Creating an Account

Why You Need a StudentAid.gov Account

Your StudentAid.gov account will serve as an important hub to apply for and review your federal student aid. You'll need to log into your account to file a FAFSA each academic year. If your parent or spouse is a contributor, they will need to create their own accounts to be able to access your FAFSA. If there are any other forms you need to complete for federal financial aid, you'll use your StudentAid.gov account to complete them as well. This includes applying for a Direct Parent PLUS Loan, submitting a Master Promissory Note, or completing Loan Counseling.

Other Things You Can Do With a StudentAid.gov Account

Your StudentAid.gov account allows you to view how much federal financial aid you have received such as the Pell Grant and Direct Loans. You can also access your loan servicer's information so that you can contact them to make payments, request deferment, or address any other loan issues.  You'll also have access to resources to help you learn about different loan repayment plans and loan forgiveness. 

What You Need to Create an Account

To create your StudentAid.gov account, you will need to have a unique email address, your demographic information, and, your Social Security number. After creating your account, the Department of Education will use your SSN to verify your identity with the Social Security Administration. Typically, the verification process takes 3-5 days, so you cannot create your StudentAid.gov account the same day you want to file your FAFSA. 

Individuals Without a Social Security Number

Some parents or spouses of students and certain non-US citizens who are federal financial aid eligible students do not have Social Security numbers. These individuals will still need to create a StudentAid.gov account to file a FAFSA or contribute to their student's application. If you fall into one of these groups, you will follow a slightly different StudentAid.gov account creation process. As your identity cannot be verified through the Social Security Administration, you will be asked a few additional questions to verify your identity at the end of the process. If your identity is verified from those questions, you'll immediately have access to your StudentAid.gov account. If your identity is not verified, you will need to go through the manual verification process which will be emailed to you. 

If your contributor does not have an SSN, filing your FAFSA can get tricky. Please review the guide to filing and inviting your contributor to help prevent any issues. 

Addressing StudentAid.gov Account Issues

Sometimes, there can be unforeseen challenges or issues preventing you from creating or accessing your StudentAid.gov account. Federal Student Aid has an FAQ for these issues that may help. If you cannot find an answer to your problems there, you will need to contact StudentAid.gov directly for assistance.