Data Sharing Web Center
Financial aid professionals collect, manage, and have access to a vast amount of confidential student and parent data. This data includes information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR), and the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), as well as information from other sources, such as tax returns, professional judgment documents, student progress data, and other private and sensitive information.
There are three important laws that control the release of student data: (1) Sections 483(a)(3)(E) and 485B(d)(2) of the Higher Education Act (HEA), as amended; (2) the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA); and (3) the Privacy Act. The NASFAA Statement of Ethical Principles, which serves to guide member practices, also reflects the statutory and regulatory restrictions on the improper release of student data.
Current data-sharing rules under 99.31(a)(3)(iii) and 99.35 and section 483(a)(3)(E) of the HEA allow institutions to report student personally-identifiable information, including FAFSA data, on federal reports that are used to evaluate federal education programs, such as the Integrated Postsecondary Education System (IPEDS) and the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS).
NASFAA Resources
| Data Sharing White Paper | Data Sharing Decision Tree |
 |
 |
- May 2026 - Data Sharing Decision Tree
- December 2025 - Navigating Federal Guidance on the Use and Disclosure of FAFSA Data and Federal Tax Information
- October 2025 - ED Details FTI and FAFSA Data Guidance
- July 2025 - What's New in Federal Tax Information (FTI) Webinar Recording
- July 2025 - NASFAA Presents: The Who, What, Why, and When of FAFSA Data Sharing (Virtual Conference Session)
- June 2025 - Data Sharing: Best Practices, Challenges, and Compliance Considerations (National Conference Session Video)
- May 2025 - FAFSA Data Sharing in the Context of Federal Tax Information
- June 2019 - Financial Aid Data Sharing Report (Version 2)
- This version updates the report from 2016 by incorporating changes to HEA data sharing rules from FY18 and FY19 appropriations bills.
- July 2016 - Financial Aid Data Sharing Report
- December 2014 - What Would You Do? Exploring Ethics In FAFSA Data Sharing
NASFAA News Coverage
- February 2025 - New ED Guidance Changes Definition of FTI to Include Derived Total Income Values from ISIR
Department of Education Resources
- September 2025 - Guidance on the Use of Federal Tax Information (FTI), Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Data, and Non-FAFSA Data
- Department of Education Protecting Student Privacy Homepage
- December 2024 - Guidance on Consent for FAFSA Data Sharing and Automatic IDR Certification
- November 2024 - Guidance for State Grant Agencies and Institutions of Higher Education on the Access, Disclosure, and Use of FAFSA Data for the Application, Award, and Administration of Student Aid Programs
- July 2024 - Guidance on Means-Tested Benefits Outreach for Institutions and State Grant Agencies
- April 2024 - Updates to the FAFSA Completion Initiative and Means-Tested Benefits Outreach (Updated July 29, 2024)
- September 2023 - Updated SAIG Enrollment Agreement Available Oct. 23, 2023 – Required Steps to Receive 2024–25 ISIRs (Updated Feb. 9, 2024)
- May 2023 - Access and Use of Federal Tax Information (FTI) for Federal Student Aid Programs Beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA Processing Cycle (Updated February 11, 2025)
- January 2022 - Updated Designation of Entity under Section 483(a)(3)(E) of the Higher Education Act and Institution of Higher Education (IHE) Guidance
- January 2022 - Use of FAFSA Data to Administer Federal Programs
- March 2021 - Designation of U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services under Section 483(a)(3)(E) of the Higher Education Act
- June 2015 - Guidance for Reasonable Methods and Written Agreements
Additional Resources
