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After filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), either on paper or electronically, students will receive an output document depending on the type of FAFSA filed. Output documents are referred to as either a Student Aid Report (SAR) or a SAR Acknowledgement (electronic output).

The student does not need to take or send the SAR or SAR Acknowledgement to a postsecondary school that already received the student’s EFC and FAFSA information electronically – Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR). The postsecondary school must receive the student’s information in order for the student to receive federal financial aid at that school.

The SAR/SAR Acknowledgement summarizes the data that was provided on the FAFSA and allows for updates and/or corrections to the original data provided by the student and family. The primary purpose of the SAR is to report the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). A formula, called Federal Methodology, is used to determine the EFC.

Unless the student’s SAR has been rejected, the EFC is printed on the front page at the upper right. In addition, there is a section for the financial aid administrator’s use and a section of summary data from the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). If the student has not had any previous federal student aid, this section will be blank.

New in 2007-08

The overall format of the 2007-08 SAR is similar to the previous year but a few changes have been made. The order of the data elements is the same as the order on the 2007-08 FAFSA.

The SAR will be printed on yellow paper;

The top of page one (masthead) will display the new Federal Student Aid's (FSA) brand identity;

The Data Release Number (DRN) has been moved from the bottom of page one to the top right corner of page one directly above the OBM number;

The placement of new, deleted and modified questions from the 2007-08 FAFSA have been incorporated; and

The number of federal school codes an applicant can include on the paper FAFSA was reduced from six to four but applicants can change up to four previously identified school codes on their paper SAR and return it via mail to the Department or phone the Department's toll-free customer service center to have the codes changed or added for a total of six school codes.

Viewing SAR information online

Once the FAFSA is processed, students with PINs can go to the FAFSA on the Web site and click on “Student Access” to view SAR information. “Student Access” is available whether the student applied electronically or not and whether he or she provided an e-mail address or not.

A link to “Student Access” is sent instead of a SAR when a student supplies a valid e-mail address on the FAFSA. Unlike the link to the PIN, which is accessible only once, the link to the electronic SAR remains active for repeated access. The electronic SAR shows the same information the paper SAR does. The student will be able to print a copy of the SAR for reference.