To be considered for federal financial aid, you must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Most states, colleges, and universities also use the FAFSA to award other types of institutional financial aid, including state- and college-sponsored financial aid, such as grants, educational loans, and work-study programs.
If you don't get your FAFSA submitted by the deadline, you might be missing out on free money. Don't do that. Make sure you know all the applicable federal, state, and college deadlines. Get that money!
In this article, we'll discuss when you should submit the FAFSA and how to ensure you don't miss any important deadlines. We'll also explain the financial aid process after you submit your FAFSA.
When Are Federal FAFSA Deadlines?
You can file a FAFSA for the 2022-2023 school year anytime between October 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023. Online applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on June 30, 2024. Any corrections or updates must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on September 9, 2023.
For the 2023-2024 school year, you can file anytime from October 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. Once again, applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on the final date. Corrections or updates must be submitted by September 14, 2024.
When Are State FAFSA Deadlines?
FAFSA deadlines vary for each state to be eligible for state-sponsored financial aid. Generally, state deadlines have remained the same from year to year.
A number of states ask students to submit their FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1, 2022. Then, financial aid will continue to be awarded until state funds are depleted. Thus, it's essential to submit your FAFSA early if you live in one of these states.
Below, I have listed all the state deadlines for the FAFSA for the 2023-2024 school year. As previously mentioned, these deadlines tend to stay the same each year. This information was taken directly from the FAFSA website.
| Alabama | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Alaska | Alaska Education Grant — As early as possible after October 1, 2022. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Alaska Performance Scholarship — June 30, 2023. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Awards made until funds are depleted. |
| American Samoa | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required. |
| Arizona | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Arkansas | Academic Challenge — July 1, 2023, by midnight Central Time. ArFuture Grant (fall term) - July 1, 2023, by midnight Central Time. ArFuture Grant (spring term) - January 10, 2024, by midnight Central Time. |
| California | March 2, 2023, (postmarked by) for many state financial aid programs. Cal Grant also requires submission of a school-certified GPA by March 2, 2023. Applicants are encouraged to obtain proof of mailing their GPA and to retain a copy of their GPA form. For additional community college Cal Grants — September 2, 2023 (postmarked). |
| Colorado | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Connecticut | February 15, 2023, by midnight Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Additional forms may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. |
| Delaware | April 15, 2022, by midnight Central Time. |
| District of Columbia | May 15, 2023, for priority consideration. For DCTAG, complete the DC OneApp and submit supporting documents by August 1, 2023, for priority consideration. |
| Federated States of Micronesia | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required. |
| Florida | May 15, 2023 (date processed) |
| Georgia | As soon as possible after October 1, 2022. Additional forms may be required; check with your financial aid administrator. Go to GAfutures.org for more information. |
| Guam | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required. |
| Hawaii | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required. |
| Idaho | Opportunity Grant — March 1, 2023, by midnight Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Additional forms may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or state agency. |
| Illinois | As soon as possible after October 1, 2022. Awards are made until funds are depleted. |
| Indiana | Adult Student Grant — As soon as possible after October 1, 2022. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Workforce Ready Grant — As soon as possible after October 1, 2022. Frank O'Bannon Grant — April 15, 2023, by midnight Central Time. 21st Century Scholarship — April 15, 2023, by midnight Central Time. |
| Iowa | July 1, 2023, by midnight Central Time. Earlier priority deadlines may exist for certain programs. Additional forms may be required. |
| Kansas | April 1, 2023, by midnight Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Additional forms may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. |
| Kentucky | As soon as possible after October 1, 2022. Awards are made until funds are depleted. |
| Louisiana | July 1, 2024 (February 1, 2023 recommended) |
| Maine | May 1, 2023, by midnight Central Time. |
| Marshall Islands | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required. |
| Maryland | March 1, 2023, by midnight Central Time. |
| Massachusetts | May 1, 2023, by midnight Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. |
| Michigan | May 1, 2023, by midnight Central Time. |
| Minnesota | 30 days after term starts by midnight Central Time. |
| Mississippi | MTAG and MESG Grants: October 15, 2023, by midnight CT. HELP Grant: April 30, 2023, by midnight CT. |
| Missouri | For priority consideration, submit by February 1, 2023. Applications are accepted through April 1, 2023, by midnight Central Time. |
| Montana | For priority consideration, submit by December 1, 2022. Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required. |
| N. Mariana Islands | For priority consideration, submit by midnight Central Time on April 30, 2023. Additional forms may be required. |
| Nebraska | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Nevada | Silver State Opportunity Grant — As soon as possible after October 1, 2022. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Nevada Promise Scholarship — March 1, 2023. Additional forms may be required. Awards are made until funds are depleted. All other aid — Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required. |
| New Hampshire | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required. |
| New Jersey | 2022-23 Tuition Aid Grant recipients — April 15, 2023, by midnight Central Time. All other applicants — September 15, 2023, by midnight Central Time for fall and spring terms; February 15, 2024, by midnight Central Time for spring term only. |
