FAFSA INFORMATION

The U.S. Department of Education has indicated the 2026-2027 FAFSA will launch on the usual October 1 (2025) release date:

• At UW-Whitewater, the 2026-2027 FAFSA covers fall 2026, spring 2027, and summer 2027.
• The 2026-2027 FAFSA will ask for 2024 income and tax information. List UW-Whitewater’s school code, 003926, on the FAFSA.
• Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible after the FAFSA is available.
  • It is recommended the 2026-2027 FAFSA be filed and related documents requested by the Financial Aid Office be submitted by the priority date of January 1, 2026.
  • This is to ensure consideration for all aid programs, including those with limited funding.

What’s new with the 2026-2027 FAFSA process?

Identity Verification Updates
Starting in August 2025, users creating StudentAid.gov accounts with Social Security Numbers (SSN) will experience the following changes:

• Identity verification will occur in real-time during account creation with the previous 1-3 day waiting period being eliminated.
• IRS tax data retrieval will be available immediately in the same session.

Note: Users without SSNs will continue using the existing identity validation processes.

Contributor Invitation Process Modifications
The 2026-2027 FAFSA introduces a new method for students to invite a parent or spouse as a FAFSA contributor. Personally identifiable information will no longer being required during the invite process:

• Students enter only the contributor’s email address.
• A unique, non-case-sensitive code is generated and sent to the contributor via email.
• Contributor accepts the invite on StudentAid.gov.

Note: The simplified contributor invite process will be available to students who invite a contributor, or parents who invite a spouse, to complete a 2026-2027 form. If a contributor begins a FAFSA on behalf of a student, they will use the existing process to invite the student to the form. In that case, the student must have a StudentAid.gov account and will be linked immediately to the application upon being invited.

2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is open: 2025-2026 FAFSA

• At UW-Whitewater, the 2025-2026 FAFSA covers fall 2025, spring 2026, and summer 2026.
• List UWW’s school code, 003926, on the FAFSA.

Prepare to complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA: 

• Dependency status questions to determine if your parent(s) must provide their information on your FAFSA.
• If you don't have one, create a Federal Student Aid ID or FSA ID (username and password) to access the FAFSA and other federal aid websites/processes.
• FAFSA Contributors: those reporting income and tax data on the FAFSA will need to have an FSA ID if they don't have one already.
  • For dependent aid applicants, FAFSA contributors include the student, parent, and other parent if the parent reported on the FAFSA is married. Use Is my Parent a Contributor or Who's My FAFSA Parent Wizard to identify whose information must be reported.
  • If the student is married, contributors include the student and spouse.
  • If married individuals filed their taxes separately, both spouses will need to obtain an FSA ID and both are FAFSA contributors. If your parents filed taxes jointly, only one spouse is required as a contributor and will report information for both spouses. If the student is married and filed taxes jointly with their spouse, then the student will report the spouse’s information on the FAFSA, but they will not be identified as a contributor.
• Learn about the 6 Things Students Need Before Filling Out the 2025-2026 FAFSA.
• The 2025-2026 FAFSA asks for 2023 income and tax information.
• It is recommended the 2025-2026 FAFSA be filed and related documents requested by the Financial Aid Office be submitted by the priority date of March 15, 2025. This is to ensure consideration for all aid programs, including those with limited funding.

• FAFSA website
• FSA ID website - needed to access the FAFSA and other federal student aid websites/processes. Note that creating an FSA ID and creating a StudentAid.gov account are one and the same.
  • Steps for Getting an FSA ID for Those Without an SSN
  • Steps for Getting an FSA ID for Those Without an SSN (in Spanish)
• Who is a Parent on the FAFSA? and Who's My FAFSA Parent Wizard

Helpful Videos:

• Am I a Dependent or Independent Student on the FAFSA form?
• Create and Access Your StudentAid.Gov Account
• Gather Information Required to Complete the FAFSA
• Understand and Prepare FAFSA Form Contributors
• Additional FAFSA-related/Federal Student Aid YouTube Videos