09/28/2026
If you've ever started filling out the FAFSA and gotten lost in the process, you’re not alone.
The form can get confusing fast—especially when figuring out what information you need, tracking down tax information, and trying to make sense of financial aid terminology.
Many start the application and never finish. In fact, 56%* of families who submitted the FAFSA say they needed help completing it.
FAFSA opens Oct. 1, and the sooner you file the better—both because it can take some figuring out and because some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. And some college deadlines come earlier than the federal one.
Read the article for the lowdown on what you need to know. If you get stuck, visit https://ow.ly/e6RY50ZShjM for FAFSA guidance or contact your school's financial aid office for help.
Read the article → https://ow.ly/sRPo50ZShpC
*Source: Sallie Mae/Ipsos, How America Pays for College, 2026