On the Better FAFSA a new term you will encounter is Contributor.
Contributor on 2025-26 FAFSA form, refers to anyone asked to provide information on a student's FAFSA form:
- a biological or adopted parent
- the student's spouse (if applicable)
- the parent's spouse (stepparent).
A Contributor is NOT a grandparent, foster parents, legal guardian, brother or sister, aunt or uncle, even if they helped provide for or raise the student.
A Contributor on the FAFSA form doesn't mean they are financially responsible for the student's education costs.
A Contributor will be invited to complete their portion of the FAFSA form by entering their name, date of birth, Social Security number, and email address.
A Contributor must provide personal and financial information in their own sections of the FAFSA form. Unlike previous versions of the FAFSA, no one other than the Contributor will be able to enter the Contributor's information.
Being a contributor does NOT implicate financial responsibility. However, if a required contributor refuses to provide their information, it will result in an incomplete FAFSA form, and the student will become ineligible for federal student aid.
