With the 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) priority deadline approaching on Feb. 27, there are several ways for students to prepare to fill out the FAFSA form.

FAFSA is a free application filled out by students and a contributor, to receive amounts of Federal Student Aid (FSA) based on their tax forms.

Federal Student Aid helps new and returning students pay for schooling across the United States.

According to Bowling Green State University’s (BGSU) 2026-2027 FAFSA article, there are tips to be considered when filling out the FAFSA.

Creating a FSA ID and making sure information is correct is the first tip listed. For instance, making sure the Social Security Number and date of birth are accurate.

Each FAFSA form must have a contributor included, and each contributor should have their own FSA ID. A contributor could include a parent or spouse.

It is recommended for the student to start the FAFSA form first, and later invite their contributor.

Other tips listed include manually entering the family size, and knowing whether you filed a 2024 tax return. When filling out the FAFSA, you should have your tax return with you.

According to the FSA website, the FAFSA form is more than just FSA. States, schools, and private aid providers use information from the FAFSA to determine a student’s eligibility for their financial aid programs.

Also included on the FSA website is information on each particular section of the FAFSA.

After submitting the FAFSA form, students will receive an email with their FAFSA Submission Summary, which includes next step information, or corrections to be made on the form.

Filling out the FAFSA helps make students eligible for BGSU scholarships and outside scholarships, too.