2025-2026 FAFSA Opened December 1, 2025
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2025–2026 school year opened on December 1. Before applying, create an online account if you don’t already have one, or verify that your email address is correct on an existing account.
Gathering the necessary documents ahead of time can help you stay organized and save time during the application process. This link includes an overview of what you need to know about filling out the form.
Why and How to Submit the FAFSA
Submit the FAFSA each year to make students eligible for federal, state, and sometimes college-based financial aid. File online at Federal Student Aid. Parents and students each need their own FSA ID, a username and password combination that functions as a legal signature. Create your FSA ID online, and you can use the same one for all years of college.
The FAFSA requires two key types of information: income and assets. For income, the 2025–2026 FAFSA looks back two years and relies on information from your 2023 federal income tax return. The IRS will automatically import this data. For assets, the FAFSA uses the value of your assets as of the date you submit the form.
The FAFSA analyzes a family’s income and assets to calculate a figure called the student aid index (SAI), a benchmark that measures aid eligibility. Colleges then use the SAI to craft a financial aid package that attempts to meet a student’s financial need. Colleges don’t have to meet 100% of a student’s financial need.
Who Should File the FAFSA?
All students who file the FAFSA may be eligible for an unsubsidized federal direct loan, regardless of financial need. Students who demonstrate financial need on the FAFSA qualify for a subsidized direct loan, which means the government pays the interest that accrues during school and any loan deferment periods. Students with a high level of financial need may also qualify for a federal Pell Grant.
Filing the FAFSA does not require students to accept any loans offered. It simply gives them the option to do so if needed. Some colleges also require the FAFSA before awarding certain college-based aid, including merit scholarships and grants, so filing it can be worthwhile even if a student doesn’t plan on taking out any federal loans. The FAFSA is an important first step, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. Explore creative strategies that may help manage the overall cost of college before your student enrolls.
Have questions about how the FAFSA fits into your family’s college funding plan? Contact a Savant advisor today to discuss how FAFSA considerations may fit into your broader college funding plan before the deadline arrives.
This is intended for informational purposes only. You should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this document serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Savant. Please consult your investment professional regarding your unique situation.