Do I need to submit FAFSA every year or just once for all 4 years of college?

Unfortunately, you need to submit a new FAFSA application for each academic year you want financial aid. The FAFSA determines your Student Aid Index (SAI) based on your current financial situation, which can change year to year. Starting October 1st each year, you can submit your FAFSA for the following academic year. So yes, you'll need to complete it annually - all 4 years.

Your cousin is 100% WRONG! I learned this the hard way my sophomore year when I didn't reapply and lost all my aid. Had to scramble mid-summer to complete it and almost couldn't return to school!!! The system is broken but you ABSOLUTELY must submit every single year. Don't make my mistake!

Yes, you need to submit a new FAFSA for each academic year. However, after your first submission, subsequent applications are easier because you'll be doing a "renewal FAFSA" where many fields are pre-filled from your previous application. You'll still need updated tax information, but the process is streamlined. Just make sure to submit early (October-December) to maximize your aid eligibility!

The same thing happened to my roommate last year! He thought his FAFSA was good for all 4 years and missed the deadline for sophomore year. His Pell Grant and subsidized loans disappeared. The financial aid office made him file a special appeal just to get partial funding back. Don't make that mistake!

I've been through this whole process three times now. You absolutely need to file EVERY year. Some tips: 1) Set a reminder for October 1st each year 2) Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically import tax info 3) Your school's priority deadline is usually much earlier than the federal deadline - missing it can cost you thousands in institutional aid. Also, once you turn 24, you can file as an independent student and won't need parent info anymore.

trying to call the fafsa people about this exact question took me FOREVER last year. was on hold for like 2 hours and got disconnected twice!! finally i used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that held my place in line and had them call me back when an actual human was available. they have a video demo if you want to see how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ saved me so much frustration when i had questions about the renewal process

My dad is an accountant and he's super annoyed that we have to do this every year lol. But he says the plus side is that if your family's financial situation gets worse (like if someone loses a job), filing a new FAFSA can actually get you MORE aid the next year. So it works both ways.

One more important thing: while you need to submit FAFSA every year, your college might have additional forms that need yearly renewal too. Many private colleges require the CSS Profile annually, and some schools have their own institutional forms for scholarships and grants. Check with your financial aid office to make sure you're not missing anything!

Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me a lot - create a dedicated folder (physical or digital) for all your FAFSA documents from year one. Keep copies of tax returns, W-2s, bank statements, etc. Having everything organized makes the renewal process SO much faster each year. Also, if your parents are divorced or separated, make sure you understand which parent's info to use - it's based on who you lived with most in the past 12 months, not necessarily who claims you as a dependent on taxes. This trips up a lot of people!

As someone who just went through the renewal process for my junior year, I can confirm it's definitely required annually BUT it gets much easier after the first time! The renewal FAFSA pre-populates a lot of your info from the previous year, so you mainly just need to update financial information. Pro tip: if your family's income/assets haven't changed much, you can often just verify the pre-filled data rather than re-entering everything from scratch. Also, don't forget that some states have earlier deadlines than the federal one - I almost missed out on state grant money because I didn't realize my state's deadline was in February while the federal deadline is much later. Set multiple calendar reminders!

Welcome to the wonderful world of annual FAFSA stress! 😅 As a senior who's been through this process multiple times, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - yes, you absolutely need to file every single year. I made the mistake of procrastinating my sophomore year and nearly had a panic attack when I realized the deadline was approaching. The good news is that it really does get easier! After your first year, you'll know exactly what documents you need and the renewal process is much more streamlined. My advice: treat it like an annual appointment you can't miss, kind of like going to the dentist but way more important for your financial future. Also, don't rely on family members for FAFSA advice unless they've actually been through the process recently - the rules and forms change pretty frequently. You've got this! 💪

Hey Andre! I totally get your frustration - I went through the same confusion when I was a freshman. Your cousin definitely gave you wrong info (happens to the best of us!). Yes, you need to file FAFSA every single year, but here's the silver lining: after your first time, it becomes WAY easier! The renewal FAFSA will have most of your info already filled in, so you mainly just update the financial stuff. A few quick tips that saved my sanity: 1) Mark October 1st on your calendar NOW for all 4 years, 2) Keep all your tax docs in one place so they're easy to find, and 3) Check if your school has an earlier priority deadline than the federal one. I know it seems overwhelming now, but by your junior year you'll be knocking it out in like 30 minutes. The system is annoying but you've totally got this! 🎓

