UM’s Top Five Tips for Filling Out the FAFSA

The nation’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is a form that prospective and current college students must complete to receive federal funding for higher education from the U.S. Department of Education. The FAFSA is the kicking-off point for the majority of educational funds, including scholarships, grants and work-study opportunities at the University of Montana.

The FAFSA is not the only way to receive funding and scholarships, but it is typically the first step. To make the process a bit easier, are are our top five tips for completing the FAFSA:

When Do You Fill Out the FAFSA?

Apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as it opens on October 1 the year before you plan to attend school. That means if you are planning to attend college during the 2027-28 academic year, you can apply for the FAFSA on October 1, 2026. Students will need to complete the FAFSA once each year of their undergraduate studies.

Start Your FAFSA Today

Looking for more detailed information about the FAFSA? Visit UM FAFSA webpage for instructions, FAQs and links to prepare for filing.

Tip No. 1: Apply for the FAFSA Early

The FAFSA opens on October 1 the year before you plan to attend school. Student aid is limited in some cases and offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. That means the earlier you apply, the better chance you have of receiving your maximum financial aid. The University of Montana's priority deadline is December 1. For best results, file by this date or as soon as possible after this date has passed.

Tip No. 2: Secure your Federal Student Aid (FSA) login

Before you can complete the FAFSA online, you’ll need a Federal Student Aid (FSA). The FSA ID is a username and password combination you use to log in to U.S. Department of Education online systems. Your parents will need one, too. Create your FSA account here. You must create an FSA ID at least three days before you file your FAFSA. Do this first! Creating an FSA ID takes less than five minutes.

Tip No. 3: If You Are a Dependent, Have a Parent With You

If you’re a dependent of your parents and intend to use your parent or guardian’s financial statements to quality for student loans, FAFSA is going to require information from them. This includes questions about the date your parents were married, their Social Security numbers, their birthdates, and past financial information, including the tax data from the "prior-prior" year (two years before the academic year).

If you are not a dependent or if you’re over the age of 24, you can complete the form as an individual.

Visit the Federal Student Aid's webpage on reporting parent information to find out who counts as your parent, what to do if you don’t live with your parents, and what to do if you don’t have access to your parents’ financial information.

Do You Need Physical Copies of Tax Forms? - No! The online submission form connects your parents to an IRS tool that lets them pull data directly, so they don't have to type in or upload any information.

Tip No. 4: What You Need to Fill Out the FAFSA (FAFSA Checklist)

The FAFSA is extremely easy if you come prepared. Here's what you need:

Your StudentAid.gov account (tip no. 2)
Your contributor information (who you need to include)
Your federal income tax return (accessible online)
Records of your child support received
Records of your assets
List of schools you’re interested in attending (tip no. 5)

If you have contributors participating on your FAFSA form, they will need to have:

A StudentAid.gov account (tip no. 2)
Your federal income tax return (accessible online)
Records of your child support received
Records of your assets

For more detailed information on each item of the FAFSA Checklist, visit StudentAid.Gov - FAFSA Checklist: What Students Need

Tip No. 5: Make sure you’ve added UM to your list of schools.

FAFSA allows automatic submission to up to 20 accredited institutions of higher education. Be sure one of the schools on the form is the University of Montana.

UM's FAFSA school code is 002536.

FAFSA automatically sends your information to the schools you select. Universities cannot request your FAFSA forms. Schools must be listed on your form to receive your information.

Still have FAFSA questions? We're here to help!

If you want help filling out the FAFSA, call UM's Student Financial Services 406-243-5373 or email finaid@mso.umt.edu.

Are you a current UM student who needs help with the FAFSA? Schedule an appointment online through your Navigate account.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities at the University of Montana

After completing the FAFSA, check out these other scholarship and funding opportunities available:

UM's Scholarship Portal

The University of Montana administers most scholarship funds through the UM Scholarship Portal. The portal is accessible to all incoming and continuing UM students and offers one centralized general application, regardless of a student's major or program of study. This means that you fill out a single application to apply for hundreds of UM-administered scholarships.

Open UM's Scholarship Portal

New Student Priority Deadline: January 15, 2027 - (for 2027-28 school year)

Current Student Priority Deadline: March 1, 2027 - (for 2027-28 school year)

External Scholarships

External scholarships are financial aid opportunities not affiliated with the university, coming from sources like charities, businesses and foundations. From prestigious, internationally recognized scholarships to locally based resources, these scholarships reduce tuition costs and often come with recognition, a network of scholars to tap into, and/or future funding for creative or research projects, including study abroad.

At the University of Montana, the Office of External Scholarships and Fellowships is here to help every Grizzly learn about, plan for and apply for external funding. They’re with you every step of the way, from “just curious” to post-submission and award

How Do I Pay for College?

How I Saved with Dual Enrollment

Your Guide to Getting a Student Job