Can I edit my FAFSA after submitting?

Yes, in most cases, you can edit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form after you submit it. Students and parents can make corrections or update information directly through their FSA account. A correct FAFSA can make the difference for your financial aid packages and student loan debt after graduation. Here’s a quick rundown of when you can edit your FAFSA – and how.

Why should your FAFSA be correct?

The federal government uses the information you provide on the FAFSA to determine your Student Aid Index (SAI). Colleges and state governments then use the SAI to decide financial aid offers. If your FAFSA is incorrect or out of date, you might not receive the correct financial aid package for your needs.

In addition, if your contact information is wrong on your Federal Student Aid (FSA) account, you could miss out on important emails, letters, and reminders necessary to receive financial aid.

Deliberately providing wrong information or failing to update details can have serious consequences. At the very least, you'll have to pay any financial aid back that you received under false pretenses. In a worst-case scenario, you can face criminal charges of fraud. According to the Higher Education Act of 1965, any student caught lying on the FAFSA could face up to five years in prison and a $20,000 fine, on top of paying back the financial aid.

Can I edit the FAFSA after I submit it?

Yes, you can edit the FAFSA after submission, but you have to wait until your form is processed. Online forms take 1 to 3 days, while paper forms take 7 to 10 days.

Common reasons you’d update your form include:

• You made a typo or other mistake. If you notice any errors, make the corrections right away. The FAFSA can pull income and tax information straight from the IRS, so there’s a lower chance for mistakes.
• Your form says “Action Required.” An “Action Required” status means you have to add additional or missing information, such as a missing signature.
• You want to add or remove schools. Your FAFSA can include up to 20 schools at a time. If you want to add more than 20, you can remove schools that have already received your form. However, these colleges won’t receive any FAFSA updates you make unless you add them again.

You can also edit your contact and personal information, but these adjustments are generally done through your account settings rather than the FAFSA form.

Editing restrictions

The FAFSA uses information from the previous year’s taxes. For example, the 2025-26 FAFSA uses 2024 data. As a result, you can’t edit or update anything that was correct in 2024, but changed in 2025, such as marital status, savings, dependency status, and assets. You’ll use this information when you complete the 2026-27 form, which uses 2025 data.

However, if your financial situation has changed drastically over the past year, you can reach out to your colleges' financial aid departments to explain the situation. Many have policies that account for extraordinary circumstances.

How to update your FAFSA

How you update your FAFSA depends on what you’re updating.

• Digital mistakes: Log into your StudentAid.gov account and navigate to “My Activity.” Under “Student Actions Needed,” select “Start Your Correction” and follow the directions. If you’re updating any information about your parents, they’ll have to re-sign through their own account.
• Paper form errors: Once your FAFSA is processed, you’ll receive a submission summary. You can make changes directly on this document and send it to the address provided.
• Action required: View the submitted FAFSA under the “My Activity” section to identify the required action. You may need to add a missing signature, correct errors, or request contributor approval.
• Add or remove schools: Under the “My Activity” section, select “Add or Remove Schools.” Search for the institution or add or delete its Federal School Code.
• Account and personal information: You can update your username, password, first name, last name, mailing address, phone number, or email by logging in by selecting Settings and navigating to “Personal Information” or “Contact Information.” If you lose access to your email, you can recover your account.
• Social Security number: If your Social Security number (SSN) contains a typo, update it through the “Personal Information” settings. Once it’s verified, go to “Make a Correction” under the “Student Actions Needed” section and edit your FAFSA’s listed SSN.

Always double-check your FAFSA before you hit that submit button. It’ll save you worry – significant errors could affect your financial aid eligibility. Correct any mistakes as soon as possible. If you’re facing extraordinary circumstances or sudden chances in your finances, talk to your school’s financial aid department to discuss your options.

FAFSA is just step one in the financial aid process. From applying for scholarships to exploring loans, visit the Citizens Student Hub to learn more about all the ways you can help pay for college.