How many days does it take for the FAFSA to process?

If you submitted a paper FAFSA form, your form will be processed within 7 to 10 days. Once your form is processed, you'll receive a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR), which summarizes the information you provided on your FAFSA form. Review your SAR and make sure all of the information is complete and accurate.

How long does it take for FAFSA to be processed?

Submitting your FAFSA electronically allows you to immediately check your FAFSA status. If you submit a paper FAFSA, you can check the status once it has been processed, which takes anywhere from seven to 10 days after the date you mailed the form.

How do I know when my FAFSA is approved?

At any time, students can check the status of their 2024–25 FAFSA form from the “My Activity” page after logging in to StudentAid.gov.

Why is FAFSA taking so long to process 2024?

Originally estimated to arrive by late January, this delay may have been caused by a recent update to the new financial aid formula. The update is slated to bring in an additional $1.8 billion in need-based student aid, but the timing may impact the federal financial aid timeline.

How fast should you complete the FAFSA?

If you want to get the most financial aid possible, fill out the FAFSA form right away. Many states have limited funds, so they may have early FAFSA deadlines. The FAFSA form doesn't take too much time to complete, and it includes help text for each question. Be sure to sign and submit!

What Happens After Submitting Your FAFSA® Form?

Can FAFSA be processed in one day?

If you submitted your 2023–24 FAFSA form online, we'll process your form within three to five days. If you submitted a paper FAFSA form, your form will be processed within 7 to 10 days.

How can I get my FAFSA processed faster?

We recommend signing the FAFSA form with an FSA ID because it's the fastest way to get your FAFSA form processed. However, if you and/or your parent are unable to sign the FAFSA form electronically with an FSA ID, you can mail in a signature page.

Why is FAFSA always so slow?

The new FAFSA platform is more likely to experience slow load times and outages when visitor volumes are high. Try accessing the site late at night or early in the morning when it's not as busy. Contact the FSA Office. If you're still having trouble, ask the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Office for help.

Why does my FAFSA still say processing?

The “Processing” status means Federal Student Aid received your form but has not yet processed it. Since the FAFSA can take several days to process, don't be surprised if your form remains “Processing” for a while. There's nothing you need to do here but wait and check periodically for your FAFSA status to change.

Why is it taking so long for my FAFSA to be reviewed?

The delays are a result of overhauls made to the aid application system that were mandated by laws passed by Congress in 2019 and 2020. The overhauls were intended to make the FAFSA simpler, easier to use, and to make more lower-income students eligible for more aid.

Does FAFSA process on weekends?

You submitted your paper FAFSA on a Tuesday and are wondering if it will be processed on Saturdays and Sundays. The FAFSA is processed Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. So, your FAFSA will not be processed on Saturdays or Sundays. The processing time for the paper FAFSA is typically 7-10 days.

Do I have to wait until my FAFSA is processed to make corrections?

You can make corrections or updates to the information you provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, even after it is processed. Here's how: Go to fafsa.gov and log in using your FSA ID. Select “Make FAFSA Corrections” once you're redirected to the “My FAFSA” page.

Does FAFSA go into my bank account?

The aid will be automatically applied to your tuition bill. If there is any remaining financial aid left over, you may set up a direct deposit within your school financial aid portal to receive a deposit straight to your bank account after tuition has been paid.

How long does the FAFSA take to process 2024 2025?

After You File the 2024-2025 FAFSA

Your FAFSA will be processed by the Federal Processing Center, typically within three days. You will not be able to make updates or corrections to your FAFSA during this time. Once processed, your FAFSA information will be sent to all of the schools listed on your FAFSA.

What happens after my FAFSA is processed successfully?

What happens after my FAFSA^® form is processed? We'll send you a Student Aid Report (SAR), which is a summary of the FAFSA^® data you submitted within three days to two weeks after you submit your FAFSA^® form.

What happens if you don't get approved for FAFSA?

You may be able to qualify for state or federal grants and scholarships, as well as ones from nonprofit organizations and private companies. Unlike loans, which have to be repaid with interest, grants and scholarships don't typically require repayment. In most cases, you never have to repay them.

Is FAFSA first come first serve?

Each October, the FAFSA is available for the next school year. It is best to fill it out as early as you can because some aid is first come, first served. When you complete the FAFSA, you'll need to provide personal and tax information.

Why do some people not get FAFSA?

Students must be in good academic standing to receive federal aid. The required GPA varies from school to school, but typically students need a 2.0 or higher. If your grades fall below the minimum GPA, you could lose eligibility for financial aid.

How many times can you submit FAFSA?

Many people believe they only have to file it when they first are entering college and never again. This is not correct. You'll need to fill it out once per year, every year that you're attending school and want financial aid.

What does it mean when FAFSA is in review?

Your FAFSA will appear as “In review” (meaning it has not been processed) in your studentaid.gov account and no corrections can be made until it is processed.

Can I submit FAFSA twice?

The FAFSA form applies to a single academic year. That means you need to submit a FAFSA form each year—and make sure you meet the FAFSA deadlines for state and school aid to maximize the amount and types of aid you could receive.

Does FAFSA have a live chat?

Our Contact Center chat is available during scheduled times. Find available chat times on the “Contact Us” page.

How do I know how much financial aid I will receive?

The Federal Student Aid Estimator provides an early estimate of what your federal student aid could be by using some initial data you provide. This can help you make decisions about college.

Does FAFSA pay 100%?

The financial aid will be based on financial need, which is usually less than the cost of attendance. A full need student, who has a zero SAI, might qualify for enough financial aid to cover the full cost of attendance. However, most full need students will be left with a gap of unmet need.