How to File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the application used to determine your eligibility for federal and state financial aid. U.S. citizens and permanent residents should complete a FAFSA each year they are enrolled at least part-time at Drexel.

Tips for Completing the FAFSA

• The FAFSA is completed online.
• The Department of Education has begun a soft launch of the 2024–2025 FAFSA and the form is now available at the Federal Student Aid website. Throughout this soft launch, this overhauled application may become temporarily unavailable as the Department of Education continues to perform required site maintenance. Drexel recommends monitoring the Federal Student Aid website and completing the FAFSA when you see it is available.
• Any admitted Early Action or Early Decision student who received estimated federal financial aid in their package based on their CSS Profile should file a 2025–2026 FAFSA as soon as it opens.
• The FAFSA will be based upon your family's financial information from two years prior (i.e., the 2025–2026 FAFSA will use 2023 tax year information).
• Housing or private housing (i.e., you are not billed for rent via Drexel) make sure you select "Off-Campus".
• You (and your contributor(s), if you are a dependent student) will need to create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID in order to complete and sign the FAFSA.
• It is important to complete the FAFSA by Drexel's priority deadline in order to be considered for all types of financial aid.
• Drexel's Federal School code for completing the FAFSA is 003256.
• Institutions will begin receiving FAFSA data in October 2024.
• If you have any questions, you can contact a FAFSA customer service representative at 1.800.4.FED.AID (1.800.433.3243).

FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS)

The Department of Education typically takes 3–5 business days to fully process your FAFSA once you have submitted a complete application. Once your FAFSA is fully processed, you will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) that will include the information you provided on your FAFSA. If there are any errors or issues that you need to resolve, you will need to follow the instructions listed on the FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) to correct them. Your FSS (formerly SAR) will also include your Student Aid Index (SAI).

The information that is reported on your FSS is also sent to the schools you listed on your FAFSA. Typically, Drexel University should receive your FAFSA data approximately 2–3 days after you receive your FSS. However, due to the FAFSA Simplification Act,  Drexel won't start receiving 2025–2026 FAFSA data until early October 2024. 

Priority Deadlines

In order to be considered for most types of financial aid programs, domestic students should complete the FAFSA by the priority deadlines listed below: