How to Check Your FAFSA Status

Once you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA you're on your way to qualifying for federal student loans, grants and work-study programs, plus potential aid from your state and college.

While waiting to receive your financial aid award packages, check your FAFSA status to ensure your application was processed correctly. You can check the status of an online FAFSA immediately after you submit it, and a paper FAFSA about seven to 10 days after you mail it in.

1. Log on to FAFSA.gov using your FSA ID.  Tell the system who you are: parent, student or preparer.

2. You’ll see your status on the “My FAFSA” page.

3. Complete and submit your FAFSA if your status indicates that your application is missing information, such as a signature.

4. Follow the directions listed on your “My FAFSA” page to resolve any other issues with your application.

Next steps

The colleges you list on your FAFSA will have access to your application within a few days after you submit the form. However, it may take weeks or months for them to review your application and offer you a financial aid package. If the colleges you applied to have online portals for applicants and accepted students, check there for your financial aid status at each school.

In the meantime, review your FAFSA Submission Summary for errors and correct any mistakes. Your summary includes your Student Aid Index, a measure that colleges use to determine your financial aid package.

» MORE: How to Make FAFSA corrections and updates

Your report may indicate that the university financial aid office has selected you for FAFSA verification, a process used to confirm that the information you provided on your FAFSA is correct.

Don’t worry if you’re selected; it doesn’t mean you did something wrong. Some schools choose students randomly, and some schools verify all applicants. If you’re selected, the school will ask you to submit extra paperwork that they can use to verify your application.