Who Can File the FAFSA

The FAFSA is open to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and may be able to access non-citizens who are enrolled or planning to enroll in a degree or certificate program at a school that participates in federal student aid. You do not need to be a high school graduate — you can file if you have a GED or a high school diploma, or if you are homeschooled. You also do not need to have already been accepted to a school; many students file the FAFSA before they know where they will attend.

Age is not a barrier. You can file at 17, 25, or 45. The FAFSA does not care whether you are a dependent student living with your parents, an independent student living on your own, a parent returning to school, or a working adult. What matters is that you are a U.S. citizen or may be able to access non-citizen and that you plan to pursue education beyond high school at a school that accepts federal aid.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or may be able to access non-citizen to file the FAFSA, and you must plan to attend a school that participates in federal student aid programs.
  • You do not need to be a high school graduate, have already been accepted to a school, or be a certain age to file.
  • Your income and your family's income affect how much aid you may receive, but having income does not disqualify you from filing.
  • If you are an undocumented immigrant, you cannot file the FAFSA, but you may be able to file a state or school-specific financial aid form instead.
  • You will need a Social Security number, proof of citizenship or may be able to access non-citizen status, and your tax information to complete the form.

What Citizenship Status Means for FAFSA

The FAFSA requires proof that you are a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national (someone from American Samoa or Swains Island), or an may be able to access non-citizen. may be able to access non-citizens include people with a green card, a visa that allows you to work in the U.S., or a refugee or asylee status. You will need to provide your Social Security number and select your citizenship category when you file.

If you are an undocumented immigrant, you cannot file the FAFSA through the federal system. However, some states and individual colleges offer their own financial aid forms that do not require citizenship. California, New York, Texas, and several other states have state-specific aid programs for undocumented students. Your school's financial aid office can tell you whether your state or school offers an alternative form.

How Income Affects Your FAFSA Status

Having income — whether you earn it yourself or your family earns it — does not prevent you from filing the FAFSA. The form asks about your income and your parents' income (if you are a dependent) because that information is used to calculate how much aid you may receive. Students and families with lower incomes typically receive more aid, but students with higher incomes may still receive some aid depending on the school and the type of aid.

You will need your tax return or tax information from the previous year to fill out the FAFSA. If you did not file taxes, you can still file the FAFSA — you will just report your income directly on the form. The amount you earn does not create a threshold that makes you ineligible; it only changes the amount of aid you may receive.

Enrollment Status and School Requirements

You must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a degree or certificate program at a school that participates in the federal student aid program. Most colleges, universities, and vocational schools participate, but not all do. Before you file, you can search the Federal Student Aid website to confirm that your school is listed as a participant.

You do not need to be enrolled full-time. Part-time students can file the FAFSA, though the amount of aid you receive may be different. You also do not need to have been accepted yet — many students file the FAFSA in the fall or winter before they have heard back from schools. When you file, you will list the schools you are considering, and they will receive your information once you are admitted.

Special Circumstances That Affect Your FAFSA

Certain situations change how you fill out the FAFSA or what information you need to provide. If you are an independent student (not claimed as a dependent on your parents' taxes and not living with them), you will only report your own income and assets, not your parents'. If you are a dependent student, you will report your parents' information as well.

If your parents are divorced or separated, you will report information for the parent you live with most of the time, or the parent who claims you as a dependent. If you are in foster care, have been a ward of the court, or are homeless, you may be considered independent for FAFSA purposes even if you are under 24. If you are a veteran or on active duty in the military, you may also be considered independent. These situations require documentation, so contact your school's financial aid office if any explore to you.

Documents and Information You Will Need

Gather these items before you start the FAFSA: your Social Security number, proof of citizenship or may be able to access non-citizen status (your green card, visa, or refugee documentation), your driver's license or state ID, and your tax return or tax information from the previous year. If you are a dependent student, you will also need your parents' Social Security numbers and their tax information.

You will also need to create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID, which is a username and password that lets you sign the FAFSA electronically. You can create this on the Federal Student Aid website before you start filling out the form. If you are a dependent student, your parent will need their own FSA ID as well to sign the form.

When to File and important date

The FAFSA opens on October 1 each year and remains open through June 30 of the following year. However, many schools and states have earlier important date — some as early as December or January. Filing earlier is better because some aid is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and schools may run out of money as the year goes on.

Check with your school and your state to find out their specific important date. Your school's financial aid office can tell you the priority date by which you should file to receive the most aid. Even if you miss your school's important date, you can still file the FAFSA through June 30, though you may receive less aid or no aid at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file the FAFSA if I have a criminal record?

A criminal record does not disqualify you from filing the FAFSA. However, if you have a drug conviction, you may lose may be able to access for federal student aid. The rules depend on whether the conviction was for possession or sale, and whether it was a first or repeat offense. Contact your school's financial aid office to discuss your specific situation.

What if I am not sure whether my school participates in federal aid?

Search the Federal Student Aid website's school search tool by entering your school's name. If it appears in the results, it participates in federal aid programs and you can file the FAFSA. If it does not appear, contact the school directly to ask about alternative financial aid forms they may offer.

Do I have to be a full-time student to file the FAFSA?

No. Part-time students can file the FAFSA. The amount of aid you receive may be less than a full-time student receives, but you are not disqualified based on enrollment status alone.

Can I file the FAFSA if my parents refuse to provide their information?

If you are a dependent student and your parents refuse to provide their information, you cannot complete the FAFSA as a dependent. You may be able to file as an independent student if you meet certain criteria, such as being homeless, in foster care, or a ward of the court. Contact your school's financial aid office to discuss your situation.

What happens if I file the FAFSA but do not attend college?

Filing the FAFSA does not obligate you to attend college or accept any aid. If you decide not to enroll, straightforward do not accept the aid. You can also file the FAFSA for multiple schools and decide later which one to attend.