09/24/2026
🎓 SO…HOW DOES FAFSA ACTUALLY WORK?
If you have a student heading to college, you’ve probably heard “Fill out the FAFSA!” about a hundred times.
But what actually happens after you submit it? 👀
Here’s the simple version:
1️⃣ You complete the FAFSA.
The student and required contributors provide information about the student’s circumstances and family finances. For the 2027–28 FAFSA, the application uses required federal tax information from 2025.
2️⃣ Your FAFSA is processed.
Once submitted and processed, the information is used to calculate your Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI is an eligibility measure used by schools to help determine how much need-based federal student aid a student may qualify for. It is not the amount of financial aid your family will receive.
3️⃣ Your FAFSA information goes to the colleges you selected.
The schools use your FAFSA information, along with their own financial aid policies and the student's circumstances, to determine what aid they may offer.
4️⃣ You receive financial aid offers. 💰
Your school will let you know what financial aid is available to you. Depending on eligibility, this can include grants, scholarships, work-study, and federal student loans.
5️⃣ You decide what to accept.
Students and families can review their financial aid offer and determine what makes sense for their situation.
And here's the important part:
✨ Completing the FAFSA does not mean you are agreeing to take out student loans.
It is an application used to determine eligibility for federal student aid, and FAFSA information can also be used by states and colleges when determining eligibility for their own aid programs.
📅 The 2027–28 FAFSA opens October 1, 2026.
If college is in your student's future, FAFSA is one of those things you don't want to leave until the last minute.
📌 Save this post for when you're ready to start the process!
And if you're a parent thinking, “Okay, that makes a little more sense now!” 😅 share this with another college-bound family who could use it.
Have questions about preparing for college? Send Smart Choice Learning a message — we're happy to help families stay organized and students stay prepared for what's next.