Back to FAFSA® Guide 2024-25

How to answer basic student information questions for the FAFSA®

Here are some tips to help you correctly enter your name, address, and personal info for the FAFSA®, and your plans for college or career school.

Student identity and contact information

  • These questions may seem pretty obvious, but you still need to make sure to enter everything carefully.
  • If you plan to send the FAFSA® to multiple schools, your information will need to match up with their records so they can receive your FAFSA®.

Can I skip these questions?

No

How to answer these questions

  • Enter your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card.
  • Enter your Social Security number and date of birth.
  • You only need to enter an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) if you do not have a Social Security number.
  • Enter your permanent home/mailing address info, not your college mailing address. You can use your college address once you become an enrolled student.
  • Provide a phone number where you can be easily reached. Don’t enter dashes.

Fafsa screenshot of student identity and contact information. 

1. Student Identity Information

The student's full name exactly as it appears on their Social Security card.

  • First name
  • Middle name
  • Last name
  • Suffix
  • Date of birth (MM / DD / YYYY)
  • Social Security number (SSN)
  • Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
    Enter the student's ITIN if they don't have an SSN.

2. Student Contact Information

  • Mobile phone number
  • Email address
  • Permanent mailing address
  • City
  • State
  • Zip code
  • Country

Before applying for financial aid with FAFSA®, go after free money

Enter to win $2,000 for college*

  • A new winner is drawn each month
  • NO essay!
  • Takes less than 2 minutes to enter

*No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Ends December 31, 2024. See Official Rules.

Student current marital status

Why do they need this info?

  • You’re asked about your marital status to see if you’ll need to provide info about your spouse for the FAFSA®.
  • Married students need to report their spouse’s income tax info, even if you file separate returns.
  • If you’re divorced or separated, or your spouse has died, you won’t need to provide any financial details except your own.

Can I skip these questions?

No

How to answer these questions

  • Select Single (never married), Married (not separated), Remarried, Separated, Divorced, or Widowed, whichever one applies to you.

Fafsa guide screenshot of current marital status. 

Student Current Marital Status

  • Single (never married)
  • Married (not separated)
  • Remarried
  • Separated
  • Divorced
  • Widowed

Student college or career school plans

Why do they need this info?

Your college grade level is the grade level for which you’re applying for federal financial aid.

Can I skip these questions?

No

How to answer these questions

  • Select the college grade level you’ll be in from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. For example, if you just completed your freshman year in full, you’d select “Second year (sophomore)”.
  • High school seniors or first-time college students would select “First year (Freshman)”.

What else should I know?

Your grade level doesn’t mean how many years you’ve attended school/college. It’s how much progress you’ve actually made toward your degree or certificate.

Fafsa guide screenshot of student college or career school plans. 

Student College or Career School Plans

When the student begins the 2024-25 school year, what will their college grade level be?

  • First year (freshman)
  • Second year (sophomore)
  • Other undergraduate (junior or senior)
  • College graduate, professional, or beyond (MBA, M.D., Ph.D., etc.)

2024-25 FAFSA® questions 

Choose the FAFSA® questions you would like help with


footnote Sallie Mae does not provide, and these materials are not meant to convey, financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult your own financial advisor, tax advisor, or attorney about your specific circumstances.

footnote FAFSA® is a registered service mark of U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid.

footnote External links and third-party references are provided for informational purposes only. Sallie Mae cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided by any third parties and assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions contained therein. Any copyrights, trademarks, and/or service marks used in these materials are the property of their respective owners.