How to Make FAFSA Corrections and Updates
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
You can make corrections or updates to the information you provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, even after it is processed. Here’s how:
Select “Make FAFSA Corrections” once you’re redirected to the “My FAFSA” page.
Create a save key, change your information and then submit.
Make updates if:
You need more financial aid.
To correct a mistake.
To add or delete a school.
You need more financial aid
The FAFSA is key to accessing financial aid such as Pell grants, work-study programs and federal student loans. If the financial aid award letter you received isn’t what you expected or your family’s financial situation has changed, update the FAFSA to reflect it. Making these changes can help you get more financial aid.
» MORE: Best private student loans
In addition to updating the FAFSA, contact your financial aid office to inquire about submitting a financial aid appeal letter.
Correct a mistake or add new information
If you made a mistake on the form — for example, leaving a question blank — you can correct it. There are also a few instances where you need to update your information:
If you used the wrong Social Security number. The federal student aid office recommends you submit a new online FAFSA, which will change the date your FAFSA was processed. If you’ve passed your school’s priority deadline, ask the financial aid office at a school that received your FAFSA information (the schools will be listed on your Student Aid Report) to change your number for you.
Any changes to your dependency status (if you are expecting a child, for example) except a change in your marital status. Contact your school about what to do if your marital status changes.
If you are selected for FAFSA verification, you must update your form if there is a change in the number of family members in your or your parents’ household or if there is a change in the number of people from your household in college.
» MORE: 2021-22 FAFSA Checklist
It’s also a good idea to update the FAFSA if you have a new mailing address, email address or other change in contact information.
To update tax information, see the “how to” section below.
Add a new school or delete one
When you submit the FAFSA you can list 10 schools at a time.
If you want to add different schools, you can replace schools with new ones after the fact. But if you make additional changes afterward, the removed schools won’t receive any updates.
Here is a list of the Federal School Codes available.
When to make changes to the FAFSA form
You can make updates to the FAFSA up to the deadline — that’s June 30 of the year you need aid for. For 2021-22, all changes to the FAFSA must be completed by June 30, 2022.
» MORE: Your FAFSA questions answered
You can make updates online, or you can write in corrections or updates on your paper Student Aid Report, the form you received after completing the FAFSA that lists your expected family contribution.
If you run into difficulty, contact your financial aid office, which may be able to make changes for you.
How to update tax information on the FAFSA
If you pulled your tax information from the prior-prior year, you’ll need to update after you file. Within “My FAFSA,” navigate to the “Financial Information” section. Change your answer from “Will file” to “Already completed.”
You’ll receive a set of steps to complete. If you’re eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, you’ll see a “Link to IRS” button. Otherwise, you’ll need to manually enter the data from your completed tax return. Make sure to enter all information to match your tax return.
If you are eligible to Link to IRS, you’ll need to log in with the IRS to retrieve your information. Once you check off the box to “Transfer My Tax Information into the FAFSA,” click “Transfer Now” to complete the transfer.
Once you’re back in the FAFSA, make sure the information was transferred properly, but don’t make any changes to what appears. Then you can sign and resubmit your FAFSA.
