Because financial and family circumstances can change from year to year, you must complete and submit your FAFSA for each academic year you wish to receive financial aid.
The FAFSA renewal is for students who have already completed the FAFSA the previous year. If you’re a returning student, you have the option of renewing your FAFSA or completing a new FAFSA if your circumstances have changed significantly.
Should I renew or start a new FAFSA?
Filing a renewal takes less time than it would normally take to answer all questions on the FAFSA, as much of it is already pre-populated for your convenience.
How do I renew my FAFSA online? #
Login as returning user #
To renew your FAFSA, go to StudentAid.gov and login as a returning user. If you submitted a FAFSA last year and you’re eligible for renewal, you have the option to choose between FAFSA RENEWAL or START NEW FAFSA.
There is no renewal FAFSA option if you completed your application on paper the year before; the pre-filled answers will only be available for those who previously submitted an application online.
Click on FAFSA RENEWAL #
Use your FSA ID to access your original FAFSA, which already has your answers pre-filled using the data from the previous year.
Update your information #
Here you need to update only the information that has changed since last year — income, assets, taxes. Be sure to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically update your most recent tax information.
Note that now you’re able to renew your FAFSA using tax information two years prior as early as October 1, rather than beginning on January 1.
This will make it possible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool early in the renewal process.
Sign and submit #
Sign the Renewal FAFSA with your FSA ID. After you submit the Renewal FAFSA, print a copy of the Confirmation Page.
All returning students are encouraged to file a renewal as early as possible after October 1. That’s because some types of financial aid are first-come, first served.
If you need help, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) for answers to questions about filing the FAFSA Renewal.
Keep in mind that Renewal FAFSA is available solely for your convenience, if you prefer to start fresh with a new FAFSA, you are free to do so.