FAFSA® deadlines can vary. The FAFSA® for the 2026-2027 academic year would typically open on October 1 and remains open until June 30, 2027. However, the 2026-2027 FAFSA® release will be phased. The U.S. Department of Education has indicated that the 2026-2027 FAFSA® will be available by Oct. 1, 2025, and actually released it early on Sept. 24, 2025.
FAFSA® deadlines can vary. The FAFSA® cycle for the 2026-2027 academic year will open on October 1 and remains open until June 30, 2027. However, the 2025-2026 FAFSA® will remain open through June 30, 2026. Both will be available after October 1, 2025. If you are a high school senior and applying for federal aid for the next academic year beginning on or after July 1, 2026, be sure to select the 2026-2027 FAFSA®.
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.
- The FASFA® deadline for the 2025 - 2026 academic year is June 30, 2026
- The FAFSA® deadline for the 2026-2027 academic year is June 30, 2027
- 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.
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 typically 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. 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:
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 2025 - 2026 FAFSA® the 2025 - 2026 award year is July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. So the federal deadline for the 2025 - 2026 FAFSA® is June 30, 2026.
The federal deadline for the 2026-2027 FAFSA® is June 30, 2027.
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.
| State / Territory | 2025-2026 Deadlines - Expected Deadlines | 2026-2027 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 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 Oct. 1, 2025 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 | Arizona Promise Scholarship: For priority consideration, submit application by April 1, 2026 |
| 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, 2026, by midnight CT Arkansas Future Grant (fall term): July 1, 2026, by midnight CT Arkansas Future Grant (spring term): Jan. 10, 2027, 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 |
For many state financial aid programs: March 2, 2026 (date postmarked) Cal Grant also requires submission of a school-certified GPA by March 2, 2026 For additional community college Cal Grants - September 2, 2026 - (date postmarked) California Dream Act: 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, 2026, 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, 2026, 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, 2026 (date received), for priority consideration For DC Tuition Assistance Grant: complete the DC OneApp and submit additional supporting documents by July 1, 2026, for priority consideration. |
| 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, 2026 |
| Georgia2 | GA |
ASAP after Oct. 1, 2024 All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
ASAP after Oct. 1, 2025 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, 2026, 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. |
| 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 Oct. 1, 2025. New applicants must submit additional forms at ScholarTrack.IN.gov Workforce Ready Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025, midnight Central time Frank O'Bannon Grant: April 15, 2026, midnight Central time 21st Century Scholarship: April 15, 2026, midnight Central time |
| 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, 2026 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, 2026 by midnight Central time |
| Kentucky1 | KY | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2024 All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025 |
| Louisiana | LA | July 1, 2026 (Feb. 1, 2025 recommended) All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
July 1, 2027 (Feb. 1, 2026 recommended) |
| Maine | ME | May 1, 2025, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
May 1, 2026 (date received) |
| Marshall Islands2 | MH |
June 27, 2025 |
As soon as possible after June 25, 2026 |
| 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 |
Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Awards (EEA) Program: March 1, 2026, by midnight CT |
| 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, 2026, by midnight CT |
| Michigan | MI |
Michigan Competitive Scholarship and the Michigan Tuition Grant: July 1, 2025, by midnight CT |
Michigan Competitive Scholarship and the Michigan Tuition Grant: July 1, 2026, by midnight CT |
| Minnesota | MN | June 30, 2026, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
State Grant and North Star Promise: Submit by the 30th day of the term 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, 2026 by midnight CT HELP Scholarship: April 30, 2026, by midnight CT |
| Missouri | MO | For priority: Feb. 3, 2025. Applications accepted through April 1, 2025, by midnight CT | For priority: Feb. 2, 2026. Applications accepted through April 1, 2026, 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 |
As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025 |
| Nebraska | NE | Check with your financial aid administrator | Check with your financial aid administrator |
| Nevada1,2 | 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 Oct. 1, 2025
Nevada Promise Scholarship: April 1, 2026 |
| 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
All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
2026-27 Tuition Aid Grant Recipients: April 15, 2026, by midnight CT
Spring term only - Feb. 15, 2027, by 11pm Central time 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, 2027, by midnight CT |
| North Carolina1 | NC |
UNC System Institutions: Community Colleges: All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
UNC System Institutions:
Community Colleges: Private Institutions: As soon as possible For more information: https://www.cfnc.org/ |
