SERVES
17M+
STUDENTS ANNUALLY
Unlocking Higher
Education for America
We're making access to federal student aid easier and faster for millions of families.
More information on roles coming soon
We Support Millions Every Year
We help students and families pursue education after high school by strengthening access, improving affordability, and increasing opportunity.
DISTRIBUTES
$120B+
IN FEDERAL STUDENT AID EACH YEAR
FUNDS
5,300+
COLLEGES AND CAREER SCHOOLS
MANAGES
$1.6T+
IN FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS
Real Impact
The Lives We Change
As someone who was incarcerated, I filled out the FAFSA application with a pencil while still inside. When I was released after a five-year sentence, my experience at the financial aid office was beautiful. I received support, transferred to Southern Oregon University, and graduated summa cum laude. Receiving financial aid completely changed the trajectory of my life.
As someone who was incarcerated, I filled out the FAFSA application with a pencil while still inside. When I was released after a five-year sentence, my experience at the financial aid office was beautiful. I received support, transferred to Southern Oregon University, and graduated summa cum laude. Receiving financial aid completely changed the trajectory of my life.Kristy
Former Student
A student from one of the high schools we serve has a troubled home life. She has been accepted to Virginia Military Institute and because of filing the FAFSA application, she received $30,000 in aid. This aid will allow her to get out of her current situation, get a stellar education, and strike out on her own.
School Counselor
Ocean Lakes High School, Virginia
federal student aid is helping me go to college so I can have a better quality of life. I come from a middle to lower class family, so money is something we struggle with. Even if it's not enough to pay for the whole college, federal student aid will help a lot. I want to study to be a veterinarian because I love animals. I will use every single dime to make my dream come true.
Graduating Senior
International High School for Health Sciences, New York
Y'all don't get enough credit for what you do…you really are lifting a lot of people to higher education, higher aspirations. FAFSA allows students to dream when they couldn't before.
Federal student aid user
When I first graduated high school and had planned to go to college it was such a process to be able to get student aid going that I became discouraged and let that dream go. In a sense, I'm almost at ease that I decided to wait so long. This has been the quickest and easiest process aside from going through with all of this and dealing with my own nerves!
Federal student aid user
The Work
Modernizing Student Aid
Every year, millions of aspiring students rely on federal student aid to pursue their education. So when the system slows down or fails, students' progress is put at risk.
Our small dedicated team is modernizing the federal financial aid process to ensure seamless access for more than 42 million Americans.
We are modernizing complex, often paper-based processes into intuitive, digital experiences—whether it's applying for financial aid, navigating loan repayment, or supporting programs for public servants. This work has strong backing across the Department—improving how government serves students is something everyone can rally behind.
