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FAFSA information

Students can file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in December at FAFSA.gov.

For students enrolling in the fall of 2025, families will report income information from 2023.

Items to consider in preparation for the FAFSA

  • The student and at least one parent must register to receive an FSA ID. Although families may apply for an FSA ID at the time they complete the FAFSA, Augustana encourages applying earlier. The FSA ID is used to electronically sign the FAFSA.
  • Augustana's preferred filing date is no later than Jan. 15 for FAFSA completion. The college recommends students complete the FAFSA as soon as possible.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FAFSA and why is it important for college-bound high school students?

It’s the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and it’s necessary to fill it out to get federal, state, and institutional need-based financial aid.

How long does it take to complete the FAFSA? Do students do it on their own or with parents?

It can take about an hour for a family to complete the FAFSA for the first time. Students and parents log in to studentaid.gov separately to complete their own sections of the form. Students will need their parents' date of birth, email, and Social Security Number (if they have one) to invite their parents to fill out the parent section of the FAFSA. 

When should a student complete the FAFSA?

High school seniors can begin filing their FAFSA in December, when the application is launched on studentaid.gov. To be notified when the FAFSA is available, create your username and password on studentaid.gov now, and opt in for text alerts. Students will need to submit the FAFSA for every year they attend college. 

How can families get help filing the FAFSA?

A good source of online help is studentaid.gov. Start by clicking the green owl in the bottom right of the screen. It is a chat bot that will help you find the answers to your questions.

Augustana’s financial aid office is happy to help families through this process and answer questions as needed. Just email financialaid@augustana.edu.

I've heard there are significant changes to FAFSA this year. What should people be aware of?

Yes, there were big changes this year. The form is shorter now, and other changes were made to make filing easier for students and families. The new process will help most students be eligible for more aid. There are a lot of changes, but Augustana’s financial aid and admissions staff are happy to help families through the application process.