The Federal Student Aid Personal Identification Number (PIN)

The PIN is an identifier that allows you to access your personal information on various US Department of Education (ED) online systems.

Requesting a Federal Student Aid PIN

Request a PIN at the US Department of Education's PIN Registration Web site: http://www.pin.ed.gov.

Your PIN will be sent to you by e-mail within 3 business days after you submit your request. 

What Can Be Done with a FSA PIN?

As a Direct Loan borrower you will be able to —

• Complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) online — your PIN serves as a valid electronic signature on a promissory note for subsidized and unsubsidized Direct Loans.
• Electronically sign the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Web, complete a renewal FAFSA, and make FAFSA corrections on the Web.
• View the status and results of your processed FAFSA application on the FAFSA Web site.
• Access your federal student financial aid information on the National Student Loan Data System Web site.
• Make address corrections to a Direct Loan account.
• Make updates to the address where your PIN can be mailed.
• Request a duplicate copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR).

Where the FSA PIN Can Be Used

• FAFSA on the Web: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
  • Access and complete your Renewal FAFSA
  • Make corrections to your processed FAFSA
  • Electronically sign your submitted FAFSA
  • Request a copy of your processed FAFSA information
• The National Student Loan Data System Web Site where all your financial aid history is in one place: http://www.nslds.ed.gov
• The Direct Loan Servicing Center Web Site for up-to-date account information, loan balances, and payoff information: http://www.dl.ed.gov
• The Direct Loan Consolidation Web Site where you can track the status of your online Consolidation Loan application: http://www.loanconsolidation.ed.gov

The SDSU Password and the Federal Student Aid PIN

There is a difference between the SDSU WebPortal / AidLink password and the Federal Student Aid PIN.  Each electronic personal identifier serves a different purpose—

The SDSU WebPortal and AidLink password:
Used to enter SDSU's WebPortal and to access AidLink for information about your SDSU financial aid file.

The Federal Student Aid PIN:
Used to access information about your FAFSA, Direct Loan, and financial aid history.