The Better FAFSA: What You Need to Know

The U.S. Department of Education is making transformational changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. The FAFSA form is an application that students and families need to complete to apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, work-study funds, and loans. Completing and submitting the FAFSA form is free, and it gives students access to the largest source of financial aid to help pay for higher education.

The Better FAFSA is simplified, redesigned, and streamlined. It is faster and easier to fill out, with most students and families completing it in less than 15 minutes. It ensures 665,000 more students will receive Federal Pell Grants to pay for college. Additionally, more than 1.7 million more students will receive the maximum Pell Grant.

Making FAFSA Corrections

Some students who already submitted FAFSA forms may need to make corrections. For students who need to make corrections to their FAFSA form, doing so should only take a few minutes. To get started, students and contributors should go to their StudentAid.gov account and select the form that notes an "Action Required" under "My Activity." Select "View FAFSA Submission Summary" to review the information and any actions you need to take to complete the form. Select the "Make a Correction" button at the top of the "FAFSA Form Answers" tab. Some of the most common corrections include signing the form or providing consent and approval to access and use federal tax data. Remember: successfully completing your FAFSA form is the first step to unlocking affordable and accessible higher education opportunities.

Watch these videos to learn more about making corrections to your FAFSA:

• Better FAFSA Corrections and Completion Guidance: Students
• Better FAFSA Corrections and Completion Guidance: Parents
• Orientación para hacer correcciones y completar la Better FAFSA: Padres
• Better FAFSA Corrections and Completion Guidance: Adding Schools
• How to make corrections and add colleges and universities to your FAFSA
• How to make corrections to the new FAFSA form – Adding signature and contributor information
• How to correct and submit the signature in the new FAFSA form – For students and their contributors
• Orientación para hacer correcciones y completar la Better FAFSA: Padres (in Spanish)
• Cómo hacer correcciones y añadir universidades a su FAFSA(in Spanish)
• Cómo hacer correcciones al nuevo formularlo FAFSA– añadir la firma e información del contribuyente(in Spanish)
• Cómo corregir y enviar la firma en el nuevo formulario FAFSA – para estudiantes y sus contribuyentes(in Spanish)

Other useful resources to help you prepare and submit your FAFSA® Form:

• Understand and Prepare FAFSA® Form Contributors
• Review, Sign, and Submit Your 2024–25 FAFSA® Form
• How Do I Complete the 2024–25 FAFSA® Form If My Parent Is a Noncitizen?