Can I delete my FAFSA?

Whether you can delete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) depends on where you are in the process. If you’ve started your application but haven’t submitted it yet, you can delete it. However, if it was already sent in, you can’t delete your FAFSA.

It’s essential that you put the correct information on your FAFSA form, as it could affect your ability to receive federal loans, grants, and state aid, as well as financial aid offers from your colleges. Below, we’ve outlined how you can delete your FAFSA and what you should do if you’ve made a mistake on your submission.

Can I delete my FAFSA?

You can only delete your FAFSA if you haven’t submitted it yet. If your FAFSA was already submitted or processed, you cannot delete it.

You can view your form’s status on the “My Activity” page. Here’s a quick overview of what each status means:

• Draft: You’ve started your FAFSA but at least one section is incomplete. You can delete the form.
• In Progress: You’ve signed a completed FAFSA but haven’t submitted it yet. You can delete the form.
• In Review You’ve submitted your form, and you can no longer delete it.
• Processed: After one to three days, your submitted online form should show the FSA has processed your FAFSA. You can’t delete it, but you can make edits.
• Action Required: You need to submit additional information to the FSA or your college.
• Closed: The FAFSA deadline has passed and you never submitted your form.

How to delete my FAFSA

To delete your FAFSA, log into your Federal Student Aid (FSA) account and choose the form you’d like to delete under “My Activity.” Next to the “Actions” menu, click the three dots and select “Delete FAFSA Form.”

Can I edit my FAFSA?

Yes, you can edit your FAFSA application if you notice errors or incorrect information. However, you cannot edit your submission if it’s in the “In Review” status. You’ll have to wait until it’s processed, which is typically one to three days for online forms and seven to 10 days for paper forms.

Common reasons to edit your FAFSA include:

• Mistakes: If you’ve made a typo or other error, you can make corrections online or on your paper FAFSA Submission Summary. The FSA also now allows you to fix any Social Security number (SSN) typos.
• Action required: If your FAFSA shows an “Action Required” status, submit the necessary paperwork, signatures, or details as soon as possible. You won’t be eligible for federal student aid if your FAFSA is missing signatures or consent forms from contributors, such as your parents.
• Add or delete schools: You can send your FAFSA to up to 20 schools at a time. If you delete a school to make room for another, the school won’t lose access to your FAFSA. However, they won’t see any future changes you make unless you re-add them.

You generally can’t update your FAFSA submission to reflect any recent financial changes. The form uses the previous year’s financial information, not the current year’s. If your financial situation has changed, reach out to your colleges’ financial aid offices. They often work with students to navigate sudden hardships.

Can I disable my FSA ID?

While you can’t delete your submitted application or your FSA ID, you can disable your existing FSA ID. This feature is helpful if you’re worried about someone gaining access to your account or if you don’t intend to use the account in the near future.

You can disable your FSA ID by logging into your account and changing your FSA ID status. You can reactivate your account simply by logging in at a later date.

In most cases, students won’t need to delete their FAFSA. It’s required to apply for federal student aid, and many colleges and universities also use the information to determine financial aid packages, including merit scholarships. If you’re completing your FAFSA, read over your entire form before you submit it to catch errors. If you happen to miss any, you can always log into your FSA account to make corrections. Keep an eye on its status – you’ll need to send in additional information if it says “Action Required.”

Once you've submitted your FAFSA, you should start getting financial aid offers with your acceptance letters. However, these offers don’t follow a single format, making them difficult to understand and compare. Try Citizens college planning platform, College Raptor’s Financial Aid Offer Comparison tool to help you cut through the confusion and find out which school is giving you the best offer.