Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) FAQs
Visit Federal Student Aid's complete list of and view our FAFSA FAQs below.
Q. How does the parent invite email work?
A parent invite for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an email that a student sends to a parent to request their information and consent to be included on the FAFSA. Below are some common questions related to the parent invite.
-How do I invite a parent to the FAFSA?
- Provide the parent's email address in the “Invite Your Parent to This FAFSA form section of the FAFSA. Do not use the student’s email address.
- The parent will receive an email invite to complete their section of the FAFSA
-What to do if a parent doesn't receive the invite?
- Check the spam or junk email folder
- Click on “
- Ensure the parent's information is entered correctly
- Have the parent check their dashboard at fafsa.gov to see if they have an invite
- Call the Federal Student Aid Information Center for support
-What to do if a parent needs to create an FSA ID?
- in the email invite
- Follow the instructions on
-Who needs to be invited to the FAFSA?
- Dependent students usually need to invite their parent or parents to contribute to the FAFSA
- The parent or spouse who provides information on the FAFSA is called a contributor
Q. How can I check the status of my FAFSA application?
Processing for FAFSA® form typically begins within several days after submitting the FAFSA.
To view any updates related to your FAFSA form status, you can check the “My Activity” section of your dashboard.
Your FAFSA status could be one of the following:
Q. When does the FAFSA become available?
The new FAFSA is available for all students to complete each year starting October 1 or earlier, if available.
Q. What semesters are covered by my FAFSA?
At ֱ State University, Summer, Fall and Spring terms are included in the upcoming year FAFSA application. Each school determines if summer is part of the new year FAFSA or the previous year. Follow the chart on our FAFSA website for more information on which FAFSA you need to complete.
Q. What is the FAFSA suggested filing date for ֱ State?
ֱ State recommends that you complete your FAFSA as soon as possible but no later than February 1 each year prior to the Summer or Fall year you plan to attend so that we can provide financial aid information to you sooner. You may file after February 1, however you should do so as soon as possible.
Q. I completed my FAFSA but ֱ State does not show that it has been received. Is there a problem?
Your college or career school may say that they didn’t receive your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form because the you entered is no longer valid.
Check your “Selected Colleges” list on your FAFSA form to make sure your school is listed by:
, and going to the “Selected Colleges” section of the “My Activity page.
If your school is listed, do the following:
Start a correction by selecting “Add or Remove Schools” from the “My Activity” page.
Remove your school.
Re-add your school by using the “Search by School Name” option.
If your school isn’t listed, do the following:
Start a correction by selecting “Add or Remove Schools” from the “My Activity” page.
Add your school.
Q. What happens after my FAFSA is processed?
After you submit the FAFSA and it is officially “processed”, you will receive an email with a "FAFSA Submission Summary” within 1-3 days. .
Q. If we submitted a FAFSA, when will it be processed by the federal government and sent to schools?
Once your FAFSA is submitted it will be sent to the schools you requested to receive your FAFSA results. ֱ State will begin downloading the FAFSAs by the end of November after the FAFSA opens in October.
Q. Am I able to make corrections to my submitted FAFSA?
Yes. Once it’s been processed, you can make changes to correct or update the information on your FAFSA form.
You should in the following situations:
- You made a mistake in what you reported on your form.
- Your form is in “Action Required” status, and you need to make a required correction such as adding a missing signature or providing consent and approval.
- You want to add or remove schools from your form.
Most of the questions on the FAFSA form want to know your situation as of the day you signed and submitted your form. However, you may need to if there’s a significant change in your or your family’s financial or personal circumstances.
Q. When will the financial aid offers be sent out to students for the Fall semester? I am anxious to determine my college choice. The cost and amount of financial aid I will receive are important factors for me to consider.
Offer notifications are sent electronically to students and are expected to be sent by the end of February for students who plan to start in Fall.
Merit scholarships to new incoming students are currently being sent on a rolling basis to eligible students.
In the meantime, students and parents can utilize the Federal Student Aid estimator to get a preliminary idea of their potential financial aid by inputting some basic information. Here is the link to the estimator: .