Top Mistakes to Avoid on Your 2025–26 FAFSA Application

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form is very important for financial aid. This is how an applicant can obtain financial opportunities such as grants, scholarships, federal loans, and work-study. The deadline for the FAFSA for the 2025–26 academic session will be open starting from December 1, 2024, and since it requires careful filling and timely submission for full financial aid benefits, completing the form soon is essential.

However, many otherwise bright students and their parents make some avoidable mistakes while applying, which delay their process or cause application denials. Let us discuss some common mistakes and how to avert them.

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Not filling out the FAFSA form at all

Many students believe that they will not be offered any form of financial aid, and thus do not fill out the FAFSA. It is a big misconception.

How to avoid it:

• Fill out the FAFSA under all circumstances, irrespective of what your family’s income is.
• The FAFSA is also required for certain scholarships and private loans.
• The sooner you apply, the more aid you are likely to get.

Missing the deadline

The FAFSA will be available after December 1, 2024, the federal deadline being June 30, 2026. However, state and college deadlines may be way ahead of this!

How to avoid it:

• Apply early, preferably, in December or January.
• Find out your state and college deadlines on studentaid.gov.
• Set a reminder.

Delay in creating FSA ID

An FSA ID is a username and password used to electronically sign the FAFSA. The student and the parent each must create their separate FSA IDs.

How to avoid:

• Create an FSA ID at least one week ahead by visiting studentaid.gov.
• Remember to safely secure this ID in case of any difficulty to log in.

Filling in the personal information incorrectly

Any little mistake whatsoever, like the middle name being spelled incorrectly or an erroneous use of some Social Security number or partial name or nickname, will destroy one’s application.

How to avoid it:

• Fill it with your name according to your Social Security card.
• Check your date of birth, address, and SSN very carefully.

Not using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool

You can use your IRS data retrieval tool to import your tax return for 2023 right into your FAFSA.

How to avoid it:

• Use the IRS data retrieval tool whenever prompted.

If you cannot access the data retrieval tool, enter the correct information directly from your Form 1040 for 2023.

Leaving questions blank

If any question is left blank leading for an incomplete FAFSA, then the questioned page of the FAFSA might be treated as blank.

How to avoid it:

• Thoroughly check each section.

If a question does not apply, enter “0” or “Not Applicable.”

Providing incorrect tax and income information

This can be different years or calculation errors.

How to avoid it:

• Use 2023 tax data for 2025-26 FAFSA.
• Use the IRS DRT or fill out the 2023 Form 1040 properly.

Listing fewer colleges

You may list up to 20 colleges on your FAFSA. List every college you may attend regardless of your current thoughts.

How to avoid it:

• List every school you may be considering.
• You can always update your FAFSA later.

Not Signing Their Application

• Sometimes students or parents just forget to electronically sign and therefore the application is left incomplete.
• What can be done to prevent such occurrences:
• Before submitting the FAFSA, make sure you confirm your signature with your FSA ID.

If a parent’s signature is needed, they should also sign with their FSA ID.

Mistaking Myths Surrounding FAFSA

Many a student believes that if their parents have a high income, no aid can be expected or that the FAFSA is only for loans.

Fact: Most scholarships and work-study programs require the FAFSA.

It is not that hard to fill out the FAFSA form, just have to remember to consider each step properly.

Conclusion

Filing FAFSA is an important step on the way to your financial aid for higher studies. By avoiding the above-mentioned mistakes, one could ensure timely and correct submission of one’s application increasing chances of getting aid. Therefore, do not sit back; start working on your FAFSA form by December 1, 2024, and make the college journey a little easier.

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