DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

AGENCY: Department of Education, Federal Student Aid

SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice requests comments on the 

2013-2014 versions of the forms used by individuals applying for federal student aid including the 

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Student Aid Report (SAR).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before XX, XX, 2012. Comments may 

be submitted electronically by e-mailing FAFSA.Comments@ed.gov.

Title: 2013-2014 Federal Student Aid Application

Type of Review: Revision

OMB Number: 1845-0001

Frequency: Annually

Respondents: Individuals

Annual Respondents: 25,053,809

Annual Responses: 46,099,008

Annual Burden Hours: 25,959,853

Abstract: 

Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), mandates that the Secretary of 

Education “...shall produce, distribute, and process free of charge common financial reporting forms as 

described in this subsection to be used for application and reapplication to determine the need and 

eligibility of a student for financial assistance...”. 

The determination of need and eligibility are for the following Title IV, HEA, federal student financial 

assistance programs: the Federal Pell Grant Program; the Campus-Based programs (Federal 

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS), and the Federal 

Perkins Loan Program); the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program; the Teacher Education 

Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant; and the Iraq and Afghanistan Service 

Grant.

Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education (hereafter “the Department”), 

subsequently developed an application process to collect and process the data necessary to determine 

a student’s eligibility to receive Title IV, HEA program assistance. The application process involves an 

applicant’s submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). After submission of the 

FAFSA, an applicant receives a Student Aid Report (SAR), which is a summary of the data they submitted 

on the FAFSA. The applicant reviews the SAR, and, if necessary, will make corrections or updates to 

their submitted FAFSA.
The Department seeks OMB approval of all application components as a single ‘‘collection of 

information”. The aggregate burden will be accounted for under OMB Control Number 1845-0001. 

The specific application components, descriptions and submission methods for each are listed in Table 1.

Table 1. Federal Student Aid Application Components

Component Description Submission Method

Initial Submission of FAFSA

FAFSA on the Web 

(FOTW)

Online FAFSA that offers applicants a customized 

experience. 

Submitted by the 

applicant via 

www.fafsa.gov. FOTW – Renewal Online FAFSA for applicants who have previously 

completed the FAFSA. 

FOTW – EZ Online FAFSA for applicants who qualify for the 

Simplified Needs Test (SNT) or Automatic Zero 

(Auto Zero) needs analysis formulas.

FOTW – EZ 

Renewal

Online FAFSA for applicants who have previously 

completed the FAFSA and who qualify for the SNT 

or Auto Zero needs analysis formulas. 

FAFSA on the 

Phone (FOTP)

The Federal Student Aid Information Center 

(FSAIC) representatives assist applicants by filing 

the FAFSA on their behalf through FOTW. 

Submitted through 

www.fafsa.gov for 

applicants who call 1-

800-4-FED-AID. FOTP - EZ FSAIC representatives assist applicants who qualify 

for the SNT or Auto Zero needs analysis formulas 

by filing the FAFSA on their behalf through FOTW. 

FAA Access Online tool that a financial aid administrator (FAA) 

utilizes to submit a FAFSA.

Submitted through 

www.faaacess.ed.go

v by a FAA on behalf 

of an applicant.

FAA Access –

Renewal

Online tool that a FAA can utilize to submit a 

Renewal FAFSA.

FAA Access – EZ Online tool that a FAA can utilize to submit a 

FAFSA for applicants who qualify for the SNT or 

Auto Zero needs analysis formulas.

FAA Access - EZ 

Renewal

Online tool that a FAA can utilize to submit a 

FAFSA for applicants who have previously 

completed the FAFSA and who qualify for the SNT 

or Auto Zero needs analysis formulas.

Electronic Other This is a submission done by a FAA, on behalf of 

the applicant, using the Electronic Data Exchange 

(EDE). 

