After submitting your FAFSA®, you will receive a Submission Summary, which is a summary of the FAFSA® answers you submitted. Double-check that everything in your Submission Summary is accurate, as this is the information that will be sent to the colleges you listed on your FAFSA®.
Each college that accepts you will then use the FAFSA® Submission Summary to create your financial aid package—typically a mix of grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study jobs. They will detail all this information in a financial aid award letter, usually sent sometime in the weeks after you get your admission letter. The amount of time it takes between being admitted and getting your financial aid award varies a lot by college. But typically, you’d get it before April 15, ahead of the deadline to decide which college you’ll be attending (which is usually May 1 or June 1). Returning college students (so rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors) will often receive their award letters a bit later.
If your financial aid offer wasn't enough to cover your bill, we recommend you submit an appeal. Learn more about financial aid appeals here.
If you'll need a student loan to cover the rest, begin by researching the lender that will give you the best rate. Most private lenders allow you to answer a few questions risk-free and then get your estimated interest rate. You’re under no obligation to actually get the loan. We recommend checking with Earnest first. Get your rate estimate from Earnest here.