What Happens After I Submit my FAFSA?

Congratulations!

You’ve finished filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid! Now what? First, the information in your FAFSA is submitted to the Department of Education’s Central Processing System.

That’s where it all begins.

After your FAFSA form is submitted and processed, your FAFSA Submission Summary  will be available on the dashboard of your StudentAid.gov account, usually within one to three days. ¹

The FAFSA Submission Summary replaced the Student Aid Report beginning in the 2024–25 award year. A change resulting from the FAFSA Simplification Act. ²

The FAFSA Submission Summary, formerly known as the Student Aid Report (SAR), provides an overview of:

1. your eligibility for financial aid,
2. the schools you listed on your FAFSA,
3. any corrections or updates that may be required, and
4. the next steps to take as you prepare to receive your aid offer letters.

If the FAFSA form is complete and processed successfully, a Student Aid Index (SAI) will be included on your FAFSA Submission Summary.

Using the SAI, the schools you listed will calculate your financial need and assemble a financial aid package. If awarded, you will receive a financial aid offer letter detailing the aid you’re eligible for.

How long does it take to get my financial aid award letter?

Most schools send out financial aid award letter, as well as an offer of admission, one to three months after receiving your FAFSA information, usually in late March to early April but can vary from school to school.

Each school’s award letter is phrased differently, but you should expect to see what type of aid and how much of it you will be getting if you decide to accept the admission.

Depending on the types and amount of financial aid for which you are eligible, your package may include a mixture of grants, scholarships, work-study programs, college-sponsored aid, and federal loans.

What happens if I’m selected for FAFSA verification?

In some random cases, your school or Federal Student Aid may ask you to verify the accuracy of the information you provide on the FAFSA. If you were selected for verification, you will find an asterisk (*) next to your SAI and instructions on what you need to do.

Is FAFSA Submission Summary the same as Student Aid Report?

The FAFSA Submission Summary is the new name for your Student Aid Report (SAR). It is essentially a summary of what information you provided when you filed the FAFSA, along with estimates of your eligibility for federal financial aid.