When is the FAFSA Deadline 2025-2026?

FAFSA deadlines can vary. The FAFSA for the 2025-2026 academic year would typically open on October 1 and remains open until June 30, 2026. However, the 2025-2026 FAFSA release will be phased. The U.S. Department of Education has indicated that the 2025-2026 FAFSA will have limited availability on October 1, 2024 with the form opening up to all by December 2024. The 2025-2026 FAFSA officially went live at the end of November 2024, and is now available for all applicants.

To determine which FAFSA to file, and when you should file in order to maximize your federal and state aid funds, keep reading.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is used to apply for federal grants and student loans. Many states and schools rely on the information provided in the FAFSA to determine a student’s eligibility for state and institutional school aid, as well.

Key Takeaways about Deadlines for the FAFSA

The FASFA deadline for the 2024 - 2025 academic year is June 30, 2025
The FAFSA deadline for the 2025-2026 academic year is June 30, 2026
There are three FAFSA deadlines you should track: school deadline, state deadline, and federal deadline.
The most important deadline is the deadline that comes first
The earlier you file the FAFSA, the more aid you may qualify for

FAFSA Deadlines

There are three FAFSA deadlines you need to keep in mind. The most important FAFSA deadline will be the one with the earliest date.

State Deadline
School Deadline
Federal Deadline

When Is the FAFSA Due?

The most important FAFSA deadline is the FAFSA deadline which comes first. To be on the safe side, you do want to file the FAFSA as soon as possible. As long as the FAFSA you need to file is open, there is no such thing as filing your FAFSA too early.

Which FAFSA Should You File?

Federal student aid has an award year that runs from July 1 to June 30. The FAFSA has a 21-month application cycle that begins on October 1, nine months before the start of the award year, and ends on June 30, the last day of the award year. The exception is the 2024-2025 FAFSA whose application cycle will begin in December. Because of the way the application cycle works, there is an overlap of a few months, so you may see a choice between two FAFSA applications when you log in.

Here's how to determine which FAFSA to file:

2025-2026 Which FAFSA Do You Need to File

Sallie Mae student loans offer competitive fixed and variable rates for undergraduates, graduate students and parents. Learn More About Sallie Mae

FAFSA Deadline by State

State FAFSA deadlines may be earlier than the federal deadline. To increase your chances of receiving state aid, in addition to federal aid, it is important to know the deadline for your state of residence. In addition to varying deadlines, some states award aid on a first-come, first-served basis. See the table below.

States may also have their own additional financial aid application forms to complete.

To be on the safe side, file as early as possible!

Please note:

The state FAFSA deadlines may have already passed. If so, prepare for next year’s form by adding a reminder to your calendar. Most state deadlines remain similar year after year.
State forms do not replace filling out the FAFSA. You must fill out the FAFSA to receive federal student aid.
The state deadline to note is that of your state of legal residence.
Additional forms may be required. Contact your high school’s counselor, your college’s financial aid administrator or your state agency for more information.
Applicants should keep a copy of their submission of the FAFSA as well as any additional state forms.
Applicants should obtain a Certificate of Mailing and/or Delivery Confirmation for forms sent by postal mail.
Date received means received by the U.S. Department of Education, unless otherwise indicated.

FAFSA Deadline by School

The next deadline to look up is your school’s deadline. The best place to look is on the school’s financial aid page. If you are having trouble finding it, you should give the school a call.

If you’re applying to multiple schools, you will need to look up the deadline for each school. And the most important deadline is the earliest one!

Federal FAFSA Deadline

And finally, the deadline to keep in mind, the federal deadline which is June 30 of the end of the award year. For example, for the 2024 - 2025 FAFSA the 2024 - 2025 award year is July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. So the federal deadline for the 2024 - 2025 FAFSA is June 30, 2025.

The federal deadline for the 2025-2026 FAFSA is June 30, 2026.

If you are confused about which FAFSA you should complete, you should contact your financial aid office.

State Financial Aid Deadlines

The table below is intended to educate students on state deadlines. It is always best to confirm state-related information with your high school counselor, financial aid advisor, or applicable state agency.

¹Awards made until funds are depleted

²Additional forms may be required. When possible, Edvisors has linked to the applicable site.

