Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on time should be at the top of your college-prep checklist. You must file a FAFSA (or FAFSA renewal) each school year to access federal student aid. But the FAFSA is also used to determine your eligibility for student aid offered by states and colleges. So when is the FAFSA due? There are actually three major FAFSA due dates for different types of student aid: your college’s deadline, your state’s deadline, and the federal deadline for the FAFSA. Here’s how to figure out when each FAFSA is due.
Your College FAFSA Deadline
The FAFSA opens on October 1 for the following school year. For example, students could have filed their applications for the 2022-23 school year as early as Oct. 1, 2021. It’s a good idea to complete the FAFSA as soon after Oct. 1 as possible if you’re hoping to receive grants or scholarships from your college. Many schools set FAFSA priority deadlines, which is when the FAFSA is due if you want to maximize your consideration for student aid from your college. Each college sets its own FAFSA priority deadline. Some colleges’ FAFSA deadlines are as early as Nov. 1, a month after the form opens, and others are as late as Aug. 1, right before the school year begins. With this wide range of deadlines, it’s best to check your school’s calendar or ask the financial aid office so you know your college’s FAFSA due date.
State FAFSA Deadlines
Most state student aid programs require you to file a FAFSA, but each state sets its own FAFSA deadline. Here are some key points to keep in mind as you look into state student aid and FAFSA deadlines:
Some states require students to submit additional forms to be considered for state student aid, and others don’t. Some states accept FAFSAs and award aid—until funds run out. Submitting a FAFSA early will improve your chances of receiving aid. Some states set priority deadlines for the FAFSA (similar to colleges). You’ll have a better chance of receiving aid if you apply by the priority deadline, but you can still apply between the priority and regular deadlines. Some states have separate deadlines for specific grant or aid programs, so keep that in mind as you’re prioritizing your college-prep to-dos. Watch out for “processed by” deadlines. For example, Florida’s FAFSA deadline is the date by which your form must be processed, not just submitted.
Here’s an overview of state student aid and FAFSA deadlines for the 2023-24 school year. But how long do you have after that to submit the form? The federal deadline to submit the FAFSA is June 30 of the school year it’s for. For the 2023-24 school year, for example, the federal FAFSA deadline is June 30, 2023.
Fill Out Your FAFSA Early
Filling out the FAFSA early is one of the best things you can do to prepare for the upcoming school year. Not only will it get this task out of the way, it can improve your chances of getting more student aid. By getting it in early, you can more easily meet state and school priority deadlines to be considered for specific aid programs or scholarships. Additionally, many student aid programs have limited funding; they award aid to eligible students until their funds run out. Applying earlier gives you a solid chance of snagging some of that funding for yourself. Lastly, completing a FAFSA early can help you see what student aid you’re offered. If it’s not enough to cover your full costs, you’ll still have time to figure out where to get extra money for college. By the time your term starts, you’ll have the financial side of college fully settled—and hopefully, you’ll be able to focus more on your studies and less on how to pay for them.
College FAFSA deadline: Reach out to your school’s financial aid office for help.State FAFSA deadline: Contact your state’s education agency.
The federal FAFSA deadline is hard and fast. If you miss it, you will be ineligible to submit this form or access federal student aid for that school year.
