Submitting your FAFSA

Verifying your FAFSA

Verification is a process to confirm information you provided on the FAFSA. The U.S. Department of Education selects some FAFSAs for verification. Others are selected by schools due to discrepancies in their data.

Why was my FAFSA selected?

These are the main reasons for being selected:

  • You were chosen randomly.
  • The FAFSA you submitted was incomplete.
  • Your FAFSA contains estimated information.
  • The data you provided on the FAFSA is inconsistent.

If you are selected for FAFSA verification, you must provide specific documentation. Not all students selected for verification have to submit the same documents. Save the records and materials that you used to complete the FAFSA.

Verification ensures that the information students and parents report is accurate. Verification prevents ineligible students from receiving aid by reporting false information and ensures that eligible students receive all of the aid for which they are qualified.

The sooner you verify your information, the sooner you’ll be able to receive financial aid if you’re eligible.


Chosen for verification?

You are not alone: At least 30% of FAFSAs are selected for verification.

If you've been selected, an asterisk ( * ) will appear after your EFC number on your Student Aid Report (SAR). Read the instructions in the SAR on what to do next.


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