Learn More About Federal Student Aid

Filing the FAFSA

Dependency Status

Student Parent Financial Information

Avoiding Errors in Filing Head of Household

Financial Aid Appeals

Parent Information

What is Financial Aid?

State / Territory		2025-2026 Deadlines - Expected Deadlines	2024-2025 Deadlines
Alabama	AL	Check with your financial aid administrator	Check with your financial aid administrator
Alaska¹	AK	AK Education Grant - As early as possible after Oct. 1, 2024 AK Performance Scholarship – For priority consideration, submit your application by June 30, 2025 All other aid: Check with your financial aid office at your school; additional forms may be required	AK Education Grant - As early as possible after Dec. 31, 2023 AK Performance Scholarship – For priority consideration, submit your application by June 30, 2024 All other aid: Check with your financial aid office at your school; additional forms may be required
American Samoa²	AS	Check with your financial aid administrator	Check with your financial aid administrator; additional forms may be required
Arizona	AZ	Check with your financial aid administrator	Check with your financial aid administrator
Arkansas	AR	Academic Challenge: July 1, 2025, by midnight CT Arkansas Future Grant (fall term): July 1, 2025, by midnight CT Arkansas Future Grant (spring term): Jan. 10, 2026, by midnight CT	Academic Challenge: July 1, 2024, by midnight CT Arkansas Future Grant (fall term): July 1, 2024, by midnight CT Arkansas Future Grant (spring term): Jan. 10, 2024, by midnight CT
California	CA	For many state financial aid programs: March 3, 2025 (date postmarked) Cal Grant also requires submission of a school-certified GPA by March 3, 2025 For additional community college Cal Grants - September 2, 2025 - (date postmarked) All Other Aid Check with the financial aid office at the college or career school you plan to attend for more information on available state aid and deadlines. If you’re a noncitizen without a Social Security card or had one issued through the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, you should fill out the California Dream Act Application at dream.csac.ca.gov. Contact the California Student Aid Commission at csac.ca.gov or your financial aid office for more information.	For many state financial aid programs: April 2, 2024 (date postmarked) Cal Grant also requires submission of a school-certified GPA by April 2, 2024 For additional community college Cal Grants - September 2, 2024 - (date postmarked) All Other Aid Check with the financial aid office at the college or career school you plan to attend for more information on available state aid and deadlines. If you’re a noncitizen without a Social Security card or had one issued through the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, you should fill out the California Dream Act Application at dream.csac.ca.gov. Contact the California Student Aid Commission at csac.ca.gov or your financial aid office for more information.
Colorado	CO	Check with your financial aid administrator	Check with your financial aid administrator
Connecticut²	CT	Feb. 15, 2025, by midnight CT for priority consideration; additional forms might be required All other aid: check with your financial aid office	Feb. 15, 2024, by midnight CT for priority consideration; additional forms might be required All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Delaware	DE	June 15, 2025, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office	May 15, 2024, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office
District of Columbia²	DC	June 25, 2025 (date received), for priority consideration For DC Tuition Assistance Grant: complete the DC OneApp and submit additional supporting documents by July 1, 2025, for priority consideration. All other aid: check with your financial aid office	June 25, 2024 (date received), for priority consideration For DC Tuition Assistance Grant: complete the DC OneApp and submit additional supporting documents by July 1, 2024, for priority consideration. All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Federated States of Micronesia²	FM	Check with your financial aid administrator	Check with your financial aid administrator
Florida	FL	May 15, 2025 (date processed) All other aid: check with your financial aid office	May 15, 2024 (date processed) All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Georgia²	GA	ASAP after Oct. 1, 2024 All other aid: check with your financial aid office	ASAP after Dec. 31, 2023 All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Guam	GU	Check with your financial aid administrator	Check with your financial aid administrator
Hawaii	HI	Check with your financial aid administrator	Check with your financial aid administrator
Idaho²	ID	Opportunity Scholarship- March 1, 2025, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office	Opportunity Scholarship- March 1, 2024, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Illinois¹	IL	Monetary Award Program (MAP) - Apply as soon as possible after the filing period begins. Visit isac.org for MAP deadline dates. All other aid: check with your financial aid office	Monetary Award Program (MAP) Apply as soon as possible after the filing period begins. Visit isac.org for MAP deadline dates. All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Indiana²	IN	Adult Student Grant: As soon as possible after Dec. 31, 2024. New applicants must submit additional forms at ScholarTrack.IN.gov Workforce Ready Grant: As soon as possible after Dec. 31, 2024 Frank O'Bannon Grant: April 15, 2025 21st Century Scholarship: April 15, 2025 All other aid: check with your financial aid office	Adult Student Grant: As soon as possible after Dec. 31, 2023. New applicants must submit additional forms at ScholarTrack.IN.gov Workforce Ready Grant: As soon as possible after Dec. 31, 2023 Frank O'Bannon Grant: April 15, 2024 21st Century Scholarship: April 15, 2024