The FAA may be 

using their 

mainframe 

computer or 

software to facilitate 

the EDE process.
PDF FAFSA or 

Paper FAFSA

The paper version of the FAFSA printed by the 

Department for applicants who are unable to 

access the Internet or the online PDF FAFSA for 

applicants who can access the Internet but are 

unable to complete the form using FOTW.

Mailed by the 

applicant.

Correcting Submitted FAFSA Information and Reviewing FAFSA Information 

FOTW –

Corrections

Any applicant who has a Federal Student Aid PIN 

(FSA PIN) – regardless of how they originally 

applied – may make corrections using FOTW 

Corrections.

Submitted by the 

applicant via 

www.fafsa.gov.

Electronic Other –

Corrections

With the applicant's permission, corrections can be 

made by a FAA using the EDE. 

The FAA may be 

using their 

mainframe 

computer or 

software to facilitate 

the EDE process.

Paper SAR - This is 

a SAR and an 

option for 

corrections.

The full paper summary that is mailed to paper 

applicants who did not provide an e-mail address 

and to applicants whose records were rejected due 

to critical errors during processing. Applicants can 

write corrections directly on the paper SAR and 

mail for processing. 

Mailed by the 

applicant.

FAA Access –

Corrections

An institution can use FAA Access to correct the 

FAFSA.

Submitted through 

www.faaacess.ed.go

v by a FAA on behalf 

of an applicant.

Internal 

Department 

Corrections

The Department will submit an applicant's record 

for system-generated corrections. 

There is no burden 

to the applicants 

under this correction 

type as these are 

system-based

corrections.

FSAIC Corrections Any applicant, with their Data Release Number 

(DRN), can change the postsecondary institutions 

listed on their FAFSA or change their address by 

calling FSAIC. 

These changes are 

made directly in the 

CPS system by a 

FSAIC 

representative.

SAR Electronic 

(eSAR)

The eSAR is an online version of the SAR that is 

available on FOTW to all applicants with a PIN. 

Notifications for the eSAR are sent to students 

who applied electronically or by paper and 

provided an e-mail address. These notifications 

are sent by e-mail and include a secure hyperlink 

that takes the user to the FOTW site.

Cannot be 

submitted for 

processing.
SAR 

Acknowledgment

This is the condensed paper SAR that is mailed to 

applicants who applied electronically but did not 

provide an e-mail address and do not meet the 

criteria for a full paper SAR.
This information collection also documents an estimate of the annual public burden as it relates to the 

application process for federal student aid. The Applicant Burden Model (ABM), measures applicant 

burden through an assessment of the activities each applicant conducts in conjunction with other 

applicant characteristics and in terms of burden, the average applicant’s experience. Key determinants 

of the ABM include:

 The total number of applicants that will potentially apply for federal student aid;

 How the applicant chooses to complete and submit the FAFSA (e.g., by paper or electronically 

via FOTW);

 How the applicant chooses to submit any corrections and/or updates (e.g., the paper SAR or 

electronically via FOTW Corrections);

 The type of SAR document the applicant receives (eSAR, SAR acknowledgment, or paper SAR);

 The formula applied to determine the applicant’s expected family contribution (EFC) (full need 

analysis formula, Simplified Needs Test or Automatic Zero); and

 The average amount of time involved in preparing to complete the application.

The ABM is largely driven by the number of potential applicants for the application cycle. The total 

application projection for 2013-2014 is based upon two factors - estimates of the total enrollment in all 

degree-granting institutions and the percentage change in FAFSA submissions for the last completed or 

almost completed application cycle. The ABM is also based on the application options available to 

students and parents. The Department accounts for each application component based on web trending 

tools, survey information, and other Department data sources. 

For 2013-2014, the Department is reporting a net burden reduction of 3,398,000 hours. The reduction 

is a reflection of the effects of simplifying FAFSA on the Web, which is utilized by the majority of 

applicants who apply for aid. Simplification of the application is demonstrated by 1) the average 

completion times for initial submissions and; 2) fewer corrections being made to the application. 

