3 FAFSA® Deadlines You Need To Know Now
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When you’re busy with classes, extracurricular activities, and a social life, it’s easy to let a due date pass.
You need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form only once per year, but the federal government, your state government, and your school have different dates by which you must do so to be eligible for each of their aid programs. That’s because all three use information from your FAFSA form to determine your eligibility.
Some of this aid may be money you will not need to repay and may also be limited. That makes it even more crucial to know your earliest deadline and fill out your FAFSA form before that date.
Now, let’s get to those deadlines you need to remember.
1
Your School Deadline
Your college, career school, or trade school typically has the earliest of all the deadlines. This deadline varies from school to school but usually comes well before the academic year starts. If you’re applying to multiple schools, look up each school’s FAFSA deadline and make sure your form is submitted before then.
Many schools’ FAFSA due dates have priority deadlines, which means you need to submit your FAFSA form by that date to receive the best aid package. These schools typically publish this date on their financial aid web pages. If you can’t find the deadline, call the school’s financial aid office.
If you haven’t figured out where you’re applying yet, don’t worry! You can still submit the FAFSA form. List all the schools you’re considering, even if you’re not sure whether you’ll apply. You can always add schools to or remove schools from your FAFSA form later.
2
Your State of Legal Residence Deadline
You can receive state grants and scholarships to help fund your education. But to be eligible, you’ll need to fill out the FAFSA form before your state of legal residence’s FAFSA deadline.
As a reminder, your state of legal residence is the state where your permanent address is located. If you moved into a state for the sole purpose of attending a school, don’t count that state as your permanent address.
Millions of dollars in state grants and scholarships go unclaimed every year.
Some states have hard deadlines, while others suggest dates to make sure you get priority consideration for school aid.
To qualify for state aid, you not only have to submit your FAFSA form by the state’s deadline but also may need to fill out state-specific online forms through your state’s education agency.
3
The Federal Deadline
This last deadline comes from us, the U.S. Department of Education (aka the FAFSA form folks).
Although the federal deadline is typically the latest of the three deadlines, you’ll maximize your aid eligibility by applying before the deadlines from your school and state of legal residence.
The federal deadline is your last opportunity to submit that school year’s FAFSA form because we don’t close the FAFSA form for the current academic year until June 30 (which may be close to the end of the school year).
Even if you’re a latecomer, you can still be eligible to receive federal student aid—including a Federal Pell Grant—up until the federal deadline on June 30. However, your state and school may have limited funds, so we recommend that you submit your FAFSA form before their deadlines to be eligible for as much aid as possible.
| College and Career/Trade School | State | Federal | |
| Due Date | Varies from school to school but is typically early and before the academic year starts (around February). | Varies from state to state; some have dates for priority consideration and some have hard deadlines. | June 30 for each academic year. |
| How To Find It | Check with the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend. | FAFSA Application Deadlines State Education Agencies | FAFSA Application Deadlines |
Tips for Meeting Deadlines and Getting Money for School
Applying for state, school, and federal financial assistance isn’t all you can do. Don’t forget to apply for private grants and scholarships, which are widely available across the country.
How can you keep it all straight? We have a few tips:
- Mark deadlines on your calendar and set reminders so you get your applications in on time.
- Gather necessary documents in advance so it’s easier to complete your FAFSA form (check out our article on how to prepare to fill out the FAFSA form).
- Get scholarship tips now, before the deadlines creep up on you.
- Remind your additional contributors, if any, to complete their sections of your FAFSA form.
- Double-check information on your FAFSA form before submitting it to avoid errors that could cause processing delays.
What are you waiting for? It’s time to get to work on your FAFSA form today.
What happens if I miss a deadline?
If you miss a deadline, always contact your school’s financial aid office to see what options are still available for you. Some states and schools continue to award aid to FAFSA latecomers, but your chances get much slimmer, and the aid is often lower. You may still be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. However, if you miss the June 30 federal deadline, you’re no longer eligible to submit that year’s FAFSA form.
The best way to avoid missing a deadline is to complete your FAFSA form as early as you can. For tips that will help you successfully fill out your form, check out our “Pro Tips for the FAFSA® Form” page.
If you need help completing the FAFSA form, visit the FAFSA® Help Center. You’ll find answers to frequently asked questions, help articles, resources (including videos, infographics, and webinars), and information on ways you can get support.
