FAFSA

The first step in applying for financial aid is submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Note: The 2025-26 FAFSA will open in December 2024.

Submit your FAFSA 

The FAFSA is used to apply for federal, state, and Purdue-based student-aid programs. Even if you think you may not receive need-based financial funding, it doesn’t hurt to submit a FAFSA. Purdue’s Federal School Code is 001825. 

Students who submit a FAFSA prior to Purdue’s April 15 priority filing date (this is a hard deadline for Indiana residents to be considered for state-based aid) will receive the maximum amount of consideration for financial aid. You may submit a FAFSA after April 15, but some types of aid may no longer be available.  

Before completing your FAFSA, you’ll need to create a StudentAid.gov Account (Username/Password FSA-ID). If parents are helping in the aid process, make sure one of them registers for a StudentAid.gov Account (Username/Password) also. Students may find helpful informational booklets, brochures, videos and other resources on the Federal Student Aid website.

Submit Your FAFSA

When You’ll Hear Back

Newly Admitted Students 

  • Note: The U.S. Department of Education expects to launch full 2025-26 FAFSA functionality, to both students and institutions, in December 2024. In March, our office anticipates to begin releasing 2025-26 financial aid notifications to first-year students (via their myPurdue portal) who have filed a FAFSA, created their career account and submitted all requested documentation. Students will be notified via their Purdue.edu email account when financial aid notifications are available. 

Returning Students 

  • Expect to receive your financial aid notifications in mid-June. 

What You’ll Need

  • Visit the FAFSA website for a full list of information you’ll want to gather before you begin.  
  • View helpful tips from the Federal Student Aid resources to help prepare your answers before entering them online. 

Guidance for Families with Different Citizenship/Immigration Statuses

  • Students should monitor the Federal Student Aid website for updated information on reporting parent information, including reporting information about non-citizen parents, on the FAFSA.

What You’ll Do

  • Go to Federal Student Aid, select Complete the FAFSA Form, and click Start Here, then log in using your StudentAid.gov username and password. 
  • Input the requested information. 
  • Be sure to enter Federal School Code 001825 to allow your information to be sent to Purdue University West Lafayette (Purdue Indianapolis students should also use Code 001825). 

Tips: 

  • Submitting your FAFSA on time ensures that you are considered for all available aid that applies to you. Submitting it late may result in less aid being available to you. 
  • If you start attending school in the spring, you should complete the FAFSA for the current year. If you start in the summer, you should complete the FAFSA for the upcoming year.  
  • You can apply for financial aid prior to applying for admission to Purdue. However, you must be admitted to a degree-seeking program (or a teacher’s certification program) before eligibility is calculated to receive financial aid. 
  • Students must invite any contributors needed to complete their portion of the FAFSA. A contributor could be the student, the student’s spouse (if applicable), a biological or adoptive parent, or the spouse of the remarried parent who is on the FAFSA – the stepparent. All contributors are required to have an StudentAid.gov Account (Username/Password) and must give consent to have their federal tax information from the IRS, or the student will not be eligible for federal types of aid.
  • We recommend printing the “FAFSA on the Web” submission confirmation page as proof of completion. Keep this in your records. 
  • One of the most requested documents is a tax transcript. Get your tax return transcript from the IRS. 
  • If you have any FAFSA filing questions, you can contact FAFSA customer service agents at 800-433-3243. Live chat and email options are also available.