Be sure to submit a FAFSA each year to be considered for federal and state aid. We use your FAFSA to determine your eligibility, calculate your need, award your financial aid, and prepare your financial aid notification (FAN).
When to submit your FAFSA
The FAFSA typically becomes available October 1 of each year, and you should submit by the priority deadline of April 15. By meeting this deadline, you’ll have the most opportunities to receive funding.
The 2024-2025 FAFSA form opened on December 30, 2023. The Department of Education is working through technical issues with the new form so please try again if you are unable to begin a new form. The priority deadline to submit your 2024-25 FAFSA will remain April 15th.
Good news! If you are attending spring or summer 2024, the 2023-24 FAFSA is still available online as well.
What you’ll need
Make sure you have the important pieces of information listed here. Having everything together before you start will make filling out the FAFSA easier.
To file your FAFSA, you (and one of your parents, if you are a dependent) need to create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. This is a username and password combination that you’ll use to securely access your financial aid information and electronically sign your FAFSA.
IUPUI/IU Indianapolis federal school code is 001813.
You’ll need your tax information from two years before the academic year for which you’re seeking aid. For example, to apply for aid for the 2023-24 academic year, you’ll fill out the 2023–24 FAFSA and include your 2021 tax information.
Use the IRS data retrieval tool (2023-24 FAFSA Only)
When you update your FAFSA after filing your taxes, you may be able to use the IRS data retrieval tool to import your tax information directly into your FAFSA. You’ll find the IRS data retrieval tool in the financial information section of your FAFSA.
To use the tool to pull your tax information in automatically, you must:
If you’re not able to use the IRS data retrieval tool, you can enter your data manually.
You’ll need your federal tax return and W2 form AND
Your parents’ federal tax return and W2 form if you’re a dependent OR
Your spouse’s federal tax return and W2 form if you’re married
You’ll need your Social Security number. You’ll also need your parents’ Social Security numbers if you’re a dependent.
Not a U.S. citizen? You’ll need your alien registration number, also known as your alien number, A-Number, or USCIS#.
You’ll need information about your savings, investments, and business assets. You’ll also need information about your parents’ savings, investments, and business assets if you’re a dependent.
Once you’ve gathered everything you need, you’re ready to file your FAFSA. The online application will guide you through the process—just follow the directions on the screen. You’re all set!
Your status is determined by a group of dependency questions on the FAFSA. If you can’t answer “yes” to any of the questions, you’ll be considered dependent and advised to supply parental information on your FAFSA.
