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Contributors on the FAFSA Form
A contributor is anyone who must provide information on a student's FAFSA form, based on the student's dependency status, tax filing status and marital status.
Who Can Be a Contributor?
Contributors may include:
- Student
- Student's Souse
- Bilogical or adoptive parents
- Stepparent
Contributor Guidelines
Table 1: Independent student contributor guidelines.
| Independent Student |
FAFSA Contributor |
| Student is single |
Student only |
| Student is married |
Student and spouse |
| Student is legally separated/divorced |
Student only |
Table 2: Dependent student contributor guidelines.
| Dependent Student |
FAFSA Contributor |
| Parents are married to each other |
Use both parent's information |
| Parents are legally separated/divorced |
Use information from the parent that provides a majority of financial support |
| Parent is remarried to step-parent |
If remarried parent provides a majority of financial support, use both parent and step-parent income |
| Parents were never married, not living together |
Use information from the parent that provides a majority of financial support |
| Parents were never married, but are living together |
Use both parent's information |
Note: Being identified as a FAFSA contributor does not mean they are responsible for paying for your education costs.
What Contributors Need to Provide
Contributors will be invited to complete their portion of the FAFSA form by entering their name, date of birth, Social Security Number, and email address. They will need to provide personal and financial information and must consent and sign the FAFSA form. Contributors have 45 days to complete their section after receiving the email invitation. If the contributor does not complete their section of the FAFSA within those 45 days, the FAFSA will be deleted from the Federal Student Aid website.
FSA ID Requirement
Each contributor will need their own FSA ID to access and complete their portion of the FAFSA form online. Accounts cannot be shared. Please visit studentaid.gov for more information.
For additional help with the FAFSA, visit the FAFSA Help Center.