How to Apply for Aid with the FAFSA
FAFSA Timeline for 2026-2027
The Fall 2026 - Spring 2027 FAFSA form will be available on or before Oct. 1, 2025! The Federal Department of Education will make the form available for the award year that runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. We encourage both new and returning students to submit the FAFSA for consideration for financial aid as soon as you can.
How to Apply for FAFSA:
- To start the 2026-2027 FAFSA form, students and parents will need to create login credentials unique to each user. These credentials are known as the Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID). You can set up your credentials on the FAFSA website.
- Both parents will need to submit their financial information through the FAFSA website. Keep in mind this FAFSA will request 2024 tax year information.
- Be sure to add Rollins' school code when you submit: 001515
Although the process for applying for financial aid can seem complicated, it can easily be broken down into three critical steps:
- Step 1: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Step 2: Respond to any requests from the Financial Aid Office concerning additional information that may be required.
- Step 3: If admitted, receive your aid offer 1-2 weeks later. This will help you determine what your out-of-pocket expenses will be.
How To Fill Out The FAFSA
From required documents to questions to expect, this video provides a step-by-step breakdown of how to fill out your FAFSA.
FAFSA Step-By-Step Guide
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens in October. In order to streamline the FAFSA process, we recommend you take the following steps:
- 1. Gather Your Tax Return(s): Gather your prior-prior year federal tax returns and any other income or asset information.
- 2. Start Your FAFSA: Start the FAFSA at studentaid.gov
- 3. Invite Contributors: Invite contributors to link their tax information to your FASFA.
- 4. Use Direct Data Exchange: Utilize the Direct Data Exchange to allow the Department of Education to transfer your data from the IRS to your FASFA.
- 5. Enter Your School Code: Enter Rollins school code of 001515.
- 6. Sign: Electronically sign the FAFSA with your FSA ID.
Special Circumstances
The need analysis process does not always consider every family situation. If your family has experienced a change in financial circumstances not considered on the FAFSA, you may request a review of special circumstances.
FAFSA Timeline for 2025-2026
If you need financial aid for Fall 2025 through Summer 2026, submit the 2025-2026 FAFSA.
- Available now through June 30, 2026.
- Use income and tax data from 2023.
Account Creation Instructions for individuals without a Social Security Number (SSN)
The Department of Education is now allowing individuals without a Social Security Number (SSN) to access the Fall 2025-Spring 2026 FAFSA directly as a contributor to enter the required information for the student. However, the user should complete the steps below to verify their identity and activate their Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) if the process was not yet initiated.
- Step 1: Visit StudentAid.gov, select “Create Account” and complete all steps, including answering 1-4 knowledge-based verification questions via TransUnion®.
- Step 2: Upon completing the Create Account process, a confirmation page will be shown with the results of the identity verification. If you fail the TransUnion® process, FSA will automatically assign a case number.
- Step 3: Once the case number is created, FSA will send a verification email in your preferred language (English or Spanish), which will include the case number, along with guidance on how to submit copies of unexpired acceptable documentation to verify your identity.
- Step 4: Submit the signed attestation form provided on the e-mail from FSA along with a copy of the listed acceptable documentation to: IDVerification@ed.gov.
- Step 5: FSA will review the submitted documentation to ensure it matches the information provided during the “Create Account” step. If there is a successful match, the Department of Education will finalize the account creation. You will receive an email indicating you may now use your account username and password (FSA ID) to log in at StudentAid.gov and complete applications for student financial assistance programs.