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Completing the FAFSA

Whether it's your first time or your fourth time, we know that filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be overwhelming and intimidating. That’s why Moravian University’s Office of Financial Aid Services is here to guide you every step of the way. 


Where and When to File

While the FAFSA usually launches annually on October 1 on studentaid.gov, it launched in December for the 2024-2025 year. We strongly encourage you to complete and submit your FAFSA as closely after October 1 as possible. Submitting your FAFSA early ensures that we receive the application and can review your information to prepare and provide you with a financial aid offer in a timely fashion.

When Student Is
Attending College 
FAFSA Launch Date Recommended Filing Deadline
2023-2024 October 1, 2022 May 1, 20223
2024–2025 (upcoming academic year) December 31, 2023 May 1, 2024
2025-2026 October 1, 2024 May 1, 2025

Although filing FAFSA early won't necessarily ensure that you receive your Financial Aid Offer from Moravian University or any other schools of interest immediately, you are putting your best foot forward to maximize your aid eligibility and also expedite your offer. 


What You'll Need 

To file the FAFSA, there are a few things you will need. Here's your checklist:

A verified FSA ID is a secure username and password that not only allows you to log in and sign the FAFSA, but also allows you to complete federal loan documents and access your federal student loan borrowing information. As the student, you will need your own personal student FSA ID.

If you are considered a dependent student, one parent whose information is required on the FAFSA needs their own parent FSA ID. If your parent has already created their own personal FSA ID (for example, if they have another student already in school), they do not need to create another FSA ID. They can use their personal FSA ID in existence as their parent FSA ID.


When filling out the FAFSA, it is important that the social security number (SSN) listed for the student matches exactly what's listed on the student's social security card; which should also match the SSN used on the student's FSA ID. Similarly, it is important that the SSN listed for the parent(s) on the FAFSA matches exactly what's listed on the parent(s)' social security card(s); which should also match the SSN used on the parent FSA ID.


The FAFSA looks at two-year prior income and tax information. Use the grid below to determine which year's tax records you should use on the FAFSA:

When Student Is
Attending College
Which Year’s Income and
Tax Information Is Required
2023–2024 2021
2024–2025 (upcoming academic year) 2022
2025–2026  2023

Because the FAFSA will ask for older income and tax information, you will already have done your taxes by the time you fill out your FAFSA. This means you won’t need to estimate your tax information and then go back into the FAFSA later to update it.

We recognize that two years ago, your financial picture may have been different than what it looks like now in the present day. If you have experienced any changes in your or your family’s financial circumstances, please contact the Office of Financial Aid Services to discuss your situation further.

Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool

​​Want to make things even easier? There's a good chance you can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) on the FAFSA! 

The IRS DRT is designed to automatically import your income and tax information as it’s reported on your Federal Tax Return from the IRS onto your FAFSA. Using the IRS DRT means you won't need to page through your tax return and determine which line item goes where.

To use the IRS DRT, under the Financial Information sections on FAFSA when prompted about using the IRS DRT, simply:

  1. Click "Link to IRS"
  2. Verify your tax filing status and your address as listed on your tax return
  3. Select "Transfer Now!" 

This will import your financial data from the IRS onto your FAFSA, making the application process faster and easier than ever before. While we strongly encourage you to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) if given that option; however, there are some circumstances in which you might not be able to use it. You may be unable to use the IRS DRT if:

  • You currently have a different marital status than during the applicable tax year being used on FAFSA 
  • You used the "married filing separately" tax filing status
  • You filed a U.S. Territory or foreign return

Students and parents of dependent student will need to report any relevant additional income and untaxed information on the FAFSA for the applicable year. Please be sure to have your records handy to help you!


Students and parents of dependent student may be asked to report current asset information. Please be sure to have your records handy to help you!


Each time you submit the FAFSA electronically, you can list up to ten schools. You can list the schools by school code (Moravian University's school code is 003301) or by searching the name of the school. You'll want to send your data to any school to which you may be interested in applying. This will enable those schools to prepare for you a Financial Aid Offer once you've been accepted for admission and the school has started their award process for the year.