The U.S. Department of Education has officially released the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA provides access to federal grants, loans, and work-study opportunities, empowering millions of students to pursue higher education without financial constraints. It is a vital tool used by states, colleges, and universities to allocate scholarships, grants, and institutional aid, making it indispensable for comprehensive funding options. Let’s check some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the FAFSA forms.
FAFSA 2025-26: Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: How do I check the status of my FAFSA form?
Answer 1: Students can check their FAFSA application status by logging into their account and navigating to the Status Center under “My Activity.” The status will appear as one of the following:
- Draft: Your FAFSA form is incomplete.
- In Progress: You provided consent, approval, and a signature, but the form has not been submitted yet.
- In Review: The form was submitted but is not yet processed.
- Action Required: Consent, approval, or a signature is missing, or corrections are needed.
- Processed: The application has been successfully processed. No further action is required.
- Closed: The form was never submitted and can no longer be submitted due to a missed deadline.
Question 2: What is my date of legal residency?
Answer 2: Enter the month and year you became a legal resident of the state you reported as your state of legal residence. If you were born in the state, use your birth month and year. If you were not born there, enter the month and year you began living in the state.
Question 3: Where do I find my 2023 tax information?
Answer 3: U.S. tax filers may need to manually enter financial details from their 2023 tax return, including:
- Filing status
- Income earned from work
- Tax-exempt interest income
- Untaxed portions of IRA distributions and pensions
- Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
- Income tax paid
- Deductible IRA payments
- Education credits
- Net profit/loss from Schedule C
- Foreign earned income exclusion
Question 4: How do I report college grants, scholarships, or AmeriCorps benefits as income on FAFSA?
Answer 4: Enter the amount of college grant or scholarship aid (and if applicable, your spouse’s aid) reported as income to the IRS for 2023. Most students leave this question blank since most scholarships and grants are non-taxable unless they exceed tuition, fees, and required educational expenses. Report any taxable portion under “Wages, salaries, tips” on your tax return.
Question 5: How do I calculate my total cash, savings, and checking account balance?
Answer 5: Enter the total balances of your cash, savings, and checking accounts as of the day you submit the FAFSA form. Do not include student financial aid or retirement plan funds in these balances.
For more information, candidates can click here or can visit the official website of the Federal Student Aid.
