How to fix wrong student email on FAFSA application?

Don't panic! This is actually a common mistake. You have three options: 1. If you haven't submitted the FAFSA yet, just save and exit, then log back in and you should be able to edit the email. 2. If you've already submitted, you'll need to make a correction. Log into studentaid.gov, go to your application, and click on "Make FAFSA Corrections" - you can update the email there. 3. If for some reason the option to make corrections isn't available yet (sometimes it takes a few days after submission), you can call FSA directly at 1-800-433-3243 to request they update the email address. The email is primarily used for FSA communications about the FAFSA itself. Colleges will use whatever contact info your daughter provided on her college applications, not necessarily what's on the FAFSA.

happened to me last yr to. colleges mostly email my kid directly from there own systems not thru fasa so probly wont matter that much honestly

I MADE THE EXACT SAME MISTAKE!!! And guess what? The FSA people were ZERO help when I called! Was on hold for 2.5 hours only to get disconnected!! TWICE!!! The whole system is designed to make us fail I swear.

As someone who works in a financial aid office, I can tell you this is definitely not a major concern. The email on the FAFSA is primarily used for FSA communications about the FAFSA processing, SAI calculation, and verification requests if selected. Colleges use their own systems to communicate with students about their specific financial aid packages. These communications are typically sent to whatever email address the student provided on their admissions application. That said, it's still best practice to correct it when you can. As another user mentioned, you'll need to use the "Make FAFSA Corrections" option, which becomes available usually 3-5 business days after submission. This timing allows the initial processing to complete.

Everyone's saying it's no big deal but when my brother put the wrong email on his FAFSA he missed an important verification request and almost lost his whole financial aid package!!! I would definitely fix it ASAP!!!

For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, I recommend correcting the email when the option becomes available. While many have shared it's not critical, having the correct email ensures: 1. Any verification requests go directly to the student 2. SAI calculation notices reach the right person 3. Any FAFSA processing issues can be communicated efficiently The correction option typically appears within 3-5 business days after submission. You'll see a "Make FAFSA Corrections" button on the My FAFSA page after logging in. Select it, navigate to the student information section, update the email, save changes, and resubmit. If you don't see this option after a week, then I would recommend contacting FSA directly.

This whole FAFSA redesign is such a nightmare! They changed everything and now simple things like fixing an email address are complicated. My daughter's college financial aid office told me they're getting TONS of calls about the new FAFSA. What a mess.

Just to follow up on my earlier comment - once you do get access to the correction feature, make sure you re-sign the FAFSA with your FSA ID after making the email change. Many people forget this step, and then the correction never actually processes. Both you and your daughter will need to re-sign, even for this small change.

I went through this exact same situation last year! Here's what I learned: the correction option usually shows up within 3-5 days like others mentioned, but sometimes it can take up to a week depending on processing volume. While you're waiting, I'd recommend setting up email forwarding from your email to your daughter's email as a temporary backup - that way if any important FAFSA notifications come to your address, she'll still get them. Also, make sure your daughter checks her college application portals regularly since that's where most of the important financial aid updates will actually appear. The FAFSA email mistake is stressful but definitely fixable!

I'm dealing with a similar issue right now! Just wanted to add that if you do need to call FSA, try calling early in the morning (like 8 AM EST) when they first open - I've found the wait times are much shorter then. Also, when you do get the correction option, double-check that your daughter's FSA ID is working properly before you start making changes. Sometimes there can be issues with student FSA IDs that weren't caught during the initial application, and you don't want to discover that problem halfway through making corrections. The whole process is definitely stressful but everyone here has given great advice - you've got this!

Don't stress too much about this! I made the same mistake with my son's FAFSA two years ago. The good news is that most colleges have their own communication systems and will reach out to students directly through the email they provided on their college applications, not necessarily what's on the FAFSA. However, I would still recommend fixing it when you can since some federal verification requests do go to that email address. One tip that helped me: bookmark the studentaid.gov page and check it daily for the correction option - it took exactly 4 days for mine to appear. Once it does show up, the actual fix is pretty straightforward - just remember to have both you and your daughter re-sign with your FSA IDs after making the change. Your daughter's financial aid won't be impacted by this small delay!

I'm going through this exact situation right now too! My heart sank when I realized I put my email instead of my son's after we had already submitted. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like this is way more common than I thought! I'm on day 3 of waiting for the correction option to appear, so hopefully it shows up soon. In the meantime, I set up email forwarding like someone suggested, which is giving me peace of mind. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in making these kinds of mistakes during such a stressful process!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - you're definitely not alone in making this mistake! As a parent who went through this exact same situation last year, I can tell you that the stress you're feeling right now is completely normal but unnecessary. The correction process really is straightforward once that option appears (which should be any day now since you submitted 2 days ago). One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - when you do make the correction, take a screenshot of the confirmation page showing the change was submitted successfully. I did this just for my own peace of mind, and it was actually helpful later when I was double-checking that everything had processed correctly. Also, don't forget to update your daughter on the situation so she knows to expect any FAFSA-related emails to potentially come to your address initially, even after you make the correction, since there can be a brief processing delay. You're being such a thoughtful parent by catching this and wanting to fix it properly. Your daughter is lucky to have you advocating for her financial aid process!

As someone who just went through this process with my twin daughters, I can absolutely confirm that this email mistake is incredibly common! I actually made the opposite error - put one daughter's email for both applications and didn't realize until we got duplicate notifications. What I learned from working with both FSA and the colleges is that the correction timeline can vary slightly depending on when you submit. Since you submitted 2 days ago, you're right in that sweet spot where the correction option should appear within the next 1-3 days. I'd recommend checking both early morning and evening since the system seems to update at different times. One additional tip that saved me a lot of stress: once you do make the correction and re-sign, you'll get an email confirmation to BOTH the old email (yours) and the new email (your daughter's). Don't panic if you see notifications still coming to your email for a few days after the correction - there's usually a brief lag as the system fully updates. Your daughter's financial aid process will be completely fine. The fact that you caught this early and are being proactive about fixing it shows you're on top of things! The correction process is actually much smoother than the initial application in my experience.

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share that I just went through this exact same situation last month! The panic is so real when you realize you've made this mistake, but honestly, reading through all these responses shows just how incredibly common this is. What really helped me was treating it as a learning experience rather than a crisis. I set up the email forwarding that someone mentioned, checked studentaid.gov twice daily for the correction option (it appeared on day 4 for me), and made sure to screenshot everything when I made the correction. One thing I'd add that might help - while you're waiting, this is actually a perfect time to double-check the rest of your FAFSA information to make sure there aren't any other small errors you might want to fix when that correction window opens. I found a couple of minor things I wanted to update when I was going back through everything. The financial aid office at my daughter's school told me they see this mistake literally every single day during FAFSA season. You're definitely not alone, and your daughter's aid won't be affected by this small hiccup!