.8 billion in student grants and loans during the 2023–24 academic year.²
Your eligibility cannot be determined if you don’t apply. So, submitting your FAFSA can be advantageous because you may qualify for financial assistance.
For a general overview of the form and its purpose, see What Is FAFSA?.
How Do You Apply for the FAFSA?
The FAFSA application steps are straightforward: create or log in with your FSA ID at StudentAid.gov, start the FAFSA and invite any required contributors, provide consent for federal tax information to be transferred through the IRS Direct Data Exchange, list the schools that should receive your information, then review, sign and submit the form.
What Do You Need to Fill Out the FAFSA?
As you prepare to fill out your FAFSA form, you may want to gather certain information before you begin. This includes the following:
- Your StudentAid.gov account username and password, also known as your FSA ID
- Social Security number or equivalent identifying information
- Relevant tax and income information
- Current balances of savings and checking accounts
- A list of schools you want to receive your FAFSA information
For the 2026–27 FAFSA, the form uses 2024 tax information, which is generally imported automatically through the IRS Direct Data Exchange.
If you’re a dependent student, a parent may need to participate as a contributor. If you are an independent student who is married, your spouse may be a contributor. Each contributor will need to have and use their own FSA ID.
Step-by-Step: Applying for the FAFSA
Create or Log In With Your FSA ID
Your FSA ID is the username and password for your StudentAid.gov account. The student and each required contributor use their own account to complete their respective portions of the FAFSA.
Start the FAFSA and Add Contributors
Start the FAFSA at StudentAid.gov. The form is role-based, so you may be asked to invite one or more contributors, such as a parent or spouse, to provide information in their own section.
Provide Consent and Import Tax Data
Students and required contributors can provide consent for their federal tax information to be transferred through the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX). This allows relevant tax information to be imported into the FAFSA.
List the Schools to Receive Your Information
You will be prompted to enter the schools you want to receive your FAFSA information. The FAFSA allows students to list up to 20 schools.
Review, Sign and Submit
Once the required sections are complete, review the information for accuracy. The student and any required contributors must complete their portions of the form and provide the required signatures before the FAFSA can be submitted.
Who Is a “Contributor” on the FAFSA?
A contributor is anyone asked to provide information on your FAFSA, such as a parent or spouse. Each contributor uses their own FSA ID and must provide consent for their federal tax information to be transferred into the form. Being a contributor doesn’t mean they’re financially responsible for your education.
When Should You Apply for the FAFSA?
The FAFSA typically opens by October 1 for the following academic year. Submit your FAFSA as early as possible because some aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Be sure to check applicable federal, state and school deadlines. State and school deadlines can be earlier than the federal deadline.
What Happens After You Submit the FAFSA?
After you submit the FAFSA, you’ll receive confirmation. Once the form is processed, your FAFSA Submission Summary will include your Student Aid Index (SAI), which replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Schools listed on your FAFSA use this information, along with other information such as cost of attendance, to determine financial aid eligibility and prepare financial aid offers.
Common FAFSA Mistakes to Avoid
When you fill out the FAFSA, make sure that each required contributor completes their own section using their own FSA ID, provides the required consent and signs the form. Review your information and school list before submitting, and keep state and school deadlines in mind.
Where Can I Seek FAFSA Support?
Planning your education budget doesn’t have to be overwhelming. A helpful way to track your financial aid document status is through the CTU Mobile app. A checklist of outstanding financial aid documents required for the current or future academic year will be listed in the app’s Financial Aid tab. You can also view the Financial Aid section of the Virtual Campus on a desktop.
If you have questions about financial aid options, scholarships or completing your FAFSA, you can contact your financial aid advisor directly through the CTU Mobile app or by calling 866-813-1836 (option 1). The Department of Education also provides free help through StudentAid.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Tax Year Does the FAFSA Use?
The FAFSA uses tax information from two years prior. For the 2026–27 FAFSA, that means 2024 tax information, which can be imported automatically through the IRS Direct Data Exchange.
Can I Submit the FAFSA Before a Contributor Finishes Their Section?
Each required contributor must complete their portion of the FAFSA and provide the required consent and signature before the form can be fully submitted.
Does Being a FAFSA Contributor Mean You Have to Pay for College?
No. Being identified as a contributor means the person is required to provide certain information on the FAFSA. It does not mean that person is financially responsible for the student’s education.
Ready to take the next step toward your education? Explore CTU’s degree programs and learn more about applying to CTU.
1 Sallie Mae and Ipsos, “How America Pays for College 2025,” 2025. <https://www.salliemae.com/content/dam/slm/writtencontent/Research/HAP_2025.pdf>, visited September 25, 2026.
2Hanson, Melanie. “Financial Aid Statistics” EducationData.org, 2026-06-02,
https://educationdata.org/financial-aid-statistics , visited 9/24/2026.
Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Colorado Technical University cannot guarantee employment, salary or career advancement.
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