Just want to echo what everyone else is saying - your cousin was definitely wrong! I'm a college junior now and have filed FAFSA three times. Yes, it's annoying that you have to do it every year, but honestly the renewal process is SO much easier than that first time. Most of your basic info carries over automatically, and you mainly just need to update tax information. The hardest part is just remembering to do it on time! I set a recurring calendar reminder for October 1st each year and it's become routine now. Don't stress too much about it - once you get the hang of it, you'll be done in under an hour. And like others mentioned, make sure to check your school's specific deadlines because they're often earlier than the federal ones. You've got this! 👍

Hey Andre! I'm a senior who's been through this whole FAFSA maze four times now, and I totally remember having the exact same confusion freshman year! Your cousin definitely meant well but was completely wrong - you absolutely need to file FAFSA every single year. I know it feels overwhelming right now, but here's the good news: the renewal process is MUCH simpler than that first application. After year one, most of your info auto-populates and you mainly just update financial details. My biggest piece of advice? Set up a "FAFSA season" routine - I do mine every October 1st (the earliest you can file) with a cup of coffee and my parents' tax docs ready to go. It's become like a weird annual tradition now! Also, don't forget that your Expected Family Contribution can change each year based on your family's financial situation, so even if it seems redundant, it's actually protecting you. Hang in there - by your senior year you'll be helping other confused freshmen just like we're helping you now! 🎓

Adding to all the great advice here - I'm a sophomore who just went through my first FAFSA renewal and can confirm it's SO much easier the second time around! The renewal application literally saved most of my info from last year, so I mainly just had to update my family's 2023 tax information. What took me like 4 hours the first time only took about 45 minutes for renewal. One thing I wish someone had told me though - keep screenshots or printouts of your completed FAFSA each year! My school's financial aid office asked me to verify something from my freshman year application and I had to dig through old emails to find my Student Aid Report. Also, if you're worried about your parents being less cooperative next year, maybe sit down with them now while the process is fresh in everyone's mind and create a plan for gathering documents annually. Trust me, having that conversation upfront will save you SO much stress down the road!

Hey Andre! Just wanted to jump in as another student who learned this the hard way. I'm a freshman too and literally had the EXACT same confusion after talking to my older brother who graduated a few years ago. He told me the same thing your cousin did - that FAFSA was a one-time thing. I almost didn't bother checking until I saw a post in my college's Facebook group about FAFSA renewal deadlines and freaked out! 😅 Everyone here is absolutely right - you need to file every single year, but the silver lining is that it gets progressively easier. I just wanted to add that if you're like me and your parents aren't super organized with tax documents, start bugging them about getting their taxes done early next year (like January/February) so you have everything ready for the October 1st FAFSA opening. My parents always wait until April to do taxes and it made this whole process way more stressful than it needed to be. Also, I found it helpful to bookmark the Federal Student Aid website and sign up for their email reminders - they actually send pretty useful notifications about deadlines and when forms open up. Way better than relying on family members who might not remember the current process correctly! You've definitely got this! 💪

Hey Andre! I'm a sophomore who went through this exact same confusion last year! Your cousin definitely gave you wrong info - you absolutely need to file FAFSA every single year for all 4 years of college. I was SO mad when I found out because I thought I was done with all that paperwork too! 😤 But here's the good news - the renewal FAFSA is WAY easier than that first application. Most of your personal info carries over automatically, so you mainly just need to update your family's tax information. What took me like 3-4 hours freshman year now takes maybe 45 minutes. My biggest tip: create a "FAFSA folder" right now with copies of all the documents you used this year (tax returns, bank statements, etc.). Keep it updated annually and the process becomes so much smoother. Also, set a phone reminder for October 1st every year - that's when the application opens and the earlier you file, the better your chances for certain types of aid. I know it's frustrating to learn you have 3 more years of this, but honestly by junior year it'll feel like routine. And hey, at least if your family's financial situation changes for the better OR worse, you'll be able to get aid that actually reflects your current circumstances rather than being stuck with freshman year numbers forever!