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The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to determine your eligibility for federal-, state- and school-based financial aid. The federal government has a set deadline of June 30 each year.
However, if you want to also qualify for financial aid, such as scholarships and grants, offered by your school or the state where you permanently reside, you may need to submit your FAFSA sooner than the federal deadline. Here's what to know.
Federal FAFSA Deadline
Historically, the FAFSA has been made available to college students and their families on October 1 for the upcoming school year. However, recent changes to the application process have resulted in some delays and slow rollouts.
In response, Congress passed the FAFSA Deadline Act with near unanimous approval, requiring the Department of Education to stick to the October 1 deadline moving forward.
The deadline to submit your FAFSA for federal student aid is always June 30 of the current academic year. In other words, if you want to qualify for federal aid for the 2024-25 academic year, you'll have until June 30, 2025, to do so.
If you need to make corrections to your FAFSA, you'll have another deadline in September, though the date can vary from year to year. Here's a look at deadlines for the next few years:
| Upcoming FAFSA Deadlines | ||
|---|---|---|
| School Year | Due Date | Corrections Due Date |
| 2024-2025 | June 30, 2025 | September 14, 2025 |
| 2025-2026 | June 30, 2026 | September 13, 2026 |
| 2026-2027 | June 30, 2027 | To be determined |
State and College FAFSA Deadlines
While the FAFSA was designed to determine how much federal financial aid you can get, it's also used by state agencies and colleges and universities to assess eligibility for assistance.
While some deadlines match the date for federal aid, others may be earlier. In fact, some states may even have varying deadlines for different types of aid. Here's where you can find these deadlines.
State-Based Financial Aid
You can find deadlines for the current and upcoming academic year on the Federal Student Aid website or your state's higher education agency website. Keep in mind that some states set hard deadlines, while others simply suggest dates for priority consideration. Some states may also require you to fill out further forms to qualify for certain types of aid.
Also, note that you'll need to submit the application to your state of legal or permanent residence. If you moved to another state for the sole purpose of attending school, the state you moved from will be your permanent residence.
School-Based Financial Aid
While the federal government gives you until near the end of the academic year to submit your FAFSA, most colleges, universities and trade schools require you to submit the application before the academic year begins. Some may even have separate deadlines for priority consideration.
You can typically find the deadline for your school on the financial aid page of its website. If you're an incoming freshman considering multiple schools, you'll want to know the deadline for each institution.
If you can't find the FAFSA deadline for a particular school, call the financial aid office to get the details you need.
Learn more >> How to Pay for College When Financial Aid Isn't Enough
Why Early FAFSA Submission Is Important
The FAFSA can take some time to complete, but while it may be tempting to put off your submission until shortly before the deadline, it's in your best interest to complete it as soon as you can.
That's because many forms of financial aid are available on a first-come, first-served basis—that's why some states and schools have separate deadlines for priority consideration.
So, if you want to maximize your potential for financial aid, it's best to submit your application as soon as it becomes available to you.
Learn more >> How to Read Your Financial Aid Award Letter
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