FAFSA^® Submission Summary¹

What does a FAFSA^® Submission Summary look like?

There are five key pieces of information in your FAFSA^® Submission Summary that you should pay the most attention to: Student Aid Index number, verification, Data Release Number, loan summary, and FAFSA^® changes.

Student Aid Index (SAI)

Your SAI number within your FAFSA^® Submission Summary is an index number that colleges use to determine how much financial aid you're eligible to receive. Your SAI is calculated according to a formula established by law and the information from your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®).

Verification

If there's an asterisk next to your SAI, it means your FAFSA^® Submission Summary requires further verification. The school(s) on your FAFSA^® will follow-up with you with a list of documents needed to verify the information you submitted.

Data Release Number (DRN)

A Data Release Number (DRN) is a four-digit number given to your application by Federal Student Aid. You can provide your DRN to a customer service agent if you need certain changes made to your FAFSA^® information. Do not give your DRN to anyone other than a financial aid administrator or customer service agent.

Loan summary

The loan summary on your FAFSA^® Submission Summary is where any of your outstanding federal student loans will be listed.

FAFSA^® changes

You’ll have the chance to correct any information that was wrong on your FAFSA^®.

How and when you'll receive your FAFSA^® Submission Summary

You'll receive your FAFSA^® Submission Summary depending on how you submitted your FAFSA^®.

If you provided an email address when you submitted your FAFSA^®, you can expect to receive your FAFSA^® Submission Summary within a few days of electronically filing.

If you filed a paper FAFSA^®, you should receive your FAFSA^® Submission Summary via postal mail in three to four weeks.

Why your FAFSA^® Submission Summary is important

It's important to have an accurate FAFSA^® Submission Summary since your financial aid awards are based on the information listed on your report. Review it carefully with your family and compare the information listed to a copy of your FAFSA^®. The SAI number listed on your FAFSA^® Submission Summary will determine the amount of aid you'll receive.

If you think any of the information on your summary is incorrect, correct it by using the information Review Form on the back of the FAFSA^® Submission Summary or by going to studentaid.gov.