91´ÎÔª

FAFSA Frequently Asked Questions

• Should I fill out the FAFSA?

  Yes! If you would like to be considered for any federal aid (Pell Grant, Direct loans, Work-Study and more) or UM need-based aid, you MUST complete the FAFSA.

• What’s an FSA ID?

  The FSA ID is a username and password combination you use to log in to U.S. Department of Education online systems. Students and all contributors must register for a FSA ID.

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• When should I create a FSA ID?

  You must create an FSA ID at least three days before you file your FAFSA. Students and all contributors must register for an FSA ID. 

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• What’s a FAFSA contributor?

  A contributor is anyone providing information on a FAFSA, including: 

  • the student 
  • the student’s spouse (if married) 
  • the biological or adoptive parent(s) 
  • the spouse of a remarried parent who is on the FAFSA (step-parent) 

  Important: Contributors must complete within 45 days

  Contributors have 45 days to complete their portion of the FAFSA after the student initiates an invite. If the contributor does not complete their portion after 45 days, the student’s FAFSA information will be lost.

• When can I file my FAFSA?

  The 2026-2027 FAFSA is available starting Oct. 1, 2026. .

• Do I need to have my parents’ tax information?

  Your and your contributor’s federal tax information will be transferred from the IRS into your FAFSA form.

  All contributors must provide consent and approval for the U.S. Department of Education to:
  

  • disclose their personally identifiable information provided on the FAFSA form to the IRS to match their information with their tax information;
  • obtain their federal tax information from the IRS and include it with the FAFSA form;
  • use their federal tax information to determine your  and Federal Pell Grant eligibility;
  • share their federal tax information with colleges, career/trade schools, and state higher education agencies for use in awarding and administering financial aid; and
  • reuse their federal tax information on another FAFSA applicant's form (e.g., if a parent has multiple dependent students or for a parent's own FAFSA form as an aid applicant).

  Note: Even if contributors don't have an SSN, didn't file taxes, or filed taxes outside the U.S., they will still need to provide consent and approval.

  Important: If a required contributor doesn't provide consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred into the FAFSA form, you (the student) will not be eligible for federal student aid -even if the contributor manually enters tax information into the FAFSA form.

• Does my FAFSA require parent information?

  Dependency status on the FAFSA is not based on whether a student is self-supporting. Rather, it is assumed that until a student turns 24 years old they are a dependent of their parents and therefore must supply parental information, unless they meet one of the "Personal Circumstances Questions." To view this list of questions visit:

• What is the FAFSA deadline?

  UM’s priority deadline for receipt of the FAFSA is Dec. 1. For best results, file by this date or as soon as possible after this date has passed.

• What is UM's FAFSA code?

  The FAFSA Code for the 91´ÎÔª is 002536. The results of your FAFSA or the Student Aid Index (SAI) will be sent to each school you list on the FAFSA.

• I'm having trouble with my FAFSA. Where can I get help? 

  Refer to these Federal Student Aid videos to review common issues that can arise when filling out the FAFSA.

   

   

   

    

   

   

  Still need help? 

  UM's Student Financial Services will work with you if you need help filling out the FAFSA. Contact us to make an appointment.

• How will I know you got my FAFSA?

  New students: Once we have received your FAFSA, it on your Admitted Student Checklist and we will send you an email.

  Current students: Once we have received your FAFSA, it will appear in GrizPortal. Log into GrizPortal, navigate to "Open Student Dashboard" on the Student Self-Service card, and select "Your Financial Aid" from under the "Financial Aid" section of Student Services.

• What should I expect after submitting my FAFSA?

  To check the status of your FAFSA, follow these steps:

  Log into your StudentAid.gov account and find “My Activity” on your dashboard.

  Your application will be designated one of the following statuses:

  • Draft: Your section of the FAFSA form is incomplete. 
  • In Progress: You provided your consent, approval and signature to your section of the FAFSA form, but it has not been submitted yet.
  • In Review: Your FAFSA form was submitted but has not been processed yet.
  • Action Required: You are missing your consent and approval or signature, or the FAFSA form was processed but a correction is required.
  • Processed: Your application was processed successfully. No further action is needed. 
  • Closed: Your FAFSA form was never submitted and can no longer be submitted because the federal FAFSA deadline passed.

  for instructions on how to keep your FAFSA moving forward.

   

   

• How do I request help with my FAFSA?

  UM's Student Financial Services will work with you to ensure you have access to the resources you need to pay for college. If you need help filling out the FAFSA, contact Student Financial Services to schedule an appointment.

• Should I pay to file my FAFSA?

  You should NEVER pay money to file your FAFSA. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. There are several sites that promise to help you fill out your FAFSA, after you pay $80 or more in fees. While these companies might walk you through the FAFSA, there is no reason for you to pay for something that can be done on your own. Also, the FAFSA has recently been shortened so it is quicker to fill out. If you need help completing your FAFSA, contact Student Financial Services and we will help you for free.

  to avoid FAFSA scams.