Why can't I see my FAFSA Submission Summary?

Your FAFSA Submission Summary should be available to view within a few days of your FAFSA being submitted. If you cannot see the Submission Summary yet, your application may still be incomplete, in draft status or not yet processed. Alternatively, there may be corrections that have not yet been submitted or fully processed.

Is the FAFSA Submission Summary the same as the Student Aid Report?

In short, yes. The FAFSA Submission Summary replaced the Student Aid Report as of the 2024-25 academic year. This was a part of the final implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act.

How do I download my FAFSA Submission Summary?

After logging into your StudentAid.gov account, you can navigate to the “My Activity” section of the site. Once your application has been processed, you can view your FAFSA Submission Summary. By selecting the “Print This Page” option at the upper-right corner of your summary, you can “Print to PDF” to save a copy of the document.

What is a FAFSA submission summary?

Written by

Meaghan Hunt,

Edited by

Pippin Wilbers,

Reviewed by

Dr. Annie Cole, Ed.D.,

Expert verified

Published on April 07, 2025 | 2 min read

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Key takeaways

The FAFSA Submission Summary replaces the Student Aid Report (SAR) which includes a summary of your submitted FAFSA application and ballpark estimates for your federal aid eligibility.
The FAFSA Submission Summary is not an offer of financial aid.
Review your FAFSA Submission Summary once it is available. You can make corrections and additions, but there is an annual deadline for doing so.

The FAFSA Submission Summary overviews the information you’ve submitted in your Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This document becomes available after your completed and submitted application has been processed. It provides an estimate of how much federal student aid you may be eligible to receive.

The Submission Summary replaced the similar Student Aid Report in the 2024-25 academic year, a change resulting from the FAFSA Simplification Act.

What information is in the FAFSA Submission Summary?

The FAFSA Submission Summary includes much of the same information as the Student Aid Report:

The answers you provided on the FAFSA form.
An eligibility overview with estimates of how much federal financial aid you may expect to receive, including federal student loans and Pell Grants, if you qualify.
Your Student Aid Index (SAI), previously known as the Expected Family Contribution. The lower this number is, the more financial support you are expected to need for college.
Information on the colleges you’ve designated, if you provided school information with your FAFSA submission. This may include graduation rates, average debt burden and estimated expenses, which can help you to compare your options.
Next steps to follow, including confirmation that each school you’ve designated has the information they need to assemble an offer of financial aid. You may be prompted to submit additional paperwork for FAFSA verification.

What the FAFSA Submission Summary isn’t

Importantly, while your FAFSA Submission Summary will include estimates for your federal loan, grant and work-study eligibility, it is not an offer of financial aid. These offers will come from each college or university you’ve applied to in the form of a financial aid award letter.

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How to find your FAFSA Submission Summary

To find your FAFSA Submission Summary, you will first log in to StudentAid.gov using your FSA ID. Navigate to your “My Activity” page, then the Status Center “Details” page.

A sample FAFSA Submission Summary for the fictional student John Smith Jr. The screenshot includes the Submission Summary's introduction, which details when the FAFSA was submitted and processed and lists what is included in the document. — Sample FAFSA summary from the Office of Federal Student Aid.

Correcting your FAFSA Submission Summary

After your Submission Summary has been processed, you should be able to review your application and correct any errors. You may be notified of changes or additions needed by responding to “Action Required” items on the “My Activity” page.

Corrections can be made online or by mail, with an annual deadline to submit these. For the 2025-26 award year, the deadline is Sept. 12, 2026.

Bottom line

The FAFSA Submission Summary is a simplified version of the old Student Aid Report and has replaced the SAR moving forward. It includes information about your Student Aid Report (SAI), previously known as your Expected Family Contribution. Though the FAFSA Submission Summary can give you a good idea of what you can expect in federal aid, it is not an offer letter and should not be used to make final decisions.

FAQs about the FAFSA Submission Summary

Your FAFSA Submission Summary should be available to view within a few days of your FAFSA being submitted. If you cannot see the Submission Summary yet, your application may still be incomplete, in draft status or not yet processed. Alternatively, there may be corrections that have not yet been submitted or fully processed.
In short, yes. The FAFSA Submission Summary replaced the Student Aid Report as of the 2024-25 academic year. This was a part of the final implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act.
After logging into your StudentAid.gov account, you can navigate to the “My Activity” section of the site. Once your application has been processed, you can view your FAFSA Submission Summary. By selecting the “Print This Page” option at the upper-right corner of your summary, you can “Print to PDF” to save a copy of the document.