To be considered for federal financial aid (and most state aid) through the FAFSA, men aged 18 through 25 must be registered with the Selective Service System. This requirement covers men residing in the United States who are U.S. citizens or noncitizens. However, there are a few exemptions to the requirement:

• Males currently in the armed services and on active duty (this exception does not apply to members of the Reserve and National Guard who are not on active duty);
• Males who are not yet 18 at the time they complete their FAFSA (an update may be requested by the school);
• Males born before 1960;
• Citizens of the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Federate States of Micronesia, unless they have resided in the U.S. for at least one year for reasons other than a student or government employee;
• Noncitizens who first entered the U.S. after they turned 26;
• Noncitizens who entered the U.S. as lawful nonimmigrants on a valid visa and remained in the U.S. on the terms of that visa until after they turned 26.

The situations listed below are less common, but are exemptions for students who weren't required to register prior to meeting one of these criteria and who meet the criterion for the entire time through age 25:

• Unable to register due to being hospitalized, incarcerated, or institutionalized;
• Enrolled in any officer procurement program at The Citadel, North Georgia College and State University, Norwich University, Virginia Military Institute, Texas A & M University, or Virginia Polytechnic and State University; or
• Commissioned Public Health Service officer on active duty or member of the Reserve of the Public Health Service on specified active duty.

There are several ways in which a male student can register for Selective Service:

• Answer yes to the FASFA questions that asks if you want to be registered for Selective Service (must also answer that you are a male);
• Register online at the Selective Service Website;
  
• Register at a federal post office

When the FASFA is filed, a match is conducted with the student's FAFSA information (name, date of birth, SS#) and the Selective Service System. If the match is confirmed, no action needs to be taken by the student or financial aid office. If the match is not successful, the student will be notified via a comment on the Student Aid Report (and most likely by the school, too), and he must resolve the Selective Service registration problem before the financial aid office can certify loans or pay any federal student aid funds.

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