FAFSA Completion Guide
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is used by colleges and the federal government to determine how much financial aid you're eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds and loans.
You must apply for aid every year, but with the right information in hand, it's easy.
Submitting the FAFSA form is the first step to getting federal student grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities and student loans.
Create Your Studentaid.gov Account
Create your account. Students and any contributors will need their own accounts.
What do I need to create a StudentAid.gov account?
- Name (exactly as it appears on your Social Security card if you have one)
- Date of birth
- Personal email address
- Social Security number
Remember, you鈥檒l have only one StudentAid.gov account to use for the rest of your life, so make sure to use an email address that you鈥檒l have access to even after you graduate from school or change jobs.
How do I know if a parent or spouse also need to create an account?
- to see whether any other contributors, like a parent or spouse, also need to create an account before you can submit your FAFSA form.
- If you鈥檙e still not sure whether you need a parent to sign your form, student.
- If you鈥檙e a dependent student, you (or your parent) can use the wizard to figure out which parent, guardian or spouse also needs to create an account.
What if I don鈥檛 have a Social Security number (SSN) or my parent doesn鈥檛 have an SSN?
- If you have an SSN, you must provide it when creating an account.
- All students must have an SSN to create a StudentAid.gov account.
- If you are a parent or spouse who does not have an SSN, you can still create a StudentAid.gov account to contribute to a student鈥檚 FAFSA form. When creating your account, leave the SSN field blank and select 鈥淲hat if I don鈥檛 have a Social Security number?鈥
- If only one parent has an SSN, that parent is the one who should create an account and join the student's FAFSA form as a contributor.
Complete Your FAFSA
Fill out the . 成人视频's school code is 003471. Be sure to use your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security Card, or your application may be rejected.
The FAFSA priority date at South Dakota State University is March 1, 2025 for the 2025-2026 school year. Students can still complete the FAFSA after this date, however students who complete before this date could be eligible for the following additional priority funding:
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- South Dakota Education Access Fund (SDEAF)
- Federal Work Study
- South Dakota Freedom Scholarship
If the information on your financial aid application does not accurately reflect your family's circumstances, contact our office to discuss your options. Visit our Special Circumstances page for more information.
Questions on completing the FAFSA? Check out these .
FAFSA Tutorials
Check out these helpful how to videos to get you started! Visit Federal Student Aid's for more helpful videos.
Starting the FAFSA:
Personal Circumstances and Demographics:
Financials:
Select your Schools:
Review, Sign and Submit:
Students can complete the 2025-26 FAFSA at . If you need assistance completing your FAFSA, please call our office at 605-688-4695 or schedule a virtual appointment to meet with one of our Financial Aid Advisors.
The FAFSA has tooltips next to each question, and a chat option. You can also call 1-800-4FED-AID for additional assistance.
Don鈥檛 forget to list our FAFSA Code: 003471.
