FAFSA Verification

Approximately a third of FAFSAs are selected for verification by the Department of Education, which requires submitting additional documents to support the information entered on the form. If your FAFSA is selected, Student Financial Services will let you know what documentation needs to be submitted. The most accurate and preferred way to update your FAFSA is to use the Financial Aid Direct Data Exchange. Please be aware that not all parents and students are eligible to use the Financial Aid Direct Data Exchange, and you may be required to provide copies of your IRS tax return transcript.

Completing the verification process will assist us in accurately determining your financial aid eligibility. Failure to complete the required verification process will result in the postponement or cancellation of all non-merit financial assistance. If verification is not completed by the beginning of the school year, students must arrange for alternative means to pay for full semester charges until the verification process can be completed and full eligibility has been determined.

The verification worksheets can be found on our financial forms web page, and students will be notified via Redlands email or U.S. mail what verification items are needed.

The official verification policy can be found in the current university catalog. 

Tentative Awards

Entering freshman who meet the 2025-26 March 3 FAFSA deadline will receive a financial aid award letter before the deposit deadline of May 1. If you have been selected for verification, your initial financial aid offer will be tentative (e.g., the award is subject to change pending verification of your financial aid file). Once Student Financial Services has received all documentation needed to complete the verification process, your file will be reviewed and your tentative award will either be finalized or adjusted.