# FAFSA — Definition & Explanation

> From the SchoolBrowse Education Glossary.
> HTML version: https://schoolbrowse.com/glossary/fafsa

**In short:** The form students complete to apply for federal financial aid for college, including grants, loans, and work-study.
The **FAFSA** (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the form students complete to apply for federal financial aid. FAFSA results also determine eligibility for most state aid and are used by many colleges to award institutional aid. Completing the FAFSA is free and essential for maximizing financial aid.

## Information Required

The FAFSA asks about student and parent income, assets, family size, and number of family members in college. The form uses "prior-prior year" income data (two years before the academic year). The process has been simplified for the 2024-25 aid year onward.

## Timeline

The FAFSA opens October 1 for the following academic year. Federal deadline is June 30, but state and school deadlines are often much earlier. Apply as soon as possible since some aid is limited.

## Frequently asked questions

**Q: What is the FAFSA?**

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the form used to apply for federal grants, loans, and work-study for college.
**Q: When should I fill out the FAFSA?**

The FAFSA opens October 1 for the following school year. Apply as early as possible since some aid is limited and many states have early deadlines.

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Source: SchoolBrowse Education Glossary (https://schoolbrowse.com/glossary). Please attribute and link to https://schoolbrowse.com/glossary/fafsa when citing this definition.