FAFSA Tips and Updates

Updated: November 21, 2024

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an application used to become eligible for, and receive, federal financial aid. This includes grants, scholarships, loans, and federal work-study opportunities. If you would like to be considered for the maximum amount of aid, you must fill out and submit this application every year.

The 2025-2026 FAFSA is now open! All students who will be attending Baylor in Fall 2025, Spring 2026, or Summer 2026 should complete the application.

Our goal at Baylor One Stop is to make the financial aid process as clear as possible and set you up for success at Baylor. We have created this page to keep you consistently updated with the latest information about the FAFSA and timelines for your financial aid information. We will also send emails with major updates and reminders.

2025-2026 FAFSA Step-by-Step Guide

Incoming Freshmen or Transfers Starting in Fall 2025

1. Complete the 2025-2026 CSS Profile as soon as it opens on October 1.
2. You and your parents who assisted you with the CSS Profile, if you are dependent, should create your own FSA ID on the studentaid.gov.
   1. Read this page to determine if you are dependent or not: https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/dependency Note: tax dependency is not the same as dependency for FAFSA purposes.
   2. If you are a dependent and are not sure which of your parents needs to contribute to your FAFSA form, use this Parent Wizard Tool. 
3. Complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA.
4. Watch your email closely for updates from Baylor Admissions and One Stop.
5. Bookmark this page and refer back often for updates.

All Graduate Students and Undergraduate Students Who Will Return to Baylor in Fall 2025

1. If you do not have an FSA ID already, please create one at studentaid.gov.
2. Your parents (if dependent) or spouse (if independent) should also create FSA IDs at studentaid.gov.
   1. Read this page to determine if you are dependent or not: https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/dependency Note: tax dependency is not the same as dependency for FAFSA purposes.
   2. If you are a dependent and are not sure which of your parents needs to contribute to your FAFSA form, use this Parent Wizard Tool. 
3. Complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA.
4. Watch your Baylor email and Financial Aid Dashboard in BearWeb closely for updates from Baylor One Stop.
5. Bookmark this page and refer often for updates.

2024-2025 FAFSA Step-by-Step Guide

The 2024-2025 FAFSA is currently open and available for those seeking aid between Fall 2024 through Summer 2025. 

1. Create your FSA ID.
   • Visit studentaid.gov to get started now! 
   • If you are a first time FAFSA-filer or have to make changes to your FSA account (e.g. name change), you should create/update your FSA ID ahead of when you plan to fill out the FAFSA form, as there can be a 1-3 day processing delay.
2. See if your parent(s) or spouse will need to be contributors.  
   • Visit studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/dependency to determine your contributors. 
3. Have all contributors create their FSA IDs.  
   • All contributors must have an FSA ID to complete their section of the FAFSA. 
   • If your contributors do not have an FSA ID or need to make a change to their account, they should create/update their FSA ID ahead of when they plan to complete their section of the FAFSA, as there can be a 1-3 processing delay.
4. Complete the FAFSA .  
   • The priority date has already passed but, you should still complete the FAFSA as soon as possible to be considered for financial aid opportunities such as grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study. 
5. Monitor your email and BearWeb closely for notices of unsatisfied requirements. 
   • Unsatisfied requirements are listed in the Financial Aid Dashboard Home tab. 
   • Read the instructions carefully and submit all required documents as soon as possible. These documents are required to avoid delays in processing your financial aid offer.

FAFSA Tips

Trouble submitting the 2024-2025 FAFSA? 

Many students and family have had technical difficulties when trying to complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA. The Department of Education is aware of these issues, and they are being worked on. You can see a list of ongoing and resolved FAFSA issues on this webpage. Some issues may have resolutions or workarounds, while others may not be resolved yet. Check back often to see if the issue you are experiencing has been resolved or if a workaround has been added.

If you have experienced the issue with the FAFSA that prevents students with at least one contributor who does not have a Social Security Number from completing the form. Please refer to the Federal Student Aid’s instructions on this issue: How to Submit the 2024-25 FAFSA Form if Your Contributor Doesn’t Have an SSN.

Use your Official Documents

A common mistake when completing the FAFSA is inputting wrong information such as your name, Social Security Number (SSN), and Date of Birth.  We recommend you refer to your official documents to make sure the data you enter is accurate. Accurate data is important because any mistakes can slow down the processing of your application, require the submission of your documents to our office for verification, and impact when you receive your financial aid offer.

Contributor Information

All students, parents (for dependent students), and spouses (for married students) who enter information on the FAFSA are identified as "Contributors." Students will need their contributors' names, SSNs, Date of Birth, and email addresses to invite them to complete their portion of the FAFSA. All contributors will need to have their own FSA ID and will be required to enter their relevant information into the student's FAFSA. 

Contributors are required to give consent to have the Direct Data Exchange (DDX) transfer their federal tax information (FTI) from the IRS. Consent authorizes direct access and disclosure of IRS data and allows for disclosure of that information to state entities, institutions and scholarship organizations. If any contributor refuses to give consent, the student will be ineligible for federal, state, and institutional need-based financial aid.

Which Parent Do I Report on the FAFSA?

When reporting your parent(s) and their status on the FAFSA, it is important to accurately identify their relation to you and level of financial support they provide. Use the Parent Wizard Tool to determine who should be a contributor on your FAFSA.

Dependency Status

Your answers to questions on the FAFSA form determine whether you are considered a dependent or independent student. This information is used to determine a student’s maximum eligibility for federal student aid, so please review each question carefully before moving on. Visit studentaid.gov for more information on dependency status.

Signatures

All contributors must provide their electronic signature to confirm their consent of the import of their FTI from the IRS to the FAFSA. The provided information will be used to determine financial aid eligibility for the student.