Complete list of FAFSA questions

Applying for federal student aid is one of the most important steps in figuring out how to pay for college. While filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form can be daunting, knowing what information you need ahead of time can help.

Below is a list of all the questions you’ll be asked to answer on the FAFSA. You can use this as a guide to help you gather any documents or information you need before sitting down to complete the form.

100+ questions on the FAFSA

_{Source: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/2019-20-completing-fafsa.pdf}

Need more funds to cover school? Compare private student loans

Bottom line

Compiling all of the information you need before sitting down to fill out the FAFSA can make for a smoother application process. The government recommends submitting the FAFSA as soon as you can, since many states provide aid on a first-come, first-served basis. The federal deadline for the 2019-2020 academic year was June 30, 2020, but check to see if your state has their own deadline as well.

Already sent in your form and want to learn more about how to pay for college? Read our guide to student loans to compare federal versus private loans, interest rates and repayment options.

Who is most likely to be researching FAFSA questions?

Finder data suggests that women aged 18-24 are most likely to be researching this topic.

Frequently asked questions

• Should I answer questions about my parents on the FAFSA?

  According to the Federal Student Aid website, if you answer Yes to either of the dependency questions (52 and 53), then you’re considered independent and not required to answer questions about your parents.

  You might want to anyway, though. Many colleges and states require information about your parents to determine how much aid you qualify for.

• Is there a phone number I can call to get help answering a question on the FAFSA?

  Yes, you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 800-433-3243 for help filling out the FAFSA. Representatives are available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET and weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

• Should I skip questions about my assets on the FAFSA?

  If you, your spouse or your parents meet certain income and tax conditions, you may be able to skip questions related to your assets. However, some states might require you to answer those questions in order to determine eligibility for state aid.

• Should I skip questions about my assets on the FAFSA?

  If you, your spouse or your parents meet certain income and tax conditions, you may be able to skip questions related to your assets. However, some states might require you to answer those questions in order to determine eligibility for state aid.

• Do I need to answer all of these questions every time I renew my FAFSA?

  Yes. However, the FSA saves all of the information you entered the first time around, so you likely won’t need to answer all of these questions over again. You can check out our guide to renewing the FAFSA to find out what details you might need to update.

Written by

Ezra Wolfgang

Graduate publisher

Ezra Wolfgang was a video producer at Finder, helping people compare providers to choose the best for their needs. Prior to joining Finder, Ezra interned on the assignment desk at ABC News in New York, where he helped find, develop and write breaking news stories. Ezra earned a BA in media studies from Hunter College, taking a healthy dose of courses in film and documentary production, print and digital reporting and studio television. In his spare time, Ezra goes on the occasional run, takes photos, writes scripts and shoots his own tiny, short films. See full bio