Don't Give Up on New Federal Application, Advocates for College Aid Urge

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has been replaced by a new application, the Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID). The FSA ID is a username and password that students and parents will use to access federal student aid resources, including the FAFSA and other financial aid applications.

Advocates for college access are urging students to not give up on the new application, even if they encounter difficulties. The FSA ID is a more secure and efficient way to apply for federal student aid, and it is important for students to have access to all of the financial aid resources available to them.

"The FSA ID is a critical part of the financial aid process," said Sarah Austin, director of policy and research at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. "Students who don't have an FSA ID will not be able to access the FAFSA or other federal student aid applications."

The FSA ID is also used to access the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), which provides students with information about their federal student loans. Students can use the NSLDS to track their loan balances, make payments, and apply for loan forgiveness.

"The FSA ID is a one-stop shop for all of your federal student aid needs," said Mark Kantrowitz, a student loan expert. "It's important for students to create an FSA ID as soon as possible so that they can access the financial aid resources they need."

How to Create an FSA ID

To create an FSA ID, students will need to provide their Social Security number, date of birth, and email address. Students will also need to create a username and password.

Students can create an FSA ID at the Federal Student Aid website: https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch

Troubleshooting Tips

If students encounter difficulties creating an FSA ID, they can try the following troubleshooting tips:

Make sure that you are using the correct Social Security number and date of birth.
Make sure that you are using a valid email address.
Try using a different web browser.
Clear your browser's cache and cookies.
Contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243.

Don't Give Up

It is important for students to not give up on the FSA ID application process. The FSA ID is a critical part of the financial aid process, and students who don't have an FSA ID will not be able to access the FAFSA or other federal student aid applications.

If you are having difficulty creating an FSA ID, please contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center for assistance.

Additional Resources

Federal Student Aid website: https://studentaid.gov/
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators website: https://www.nasfaa.org/
Mark Kantrowitz website: https://www.markkantrowitz.com/