Marriage and Federal Financial Aid

Marriage corrections to the FAFSA are considered on a case-by-case basis. Correcting your FAFSA may be possible if you meet the criteria below.

This form is designed to guide you through the timing and considerations involved in submitting or correcting your marital status on the FAFSA, helping you determine if this change is possible for you. 

To submit or correct your FAFSA after being married and be considered for federal student aid you must meet the following criteria:

• Be currently enrolled or have future enrollment in a semester/term within this school year (fall 2024 through summer 2025) when submitting or correcting your 2024-2025 FAFSA AND
• Be married and correct your FAFSA by the June 30, 2025.

If you've already submitted a FAFSA for the school year, you’ll need to correct your existing FAFSA rather than submitting a new application.

Please note: We cannot guarantee that correcting your marital status will increase your Pell Grant eligibility. If you're already receiving a significant Pell Grant, making this change might not be beneficial and could even reduce the amount of aid you receive. We strongly encourage you to contact our office for personalized advice before making any corrections to your FAFSA.

After you get married, you may be able to submit or correct your 2024-2025 FAFSA to indicate that you are married.

How to Correct Your Marital Status on the FAFSA

Timing Considerations:

• Submitting your 2024-2025 FAFSA for the first time after getting married: If you’re submitting the FAFSA for the first time, it must be submitted and processed by the earlier of these two dates: either the last day of your 2024-2025 classes (fall 2024 through summer 2025) or June 30, 2025.

• Correcting a previously submitted 2024-2025 FAFSA after getting married: If you’re making corrections to a previously submitted FAFSA, the corrections must be submitted and processed by the last day of your 2024-2025 classes (fall 2024 through summer 2025). 
• Please note: it can take 3-5 days for the government to process FAFSA submitted online so don't wait until the last day.

For more detailed instructions, check out our Marriage and Financial Aid Handout.

Additional Support:

If you have questions or want personalized advice on whether updating your marital status is possible for you, consider attending our Marital Status Change Workshop. You’ll meet with a financial aid counselor who can walk you through your options and help with the FAFSA updates. Learn more and sign up for the workshop here.

You won’t be able to update your marital status or submit a FAFSA as a married student for this (fall 2024 through summer 2025) school year.

You should consider completing the 2025-2026 FAFSA if you will enroll in classes next year.