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File Early to Save Time, Money & Stress
Most financial aid is awarded after completing a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Understanding the FAFSA and its importance can be a huge help to you and your family. Use this page to file your FAFSA early and plan your financial future as best as you can.
The 2026-27 FAFSA Form is now available!
#fileFAFSAearly

News & Updates
The 2026–27 FAFSA form is now available.
FAFSA documents and websites become available throughout the application cycle. Keep up with anticipated availability .
2026-27 FAFSA Updates
The 2026-2027 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) will feature a new financial aid index, the Student Aid Index (SAI), replacing the previous Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and allowing for negative SAI values. Key changes also include real-time identity verification for users with an SSN, a streamlined process for inviting contributors, and updated guidelines for reporting assets. The form uses 2024 tax information and is now available. The US Department of Education released a suite of resources to assist students and families in completing and submitting the FAFSA form:
- A new, stand-alone tool to help students and families determine who will need to provide contributor information on the 2025–26 FAFSA form prior to starting the application.
- A new resource that explains what families and partners need to know about creating a StudentAid.gov account.
- Updated tips for preparing to complete and submit the FAFSA form. This resource will also be linked from the StudentAid.gov dashboard to promote easier access for students and their required contributor(s).
- The tool provides an estimate of the 2025–26 Student Aid Index and Federal Pell Grant eligibility calculation.
- Updated videos to help students and families understand the importance of the FAFSA form, who is a FAFSA contributor, and what happens after submitting the form.

Why File Early?
Filing early creates time for better understanding what types of aid work best for you, how to apply and removes the panic of trying to remember last-minute deadlines.
Get More
Some financial aid funds are limited and may be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Plan Ahead
Knowing your aid package sooner gives you more time to plan, adjust, and apply for other funding sources if needed.
Get Hired
You will know sooner if you have Federal Work Study, impacting your job hunt or employment situation.
Less Stress
A simplified FAFSA means fewer questions and an enhanced data sharing exchange with the IRS.
FAFSA Mythbusters
#1
I should wait until I’m accepted to a college before I fill out the FAFSA form.
Don’t wait. You can start now! As a matter of fact, you can start as early as your senior year of college or in December of the year before you plan to enroll. You must list at least one college to receive your information. You should list all schools you’re considering even if you haven’t applied or been accepted yet.
#2
There is an income cutoff to file FAFSA.
There is no income cut-off for some types of federal student aid and eligibility is based on other factors beyond income. Also, states and schools use FAFSA information to give specific aid programs and some academic merit scholarships. You won’t know what you may be eligible for unless you file FAFSA.
#3
I support myself so I don’t have to include parent information on the FAFSA form.
Even if you support yourself and file your own tax returns, you may still be considered a dependent student for federal aid purposes. You will be asked a series of questions to determine if your parents’ information is required for the FAFSA form.
#4
I did the FAFSA form last year, so I don’t need to complete it again.
The financial aid forms should be filed each year that you are considering enrolling in college. It gets easier the next time because certain information will be pre-populated when completing the FAFSA or NYS Aid Application for the second time.
FAQ
Your parents’ or spouse’s citizenship or immigration status doesn’t affect your eligibility for federal student aid. In fact, the FAFSA form doesn’t even ask about your parents’ or spouse’s status.
You will need information from both parents if they still live together, even if they are considered divorced or separated by law. If your parents do not live together, the parent who provides greater financial support is the one who will be required to provide their financial information on the FAFSA.
If you do not meet the criteria to be considered independent from your parents for the FAFSA form, you must be 24 years old as of December 31 of the award year for the FAFSA completed.
If you are considered a dependent student by the FAFSA guidelines, you must include both yours and your parent(s).
Yes, when you complete the FASFA form, you will be asked if you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and “unaccompanied” meaning you are not with your parents. Answer the question with “Yes,” and continue the application.
If you or your family experienced significant changes to your financial situation (such as loss of employment or pay cuts), or other special circumstances (such as tuition expenses at an elementary or secondary school or high unreimbursed medical or dental expenses), complete and submit the FAFSA form as instructed. Once you submit the form, discuss your special circumstances with the financial aid office at the college(s) you applied to or plan to attend.
If your greencard has expired, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your status as legal permanent resident has expired. You may just need to renew your card. Do so as early as possible. If your permanent residence status has expired, then are you are no longer eligible for federal student aid. If your documentation shows that you are a Cuban-Haitian Entrant, you are still an eligible noncitizen even if the expiration date has passed.
For most federal student loans, a credit check or a co-signer are not required. Students must be enrolled at least ½ time, at a minimum of 6 college credits. Direct PLUS loans are the exception.
New York State has a number of financial aid programs for students such as the NYS TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) Grant and the NYS Excelsior Scholarship. Students are encouraged to apply at . Students who do not qualify to submit the standard TAP application should complete the Senator Jose Peralta New York State DREAM Act application.
Once you’ve filled out your FAFSA form and been accepted to a college you’ll receive a financial aid offer. This offer outlines all your financial aid options, including Federal Work-Study if your school has determined you’re eligible. When the financial aid offer does not have Federal Work-Study, the student can contact their financial aid office for consideration.
Financial aid can include the Federal Pell and other grants that don’t need to be paid back, work-study funds where you work part-time to earn a paycheck to assist with college costs, or low-interest loans that you borrow and repay when you graduate or if you enroll less than 6 credits before graduating.
You and your contributors must provide consent and approval to have your/their federal tax information transferred directly from the IRS into your FAFSA form. Providing consent and approval is mandatory, even if you or your contributors don’t have a social security number, didn’t file a tax return, or filed a tax return outside the U.S.
Yes, there are federal aid programs available to students in graduate school. While Federal Grants are not available for graduate students, some graduate programs may require the FAFSA if offering need-based institutional scholarships or grants.
This document was published by the U.S. Department of Education on January 17, 2025. It provides answers to common questions about the use of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) collected on the FAFSA.
Need help with FAFSA?

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FAFSA Links
Videos
CUNY Links
- CUNY Codes: When filling out your FAFSA and TAP application you will be asked to supply a college code.
- CUNY Financial Aid Calculator
- Student Forms tool: Students may now verify their FAFSA documents electronically.
- Pell Grant Info
- TAP Info
- Undocumented and Immigrant Student Programs

