Here’s What Happens After
You Submit Your FAFSA.
Once the U.S.
Department of
Education (DOE)
processes your FAFSA
form, you’ll be able to
log in to StudentAid.gov
to review your
submission.
After you’ve submitted your FAFSA form, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) will process your form based on the method of submission:
Forms submitted electronically are processed within one to three days.
Paper forms are processed within 7–10 days.
Note: The DOE will begin processing paper 2024–25 FAFSA forms by the end of June.
Once DOE processes your FAFSA form, you’ll be able to log in to StudentAid.gov to review your FAFSA Submission Summary to make sure all the information is complete and accurate. If there’s any missing or incorrect information, complete or correct your FAFSA form as soon as possible.
Your FAFSA Submission Summary will include your Student Aid Index (SAI). Colleges and career/trade schools use the SAI to assess your eligibility for federal and nonfederal student aid.
Note: You may receive a printed FAFSA Submission Summary under certain circumstances.
If you submit a 2023–24 FAFSA, once DOE processes your form, you’ll be able to log in to StudentAid.gov to review your Student Aid Report (SAR) to make sure all the information is complete and accurate.
Your SAR will include your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Colleges and career schools use the EFC to assess your eligibility for federal and nonfederal student aid.
When DOE processes your FAFSA form, they also send the information to the colleges and career schools you listed.
Contact the financial aid office at the college or career school you plan to attend to find out if there are additional requirements for receiving student aid and to learn more about the process of applying for aid at that college or career school.
