Prior to FAFSA completion, the student and the student’s parent must create an FSA ID username and password at StudentAid.gov. This is the only site for FSA ID creation. The student and parent must have two working email accounts to create FSA IDs. The email addresses cannot be the same for the student and parent. It is recommended that students use a personal email address instead of a high school email as the email could be deactivated after graduation. Since FSA ID is the student and parent’s electronic signature, it is important that FSA ID information is stored in a secure place for future reference should changes need to be made after FAFSA submission.

After creating FSA IDs, students must visit StudentAid.gov to file the 2025-2026 FAFSA.

1. Gather Necessary Information: Before starting the application, gather the necessary documents, including:

• Student and parent FSA IDs (Begin at StudentAid.gov.)

• 2023 Federal Tax Return or other income documentation for student and parent(s)

• Social Security number(s)

• Driver’s license (if any)

• 2023 untaxed income records, such as child support received and veterans’ non-education benefits

• Current information on checking and savings account balances; stock, bond and other investments; and business and farm assets

2. Start Early: The FAFSA is expected to become available in December 2024 for the following school year. It's a good idea to fill it out as soon as possible since some funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
3. Visit the Official FAFSA Website: Go to the official website at StudentAid.gov to begin the application process. Be sure to select the 2025-2026 FAFSA when filing. Deadline: April 15, 2025
4. Choose Your Schools: You'll be asked to list schools you're interested in attending (list up to 20 different schools). These schools will receive your FAFSA results and will use the information to determine the financial aid they can offer you.
5. Answer Dependency Questions: The FAFSA will determine if you are a dependent or independent student. Dependent students must provide parent financial information.
6. Fill Out Financial Information: Use the documents you've gathered to provide accurate financial information. By providing student and parent financial information, you are determining the federal and state financial aid you qualify for.
7. Sign and Submit: Once you've completed all sections, you'll need to sign the FAFSA. If you're a dependent student, you will invite your parent(s) to complete separate section(s) of the FAFSA. The 2025-2026 FAFSA will be considered finished once all sections have been successfully completed, signed and submitted.
8. Review Your FAFSA Submission Summary: After submitting the FAFSA, you'll receive a FAFSA Submission Summary summarizing the information you provided. Review this for any errors and make corrections if necessary.
9. Stay Informed: Check the status of your FAFSA, and make sure to respond to any requests from schools or the federal government for additional information.
10. Renew Annually: The FAFSA isn't a one-time task. It is a TN Promise requirement to submit a new application each year.

For help while filing the FAFSA, please reach out to our team or contact the FAFSA helpline at 1-800-433-3243.

Additional FAFSA resources will be available once the 2025-2026 FAFSA opens. Check back here for more resources in December 2024.

• FAFSA How-To provided by THEC/TSAC

• FAFSA Facts