Overview
FAFSA Checklist 2026/27 (“we”, “us”) helps U.S. students plan FAFSA-related tasks. This policy explains what personal information we process, why we process it, how long we keep it, and the choices you have. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use the service.
Information we collect
- Account data. When you register or sign in, we collect your email address and one-time login codes we send to that address. We use this to create and secure your account.
- Checklist inputs and outputs. Information you enter in the onboarding wizard (for example school selection, state, planned term, dependency-related toggles) and the generated checklist content you save are stored so you can return to your dashboard, export PDFs, and use related features.
- Technical and usage data. We log routine server data (such as timestamps, approximate request metadata, and error diagnostics) and may record lightweight product events (for example feature usage) to understand performance and abuse patterns.
- Security signals. We use Google reCAPTCHA on sensitive flows to reduce automated abuse. Google may process technical data according to its own policies when the widget loads.
How we use information
We use the data above to:
- Provide, operate, and improve FAFSA Checklist 2026/27;
- Authenticate you, prevent fraud, and enforce rate limits and safety controls;
- Generate and display personalized checklist content you request;
- Communicate service-related messages (for example sign-in codes);
- Comply with law and respond to lawful requests where required.
FAFSA Checklist 2026/27 is informational. It does not replace official guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, StudentAid.gov, or your school’s financial aid office.
Cookies and similar technologies
We use a signed session cookie to keep you logged in. reCAPTCHA may set additional cookies or local storage as described by Google. You can control cookies through your browser settings; disabling cookies may limit sign-in or security features.
Third parties
Depending on configuration, we may use subprocessors such as:
- Hosting and database (for example Vercel and a PostgreSQL provider) to run the application and store account and checklist data;
- Email delivery (for example Resend) to send magic-link or one-time codes;
- Optional AI features where enabled, an AI provider may process checklist-related text you submit solely to produce outputs for you;
- Partner links. When you choose sponsored partner offers, your browser may open a partner site. Some outbound links route through our servers first so we can apply attribution parameters tied to your account email local-part (the characters before “@”). Partners handle their own privacy practices. Partner offer panels may include blurred stock photography used under third-party content licenses.
Retention
We retain account and checklist data while your account is active and for a reasonable period afterward for backups, security, and legal compliance. Aggregated or de-identified analytics may be retained longer.
Your choices
You may request access, correction, or deletion of personal information associated with your account by contacting us at the email below. We may need to verify your request. Some information may be retained where law requires or for legitimate security and fraud-prevention reasons.
Children
The service is intended for students preparing for higher education workflows. If you believe we have collected personal information from a child in a way that concerns you, contact us and we will investigate promptly.
International users
The service is designed for users in the United States. If you access it from other regions, your information may be processed in the U.S. or other locations where our providers operate.
Security
We use industry-standard measures appropriate to the risk (for example HTTPS, signed sessions, and access controls). No method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure.
Changes
We may update this policy from time to time. We will post the new date at the top of this page. Continued use after changes means you accept the updated policy.
Contact
Questions about privacy: privacy@fafsachecklist.com.
See also our Terms of Use.