| 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 Oct. 1, 2025
|
| Northern Mariana Islands1 | MP | April 30, 2025, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
April 30, 2026, by midnight CT |
| Ohio | OH | Oct. 1, 2025, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
Oct. 1, 2026, by midnight CT |
| Oklahoma1 | OK | Contact your financial aid office |
Contact your financial aid office |
| Oregon1,2 | OR |
Oregon Opportunity Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2024 Oregon Promise and other state grants: Contact your state agency for more information OSAC Private Scholarships: March 1, 2025 All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
Oregon Opportunity Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025 Oregon Promise and other state grants: Contact your state agency for more information OSAC Private Scholarships: March 1, 2026 |
| Palau2 | PW | Check with your financial aid administrator | Check with your financial aid administrator |
| Pennsylvania2 | PA |
All first-time applicants at a community college; a business/trade/technical school; designated Pennsylvania Open-Admission institution, or a hospital school of nursing; or enrolled in a non-transferable two-year program: Aug. 1, 2025, by midnight CT
|
All first-time applicants at a community college; a business/trade/technical school; designated Pennsylvania Open-Admission institution, or a hospital school of nursing; or enrolled in a non-transferable two-year program: Aug. 1, 2026, by midnight CT All other applicants - May 1, 2026, by midnight CT |
| Puerto Rico | PR | Check with your financial aid administrator | Check with your financial aid administrator |
| Rhode Island2 | RI | Check with your financial aid administrator |
Check with your financial aid administrator |
| South Carolina1 | SC |
Tuition Grants: Aug. 1, 2025, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
Tuition Grants: Aug. 1, 2026, by midnight CT SC Commission on Higher Education Need-based grants: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025 |
| South Dakota2 | SD | Check with your financial aid administrator | Check with your financial aid administrator |
| Tennessee1 | TN |
State Grant, prior-year recipients must apply by March 15, 2025. All other awards are made to the neediest applicants. For TN Promise: March 15, 2025, by midnight CT For State Lottery - Fall term: Sept. 1, 2025, by midnight CT Spring & summer terms: March 1, 2026, by midnight CT All other aid: check with your financial aid office
|
State Grant, prior-year recipients must apply by March 2, 2026. All other awards are made to the neediest applicants until depleted. For TN Promise: March 2, 2026, by midnight CT For State Lottery - Fall term: Sept. 1, 2026, by midnight CT Spring & summer terms: March 1, 2027, by midnight CT |
| Texas2 | TX | For priority consideration: June 15, 2025 Private and two-year institutions may have different deadlines All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
For priority consideration: Jan. 15, 2026 Private and two-year institutions may have different deadlines, check with your financial aid office |
| U.S. Virgin Islands2 | VI | Check with your financial aid administrator | Check with your financial aid administrator |
| Utah1 |
UT | Opportunity Scholarship: go to opportunityscholarhip.org for application and deadline information. All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
Opportunity Scholarship: go to opportunityscholarhip.org for application and deadline information. All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
| Vermont1,2 | VT | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2024 All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025 |
| Virginia2 | VA | As soon as possible after Dec. 31, 2024 Virginia Alternative State Aid Application: For students ineligible for federal student aid but meet financial aid program and residency requirements of Virginia, go to VASAapp.org. All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025 Virginia Alternative State Aid Application: Should be completed by students ineligible for federal student aid but meet financial aid program and residency requirements of Virginia
|
| Washington1 | WA |
As soon as possible after Oct. 1. 2024 Students ineligible for federal aid but who meet state financial aid program and residency requirements should complete the Washington Application for State Financial Aid. Contact the Washington Student Achievement Council or your financial aid administrator for more information. All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025 Students ineligible for federal aid but who meet state financial aid program and residency requirements should complete the Washington Application for State Financial Aid. Contact the Washington Student Achievement Council or your financial aid administrator for more information. All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
| West Virginia2 | WV |
PROMISE Scholarship - March 1, 2025 Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. For WV Higher Education Grant Program - April 15, 2025 For WV Invests Grant: April 15, 2025, for priority consideration All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
PROMISE Scholarship - March 1, 2026 For WV Higher Education Grant Program - April 15, 2026 For WV Invests Grant: April 15, 2026, for priority consideration All other aid: check with your financial aid office |
| Wisconsin | WI | Check with your financial aid administrator | Check with your financial aid administrator |
| Wyoming | WY | Check with your financial aid administrator | Check with your financial aid administrator |
1Awards made until funds are depleted
2Additional forms may be required. When possible, Edvisors has linked to the applicable site.
