What happens after I file the FAFSA (the Free Application for Federal Student Aid)?
The FAFSA will be processed by the U. S. Department of Education within approximately four weeks, and a Student Aid Report (SAR) will be mailed to you. This same information is also sent to the colleges you listed on the FAFSA. The SAR will contain the information from your application, and if there are no errors or questions, will provide your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), or what you will be expected to pay toward your education.