How to Fill Out the FAFSA as a Parent: Decode Your Role

Your student has decided to go to college. You’re excited for them, enthusiastic about the next steps, ready to take on every challenge with them, and… it’s time to complete the dreaded FAFSA.

Maybe you attended college a few decades ago and vaguely remember stacks of tedious paperwork; maybe you graduated more recently, and you don’t know what part you play in your student’s application; or maybe this is your first time, and you have no idea what to expect.

Whatever your background, filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a pivotal accomplishment on your student’s college journey. It guarantees the best federal aid to fund your student’s education and gets them one step closer to earning their degree. Here’s everything you need to know to get your student on track for their FAFSA application.

FAFSA for Parents: What You Need to Know

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is an online application used to determine whether a student is eligible for valuable financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education. It takes into account the student’s background, household income, and their family’s financial need to generate a Student Aid Index, or an estimated amount that the student will be able to afford. This index directly influences how much federal aid the student will receive.

Because the FAFSA takes parent income into account when calculating the student’s eligibility, your role as a parent is pivotal. If your student is your legal dependent, you’re required to provide your information on the form and identify yourself as a contributor. 

A contributor is anyone (including a student's biological, adoptive, or step-parent) who is required to provide information on the form. The contributor must provide approval for the IRS to transfer their federal tax information directly into the form so that they can extract important income numbers.

What about separated or divorced parents? If you’re the student’s custodial parent (if the student lived with you for the majority of the past year), you’re responsible for filling out the FAFSA as a contributor. 

Do Both Parents Need to Fill Out the FAFSA?

If you and the student’s other biological parent are married, then yes, both parents have to fill out the FAFSA. If you file your taxes jointly with a spouse, you will complete the form as a single contributor, but if you filed separately, both parents will be considered contributors.

If you and the other parent are divorced or separated and did not file jointly, then no, only the custodial parent will fill out the FAFSA. 

Here’s a quick cheat sheet to determine if you’re the student’s custodial parent:

• Did the student spend the majority of the past 12 months living with you? → Yes, you’re the custodial parent.
  

• If the student spent time equally with you and their other parent:

  • Did you provide the most financial support during the past 12 months? → Yes, you’re the custodial parent.

• If the student spent time equally with both parents and the parents provided equal financial support in the last year: 

  • Did you provide more financial support to the child during the most recent calendar year, when one parent provided more? → Yes, you’re the custodial parent.

• Are you a stepparent married to the student’s custodial parent? → No, you’re not the custodial parent, but you must provide your income information on the FAFSA.

Do Both Parents Need to Fill Out the FAFSA?

The key to a smooth application process is planning. Filling out your student’s FAFSA takes time. You should set aside at least 30–60 minutes to complete the form, excluding the time required to collect the necessary documents. Here’s our streamlined process so you can hit “submit” with confidence!

1. 1. Set up your account and gather documents.

Create your own StudentAid.gov account if you don’t have one yet—your child needs their own, too. You’ll need personal info like your name, date of birth, and Social Security number (if you have one). Gather documents like tax returns, bank statements, and any records of income or benefits.

1. 1. 1. 1. 2. Start the FAFSA form.

Head to fafsa.gov, log in, and select “Parent” to begin. Enter your child’s information exactly as it appears in their StudentAid.gov account.

3. 3. Answer questions about your student’s situation.

You’ll complete a section about your child’s personal and financial situation to determine if they’re considered a dependent or independent student.

4. 4. Give your consent.

You’ll be asked to give permission to transfer your tax info from the IRS. This is required for your child to be eligible for federal aid—it does not mean you’re committing to paying for college or taking out loans.

5. 5. Fill out your parent information.

Provide your demographic info, such as marital status and state of residence. Your answers may determine if other contributors (like a spouse) need to be added.

6. 6. Share your financial details.

For the “Parent Financials” section, you will need to answer additional questions about your income, benefits received, savings, investments, and any child support.

Financial details you will need include:

• • • Federal benefits received by you or any family member

    • Tax filing status and whether you filed jointly with your spouse

    • Family size, including any changes since your tax return

    • Number of family members in college this year

    • Earned Income Credit (EIC) received

    • Taxable college grants, scholarships, or AmeriCorps benefits

    • Foreign Earned Income Exclusion amount

    • Any child support received

    • Cash, checking, and savings account balances

    • Net worth of investments, businesses, and investment farms
      
      You can save significant time on your application process by collecting all of these items before you begin!

7. 7. Sign your section.

Review your answers and electronically sign the parent section using your StudentAid.gov account. If you were invited as a contributor, you’ll see the option to “Sign and Submit.”

8. 8. Make sure your child completes their part.

Your child must log in to finish the student sections, give their consent, and sign the form. Once they submit it, you’re done!

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the FAFSA as a Parent

1. Mixing Up Parent vs. Student Information

It’s easy to accidentally enter your own information in the student section or vice versa. Make sure you're always entering data in the correct part of the form. This mix-up can delay processing or lead to incorrect aid calculations.

2. Reporting Incorrect Tax Year Data

The FAFSA asks for financial information from a specific prior tax year—in this case, the 2025–26 FAFSA uses 2023 tax data. Check your tax documents to be sure you're entering numbers from the correct filing year.

3. Skipping Required Fields or Entering Estimates

Leaving answers blank or guessing at figures can lead to processing issues or flag your application for verification. Always provide complete and accurate information. If you're unsure about a specific question, use the help features within the form or consult StudentAid.gov. 

4. Forgetting to Sign the Form with Both FSA IDs

The FAFSA isn’t complete until both the student and the parent (if required) sign the form using their own FSA IDs. This step is often overlooked, especially if the form was started by one party and needs input from the other. Be sure everyone logs in separately and signs using their individual account credentials.

Creating Your FAFSA Parent ID

To create a parent FSA ID, visit studentaid.gov and click “Create Account.” You’ll need to provide your Social Security number, email address, and other identifying information. Each parent who needs to sign the FAFSA must create their own unique FSA ID—you can't share one. 

If your dependent student requires information from two parents, only one parent typically needs an FSA ID to sign—unless both parents want access or need to sign separately in certain situations (such as filing separately or in joint custody cases).

Who Fills Out the FAFSA—Parents or Students?

Both. While the FAFSA is the student’s application for federal aid, it’s a shared process when the student is considered a dependent. That means both the student and at least one parent will need to provide information and sign the form.

Here’s a quick breakdown of who does what:

Supporting Your Student with FAFSA Success 

The FAFSA might seem overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Southern Virginia University’s Financial Aid Team is here to help you and your student with every step of the process.

At SVU, we’re committed to getting you the best financial aid possible. We’re proud to offer tuition that’s less than half the average cost of private colleges, and we award more than $5 million in scholarships every year. With the help of our friendly Financial Aid Team, 95% of our students have received some form of scholarship or aid.

Our financial aid opportunities span a wide variety of merit, need, and talent-based scholarships, including:

• Scholarships

• Grants

• Loans

• Student Employment

• Interest-Free Payment Plan

Learn more about our types of financial aid and how to complete the FAFSA in our comprehensive guide!

If you have any additional questions or would like to learn more about funding your student's education and accessing scholarships, student loans, or grants, please reach out to our financial aid office:

540-261-8405 or financial.aid@svu.edu