How to Read Your Student’s FAFSA Submission Summary
Submitting the FAFSA is a big step. Here’s how to find your student’s summary, review it together, and see what needs your attention next.
If your student opened their FAFSA Submission Summary and wondered, “What am I supposed to do with this?” you’re in good company. Start with one question together. Is there anything we need to fix or follow up on?
Find the summary together
Once the FAFSA form is processed, have your student sign in to their own StudentAid.gov account. From the dashboard, open the processed FAFSA under My Activity and select View FAFSA Submission Summary. Your student can pull it up and review it with you. Parent contributors use their own accounts for their sections of the FAFSA.
Many online forms process right away. Some take one to three days. If your student is waiting on an email, they can check their FAFSA status directly from their dashboard.
Know what to look for in each tab
TAB 1
Eligibility Overview
Find your student’s estimated federal aid and confirmed Student Aid Index (SAI). Colleges use the SAI to help determine eligibility for need-based aid. A lower SAI generally points to greater financial need, and it can be as low as −1,500.
TAB 2
FAFSA Form Answers
Check the answers you can see, including personal details and information entered manually. Federal tax information transferred directly from the IRS is excluded from the summary.
TAB 3
School Information
Check that the colleges, career schools, or trade schools your student wants to receive their FAFSA are on the list. Your student can add a school through a correction if they missed one.
TAB 4
Next Steps
Look for messages about missing information, corrections, or verification. If your student was selected for verification, their school will tell them which documents to provide and when they’re due.
Fix what needs attention
Spot a typo, a missing school, or a message about a missing signature or consent? Your student can start an online correction by choosing Make a Correction in FAFSA Form Answers. Contributors can also sign in to their own accounts to correct their own sections. The student and all required contributors must give consent and approval for the student to qualify for federal aid, even if they didn’t file taxes.
If your family has had a significant financial change, such as a job loss, or needs to report information from an amended tax return, contact the school’s financial aid office for guidance. If your student filed for the wrong award year, they’ll need to complete the FAFSA for the correct year.
Check each school’s aid portal
Once the FAFSA shows as processed, have your student check each school’s financial aid portal for forms, verification requests, and deadlines. Schools follow their own timelines and may ask for additional information before preparing an offer.
Red Kite Pro Tip: Make a shared list with one line per school. Write down anything the school still needs, when it’s due, and who will handle it. If your student has time for just one thing today, start with the item due soonest.
Keep planning together
Reviewing the summary and writing down one next step is a good place to start. When you’re ready, explore more ways to help your student plan and pay for college.
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