Filling out the FAFSA: How Long does it Really Take?

Depending on which student you asked, you’d probably get wildly differing answers when it comes to how long it takes to fill out a FAFSA. Some students are able to complete a FAFSA in 15 to 20 minutes, while others require several hours. The reason for these startling time differences is because the FAFSA is different for everyone. The form is the same from school to school and even from year to year, but not every question applies to every student, and not all students are seeking the same level of aid.

If you are pressed for time, there are a number of things you can do to speed up the FAFSA process. First, you should read the entire application from front to back, taking notes of information and documents that you will need to submit the FASA correctly. Only after you have gathered all of this information should you begin to actually fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is because mistakes or omissions on a FAFSA can be costly, resulting in a rejection of aid or a delay in processing. Essentially, delays in processing means more time spent dealing with the FAFSA.

In general, students who fill out the FAFSA online are able to complete the process much more quickly than students who do not. Completing the FAFSA with all necessary documents and information at hand can often mean only spending 20 minutes or so on the form. Students who have never filled out a FAFSA and are totally unprepared can expect to spend an hour or two to accurately complete the form. In fact, when time spent gathering information and documents is added together, the FAFSA may take some students days or even weeks.

The reality of the situation is that filling out a FAFSA takes as long as you make it. If you’re not too busy and don’t have much else going on, then you can relax and get around to the FAFSA process whenever you feel like it. But if you’re like most students working against FSEOG deadlines and the many pressures of a full school load, you’ll want to be as efficient as possible and approach the FAFSA from a prepared and diligent angle.