FAFSA Application Information & Resources

A contributor is anyone who is required to provide information on the student’s FAFSA form (e.g. the student, student’s spouse, biological or adoptive parent, or the parent’s spouse (stepparent)). All contributors must provide consent and approval for federal tax information (FTI), and also sign the FAFSA form.

Video: Who is a Contributor on the FAFSA Form

All FAFSA contributors (student, parents, spouse, etc.) will need an FSA ID. Please view the video below for more information on how to create an FSA ID.

Video: How to Create an Account and Username (FSA ID) for StudentAid.gov

The FAFSA form will ask several questions that will determine if a student is dependent or independent for federal student aid purposes. Dependent students must report both their own information and their parent’s information. Independent students will need to report their own information and their spouse’s, if they are married.

Click here to help determine your dependency status on the FAFSA form.

Dependent students whose parents are divorced or separated will need to have their primary or custodial parent (and that parent’s spouse, if applicable) provide their information on the FAFSA. The primary or custodial parent is defined as the parent who provides the greater portion of the student’s financial support in the past 12 months.

Still not sure whose information to include on the FAFSA? Click on this link for clear direction on who counts as a parent on the FAFSA form.

Federal Tax Information (FTI) will be transferred from the IRS into your FAFSA via the Financial Aid Direct Data Exchange. All contributors must provide consent and approval for this transfer of FTI (regardless of whether they filed taxes, have a social security number, or filed taxes outside the US).

The FAFSA Submission Summary provides a summary of the data that was input on the FAFSA form. Log into your account at studentaid.gov to access your FAFSA Submission Summary.

Click here to learn more about the FAFSA Submission Summary.

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is the number used to determine a student’s eligibility for need-based aid.  The SAI is calculated using the information that the student and contributors provide on the FAFSA form.  The minimum SAI is a negative number (-1500).