Completing the FAFSA this year? You’ll need to obtain a studentaid.gov account (login credentials were formerly called the FSA ID) in order to log in. Each person who contributes information on the FAFSA will need their own account. See the Who Needs a studentaid.gov Account? section below to clarify who in your family needs to get one.

Your studentaid.gov account is important, as it’s used to access a handful of federal financial aid websites, including fafsa.gov. You can also use it to sign your Direct Loan Master Promissory Note, complete Direct Loan entrance counseling, and apply for loan repayment plans. And it never expires. Getting a studentaid.gov account is straightforward, but it does require a few steps:

Steps to Create a studentaid.gov Account

1. To begin, go to studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch and click Get Started. You can set up your studentaid.gov account anytime, so you’re welcome to complete the process now. Just make sure you save your account credentials in a safe and memorable place so that you’ll have it ready for the financial aid application process every year.
2. Enter your first name, middle initial, last name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Make sure the name you enter matches the name on your Social Security card. Then click Continue. 
3. On the next screen, create a username at least six characters long. Your username is not case sensitive. Enter your email address. Make sure to use one that you will have access to through college and beyond. Then, create a password according to the requirements.
4. On the following screen, enter your mailing address and mobile phone number. Indicate whether you would like to use your mobile number for two-step verification and account recovery.
5. Next, you’ll select your communication preferences (how you want to hear from Federal Student Aid) and your language preference (English or Spanish).
6. Then, you’ll select four challenge questions and your answers, which will be used in case you forget your username or password. Each answer must be unique.
7. Finally, you’ll review your information for accuracy, make any corrections, and accept the terms and conditions.
8. Once you submit your information, you’ll have the opportunity to verify your mobile phone number (if you selected that option) and email address, so that you can use them in place of your username. You also have the option to set up an authenticator app for your account.
9. Federal Student Aid will verify your personal information to make sure it matches what’s on record with the Social Security Administration (if you have a Social Security number). This process will only take a few seconds. If you don’t have a Social Security number, it will likely take a few days to verify your identify, and you won’t be able to start the FAFSA until that process is complete.

Who Needs a studentaid.gov Account?

• Remember, both the student and any parent reporting information on the FAFSA will need to complete this entire process. There’s one exception: if parents filed a joint tax return, only one parent needs a studentaid.gov account.
• If the parent on the FAFSA is married but filed taxes separately, the parent’s current spouse will also need an account.
• Parents can use the same account to sign multiple FAFSAs, but again, every student applicant needs their own studentaid.gov account.
• If the student is in legal guardianship, the student will qualify as an independent student and will therefore only need to provide student information on the FAFSA (with no parent or legal guardian information required). Only the student in that case will need an account.
• Our chart provides a visual explanation and includes direction for those without an SSN, information about getting an account when parents are divorced, separated, and/or remarried, and more.
• If you come from family who members include individuals with different immigration statuses, reference our guide, How to Create a studentaid.gov Account: A Guide for Mixed-Immigration Status Families, for helpful information. This guide is also available in Spanish– open in new window.

studentaid.gov Account Tips

• Each email address can only be tied to one studentaid.gov account. Same with each mobile phone number.
• If you forget your studentaid.gov account username and password at any point, you can easily retrieve it. On the login page, select Forgot My Username or Forgot My Password. You can opt to receive a code via mobile phone or email, or to answer your challenge questions. If none of these options work, you’ll need to call 800-4-FED-AID for assistance.
• If you’re having trouble retrieving your studentaid.gov account, don’t try to create a new one. Instead call 800-4-FED-AID for assistance.

For additional information on the process of obtaining a studentaid.gov account, you can watch a short video here. And remember, if you’re stuck at any point, give Federal Student Aid a call at 800-4-FED-AID or reach out to us at (800) 449-MEFA (6332) or [email protected].