The projected average completion times for initial submissions has decreased by 11 minutes for 2013-

14. In data reported in the 2012-2013 supporting statement, first-time filers using FOTW would take 

approximately 1.30 hours (78 minutes) to submit an application. The data from 2011-12 indicate that 

the same user would be able to submit their application in 1.12 hours (67 minutes), reducing their 

burden by .18 hours (11 minutes).

Corrections are also projected to decrease by 760,696 responses for 2013-14. Fewer corrections 

mean that more comprehensive and accurate data was captured in the initial submission of the 

application.

Updated completion times were calculated for each component and have been used to estimate the 

burden, excluding the change in the applicant volume. The results demonstrate that the burden for all 

applicants would have decreased by almost 13 percent or 3,758,702 hours, if the application volume 

had remained constant.

If the Department had not simplified the application process, thus reducing the time required to 

complete the FAFSA, the new burden estimates would only need to account for the change in applicants. 

The 1.43% increase in applicants would result in an increase in burden of 347,945 hours. 

Accounting for both the increase in total applicants and the decrease in individual applicant burden, the 

net change is an overall decrease of almost 12 percent or 3,398,000 hours. The following Table shows 

the net burden change and total cost for applicants. The change in total annual responses is also listed 

in the Table. Total annual responses include the original FAFSA submission and corrections.
Table 2. Net Burden Change

2012-2013 2013-2014 Change % 

Change Burden Disposition

Accounting for change in applicant burden and change in 

applicants.

Total 

Applicants 24,705,864 25,053,809 +347,945 +1.41%

Net decrease in 

burden.

The 1.41% increase in 

applicants is offset by 

the results of the 

simplification changes 

implemented by the 

Department. This has 

resulted in an overall 

decrease in burden of 

11.57% or 3,397,545 

hours.

Total 

Applicant 

Burden

29,357,853 25,959,853 -3,398,000 -11.6%

Total Annual 

Responses 46,447,024 46,099,007 -348,017 -.75%

Cost for All 

Applicants $234,804.24 $190,224.76 $44,579.48 -18.99%

The Department takes pride in the continued efforts to simplify the FAFSA submission process and the 

continued decrease in burden associated with the application process, even as the Department serves 

more students each year. The results confirm the significant improvements that have been made to the 

application process. The Department believes that these changes will lead to more students completing 

the FAFSA and will assist more students with their pursuit of postsecondary education through access to 

Title IV, HEA program assistance. 

REQUEST FOR COMMENTS: Comments should be submitted to the Department as indicated. All 

comments will become a matter of public record. Requests for copies of the proposed information 

collection request may be accessed from http://edicsweb.ed.gov, by selecting the ``Browse Pending 

Collections'' link and by clicking on link number xxxxxxx. When you access the information collection, 

click on ``Download Attachments'' to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to U.S. 

Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Requests 

may also be electronically mailed to ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or faxed to 202-401-0920. Please 

specify the complete title of the information collection when making your request. Comments regarding 

burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be electronically mailed to 

ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 

the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339. 

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before xx xx, 2012. Comments may 

be submitted electronically by e-mailing FAFSA.Comments@ed.gov. Any comments received after this 

date will be retained for consideration in the next annual review of the federal student aid application.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the 

deaf (TDD) may call the FIRS at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern time, Monday 

through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary is publishing this request for comment under the 

Provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Under that Act, the 

Department must obtain the review and approval of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 

before it may use a form to collect information. However, under procedure for obtaining approval 

from OMB, the Department must first obtain public comment of the proposed form, and to obtain that 

comment, the Department must publish this notice in the Federal Register. In addition to comments 

requested above, to accommodate the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Secretary is 

interested in receiving comments with regard to the following matters: (1) is this collection necessary to 

the proper functions of the Department, (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely 

manner, (3) is the estimate of burden accurate, (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, 

utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and (5) how might the Department minimize the 

burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology.