If you find the acronyms associated with applying for college aid confusing, you’re certainly not alone. However, understanding all the terms is a vital part of succeeding in getting the aid you need.
The good news is that a FSA ID is simple to understand and easy to create.
What Is The Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID)?
An FSA ID is the username and password that you and your student use on federal student aid sites, such as Studentloans.gov and FAFSA.gov.
The username and password help confirm your identity and keep your information secure and private. As a result, it’s important to use a strong password and follow usual internet security rules, such as not sharing your username and password with others.
The FSAID is also used to electronically sign financial student aid documents.
Do Parents And Students Need Their Own FSA ID?
Anyone who is involved in the federal student aid application process needs an FSA ID. It functions as a signature, so parents and children cannot share the same ID. Instead, each individual needs one. Parents need to their own FSA ID to electronically sign FAFSA before submitting it.
No one should create an FSA ID for you, nor should you share your FSA ID information with anyone else. It’s similar to allowing someone to forge your signature, and can put your financial information at risk.
How to Create an FSAID
You can create your ID online at fsaid.ed.gov. You will need the following personal information:
- Email address (optional but recommended)
- Name
- Date of birth
- Social Security Number
- Mailing address
You will set up a username and password, along with four challenge questions and answers that will help with security. You can only apply for an FSA ID at the government website. Don’t get fooled by third party companies marketing to fill out your FAFSA – they can not create your FSA ID, only you can.
Be sure not to use a school-affiliated email address when you register for your FSA ID. You may change schools or need to access your information after school is finished, and having an active email address is important.
Onced you’ve created your FSA ID and submitted your FAFSA, make sure you know how to understand your Student Aid Report (SAR).
Reviewing Your FAFSA Student Aid Report
Need assistance finding the right schools to apply to? We can help. Our College Data Spreadsheet can help match your stuent with the schools that will be most likely to offer you the most needs based aid or merit scholarships., leaving you less to pay on your own.
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By Debbie Schwartz, founder of Road2College, the go-to site offering families unbiased and transparent information to help parents and students make smarter college decisions.
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