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Everything you need to know about the FAFSA.

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I am a …

Student

Are you planning to attend college during the 2025-2026 school year? Click below for information on completing the FAFSA.

Parent

Do you have a child attending college during the 2025-2026 school year? Click below for information on your role (yes, you have one!) as a parent in completing the FAFSA.

Counselor

Are you supporting students and families in the FAFSA completion process? Click below for resources.


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Learn about FAFSA

What is the FAFSA?

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form you need to fill out to get financial aid from the federal government, state aid programs, and institutions. Each year, over 13 million students who file the FAFSA get more than $120 billion in grants, work-study, and student loans from the U.S. Department of Education.
The FAFSA form is available at FAFSA.gov through Federal Student Aid.

Financial aid
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When should I complete the FAFSA?
Now!

The FAFSA for the 2025-2026 school year is now open. Students and their contributors can start the form today.

If you are attending college during the 2024-2025 school year, that form is also available. Make sure to select the correct form when applying.

Why should I complete the FAFSA?

The FAFSA is the first step in financial aid. It is used to determine your eligibility for federal grants and loans like the Pell grant, as well as the Access Missouri state grant. Colleges use it to determine eligibility for need-based financial aid, as do some scholarships and interest-free loan programs. Completing the FAFSA could make you eligible for thousands of dollars of scholarships and grants.

Why Fill out the FAFSA
FSA ID

What should I do now?

Create your FSA ID if you don’t already have one. You and your parent(s) will need this to complete the FAFSA. It takes a few days to verify your FSA ID, so start the process now. If you have previously completed the FAFSA, you can use the FSA ID you already have. Once you have your FSAID, you can start completing the FAFSA.

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FAFSA Steps

Create an FSA ID. The FSA ID is your account for the FAFSA. You can create one here. It takes a few days to process, so make sure to create one before you attempt to complete the FAFSA.

Complete the FAFSA.  The FAFSA forms for both the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years are now open.

Your FAFSA will process a few days after you submit. You will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary which includes the federal aid you are eligible for. The colleges you listed on your FAFSA will also receive your FAFSA data.

Your college will process your FAFSA and create a financial aid package for you. Your college will also let you know if you need to provide any additional information.

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Stay on Track

Have a question?

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