Iowa	IA	July 1, 2025 by midnight CT; earlier priority deadlines may exist for certain programs All other aid: check with your financial aid office	July 1, 2024 by midnight CT; earlier priority deadlines may exist for certain programs All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Kansas²	KS	April 1, 2025 (date received) All other aid: check with your financial aid office	April 1, 2024 (date received) All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Kentucky¹	KY	As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2024 All other aid: check with your financial aid office	As soon as possible after Dec. 31, 2023 All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Louisiana	LA	July 1, 2026 (Feb. 1, 2025 recommended) All other aid: check with your financial aid office	July 1, 2025 (Feb. 1, 2024 recommended) All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Maine	ME	May 1, 2025, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office	May 1, 2024, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Marshall Islands²	MH	June 27, 2025	Check with your financial aid administrator
Maryland	MD	Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Awards (EEA) Program: March 1, 2025, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office	March 1, 2024, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Massachusetts	MA	For priority consideration, May 1, 2025, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office	For priority consideration, May 1, 2024, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Michigan	MI	Michigan Competitive Scholarship and the Michigan Tuition Grant: July 1, 2025, by midnight CT	May 1, 2024, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Minnesota	MN	June 30, 2026, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office	June 30, 2025, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Mississippi	MS	MTAG and MESG Grants: Oct. 15, 2025 by midnight CT HELP Scholarship: April 30, 2025, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office	MTAG and MESG Grants: Oct. 15, 2024 by midnight CT HELP Scholarship: April 30, 2024, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Missouri	MO	For priority: Feb. 3, 2025. Applications accepted through April 1, 2025, by midnight CT	For priority: Feb. 1, 2024. Applications accepted through April 1, 2024, by midnight CT
Montana²	MT	For priority consideration, December 31, 2024; additional forms may be required All other aid: check with your financial aid office	For priority consideration, March 1, 2024; additional forms may be required All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Nebraska	NE	Check with your financial aid administrator	Check with your financial aid administrator
Nevada^1,²	NV	Silver State Opportunity Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2024 Nevada Promise Scholarship: May 1, 2025 All other aid: Check with your financial aid administrator	Silver State Opportunity Grant: As soon as possible after Dec. 31, 2023 Nevada Promise Scholarship: March 1, 2024 All other aid: Check with your financial aid administrator
New Hampshire	NH	Check with your financial aid administrator	Check with your financial aid administrator
New Jersey	NJ	2024-25 Tuition Aid Grant Recipients: April 15, 2025, by midnight CT Other Tuition Aid Grant Applicants: Fall & Spring terms: Sept. 15, 2025, by midnight CT Spring term only - Feb. 15, 2026, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office	Renewal applicants (2023-24 Tuition Aid Grant recipients): April 15, 2024, by midnight CT All other applications: Fall & Spring terms: Sept. 15, 2024, by midnight CT Spring term only - Feb. 15, 2025, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office
New Mexico	NM	Check with your financial aid administrator	Check with your financial aid administrator
New York²	NY	June 30, 2026, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office	June 30, 2025, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office
North Carolina¹	NC	UNC System Institutions: For priority consideration, June 1, 2025 Community Colleges: For priority consideration, Aug. 15, 2025 For more information: College Foundation of North Carolina All other aid: check with your financial aid office	UNC System Institutions: For priority consideration, June 1, 2024 Community Colleges: For priority consideration, Aug. 15, 2024 For more information: https://www.cfnc.org/ All other aid: check with your financial aid office
North Dakota¹	ND	As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2024 All other aid: check with your financial aid office	As soon as possible after Dec. 31, 2023 All other aid: check with your financial aid office
Northern Mariana Islands¹	MP	April 30, 2025, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office	April 30, 2024, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office

FAFSA Deadlines for 2025-2026