Personal Identification Numbers-PIN’s  for FAFSA

The PIN serves as your identifier to let you access your personal information in various U.S. Department of Education systems. It is similar to the Personal Identification Number that you get from your bank that enables you to access your bank account, use a debit card, etc. Because your PIN serves as your electronic signature, you should not give it to anyone.  Apply at for a PIN here.

Once you successfully complete a request, your PIN will be e-mailed or mailed to you. It will take approximately 1-3 business days after you request your PIN for you to receive an e-mail notification with instructions on how to retrieve it electronically, or 7-10 days to receive it in the mail via the U.S. Postal Service.

When you use your PIN, you must type the PIN exactly as it appears. You need a PIN in order to perform any of the following tasks:

Electronically sign the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Web                                                 

     File FAFSA Renewals on the Web              

     FAFSA corrections on the Web

     View the status of a submitted FAFSA application completed on FAFSA on the Web.

     View the results of a processed FAFSA application completed on FAFSA on the Web.                              

     Access your Federal Student Aid information on the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) Web site.

     Access Direct Loan Entrance and Exit Counseling.

     Make address corrections to a Direct Loan account, calculate a repayment schedule, and get interactive counseling on deferment or forbearance for any Direct Loans on the Direct Loan Servicing Web site.

     Track the processing status of your online Consolidation Loan application throughout the entire consolidation process from application receipt to booking with Direct Loan Servicing.

     Make updates to the e-mail or mailing address where your PIN can be sent.

     Print a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR).

Anyone who has a valid Social Security Number and is a U.S. Citizen or eligible Non-Citizen may apply for a PIN.  Parents and first-time financial aid applicants (students) may apply at for a PIN at the US Department of Education website. When students and parents apply for the first time for a PIN, the Department of Education will send to the Social Security Administration (SSA) the following information: their name, date of birth, and Social Security Number (SSN)  If the information provided does not match with the SSA data, applicants will not be able to receive a PIN.

Your PIN will be available for online delivery for 14 days from the date they sent the e-mail which contains the link to the US Department of Education's secure PIN delivery Web site. If you do not respond with 14 days, the US Department of Education will then send your PIN in the mail.

Before you are able to use your PIN you must activate the PIN. To activate the PIN you must provide a Challenge Response and agree to the terms and conditions set up by the US Department of Education.

You can use your PIN at these U.S. Department of Education Web sites:

  FAFSA on the Web to do the following:

     Access and complete your Renewal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

     Submit corrections to your processed FAFSA

     Electronically sign your submitted FAFSA

     Obtain a copy of your processed FAFSA information.

National Student Loan Data System Web site: to view a history of the federal student financial aid you have received.

Direct Loan Servicing:

     Use your PIN to access Direct Loan Entrance and Exit Counseling.

     Get up-to-date account information, loan balances, and payoff information.

     Use our online repayment calculator to help you forecast repayment of your loan and

     Contact customer service staff by e-mail.

Direct Loan Consolidation Web site: Your PIN will enable you to track the processing status of your online Consolidation Loan application throughout the entire consolidation process from application receipt to booking with Direct Loan Servicing. You may E-sign your master promissory note for your Direct Loan.

A PIN does not expire. However, there are instances when the PIN will be disabled such as if you have requested that a new PIN be created for you, only your new PIN can be used; or if your PIN is inactive for more than 30 months, the PIN must be re-established by going to the PIN home page and selecting 'Re-establish My PIN'.

If a parent already has a PIN, they can use that PIN to sign their child's FAFSA application, Renewal FAFSA or FAFSA Corrections on the Web.  If they have more than one child attending college, they can use the same PIN to sign all their applications.  A U.S. Department of Education's PIN serves then as a master electronic signature.

FAFSA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)