What should I do if I got caught lying on my FAFSA application?

Lying on the FAFSA is considered a federal felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

This criminal record will follow you for the rest of your life.

Any financial aid received based on false information must be repaid in full, often resulting in overwhelming debt for the student.

Universities may rescind admission and/or revoke academic scholarships if they discover the FAFSA was falsified.

The federal government routinely audits FAFSA applications and can verify information like income, household size, and citizenship status.

Parents who lie on their child's FAFSA can also face the same severe legal penalties, even if the student was unaware of the deception.

Falsifying details like being an "emancipated minor" when you are still dependent on parents is a common FAFSA fraud that is easily detected.

Student loan providers are required by law to report any suspected FAFSA fraud to the Department of Education's Office of Inspector General.

Individuals who are caught lying on the FAFSA may become ineligible for future federal student aid, making it extremely difficult to continue their education.

FAFSA fraud can lead to the revocation of existing student loans, causing an immediate financial crisis for the affected student.

Lying on the FAFSA can disqualify an applicant from participating in federal work-study programs, removing an important source of financial support.

Falsifying information on the FAFSA is considered a breach of the student's agreement to provide truthful information, which could lead to expulsion from the university.

Even unintentional errors on the FAFSA, if not promptly corrected, can result in financial aid being withheld or the student being forced to repay funds received.