| New Mexico | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| New York | June 30, 2024, by midnight Central Time. Additional forms may be required. |
| North Carolina | As soon as possible after October 1, 2022. Awards are made until funds are depleted. |
| North Dakota | As soon as possible after October 1, 2022. Awards are made until funds are depleted. |
| Ohio | October 1, 2023, by midnight Central Time. |
| Oklahoma | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Oregon | Oregon Opportunity Grant — As soon as possible after October 1, 2022. Awards are made until funds are depleted. OSAC Private Scholarships — March 1, 2023. Additional forms may be required. Oregon Promise Grant — Contact your state agency. Additional forms may be required. |
| Palau | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required. |
| Pennsylvania | All first-time applicants enrolled in a community college; business, trade, or technical school; hospital school of nursing; designated Pennsylvania Open-Admission institution; or non-transferable two-year program — August 1, 2023, by midnight Central Time. All other applicants — May 1, 2023, by midnight Central Time. Additional forms may be required |
| Puerto Rico | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Rhode Island | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required. |
| South Carolina | SC Commission on Higher Education Need-based Grants — As soon as possible after October 1, 2022. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Tuition Grants — June 30, 2023, by midnight Central Time. |
| South Dakota | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required. |
| Tennessee | State Grant — March 1, 2023. Eligible prior-year recipients receive priority, and all other awards are made to neediest applicants until funds are depleted. Tennessee Promise — March 1, 2023 (date received). State Lottery — Fall term: September 1, 2023, by midnight Central Time; spring & summer terms (date received): February 1, 2024, by midnight Central Time (date received). |
| Texas | January 15, 2023. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Additional forms may be required. Private and two-year schools might have different deadlines. Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| US Virgin Islands | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required. |
| Utah | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required. |
| Vermont | As soon as possible after October 1, 2022. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Additional forms may be required. |
| Virginia | As soon as possible after October 1, 2022. Deadlines vary by institution. Contact your financial aid office for more information. Students who do not qualify for federal financial aid but who meet state financial aid program requirements should complete the Virginia Alternative State Aid Application at VASAapp.org instead of the FAFSA form. Contact your financial aid administrator for more information. |
| Washington | As soon as possible after October 1, 2022. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Students ineligible for federal student aid but who meet state financial aid program and residency requirements should complete the Washington Application for State Financial Aid at wsac.wa.gov/wasfa instead of the FAFSA form. |
| West Virginia | PROMISE Scholarship — March 1, 2023. New applicants must submit additional information at www.cfwv.com. Contact your financial aid administrator or state agency. WV Higher Education Grant Program — April 15, 2023. WV Invests Grant: For priority consideration, submit your application by April 15, 2023. |
| Wisconsin | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Wyoming | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required. |
When Are College FAFSA Deadlines?
Most institutional deadlines for the FAFSA are between January and March for the following academic year. Some schools have deadlines as early as the second week in January.
Make sure to check with the colleges you're interested in attending about their deadlines. You should also ask whether the deadline is for when the college must receive the FAFSA by, or for when the FAFSA must be processed by.
Timeline After Submitting the FAFSA
Generally, three days after you submit your FAFSA, you'll receive your SAR, or Student Aid Report, electronically. If you don't provide an email address, you'll receive your SAR by mail in seven to 10 days.
The SAR summarizes your FAFSA information and gives a dollar amount for your expected family contribution for the next academic year. Your expected family contribution is used by colleges to calculate the amount of aid you're eligible to receive.
Make sure all the information is correct on your SAR and submit any corrections if needed. Note that you might need to submit additional forms or documentation to financial aid offices if colleges ask you to do so. Some colleges require forms in addition to the FAFSA for financial aid.
Typically, between March and April, you'll receive financial aid award letters from the colleges that accepted you. Normally, you'll get them with your acceptance letters or a couple weeks after.
In your financial aid award letters, you'll find out how much financial aid you'll get and what your aid will consist of between loans, grants, and work-study. From your award letters, you can determine your out-of-pocket expenses for each school. Generally, you have to commit to the college you're going to attend by May 1.
Between May and September, you can apply for supplemental aid to cover your cost of education, if needed. Your parents may borrow up to your cost of education minus your financial aid through the Federal PLUS loan. You may borrow up to your cost of education minus your financial aid through many private student loan programs.
Finally, between May and September, if you receive a Federal Stafford Loan, you should complete the Master Promissory Note, which acts as a contract between you and your lender, saying that you agree to the terms of the loan and will repay it. Your school might provide this form to you or tell you where to complete it online.
Tips to Help You Meet FAFSA Deadlines
It is imperative that you submit your FAFSA by the appropriate deadline. If you don't do this, you could lose out on tens of thousands of dollars to help pay for your education.
Your best bet is to submit your FAFSA early on—within the first couple weeks of October. This will ensure you don't miss any deadlines and will be eligible for all federal, state, and college financial aid.
However, I know some of you like to procrastinate, so here are some tips to help you stay on track:
- Start a financial aid folder to keep all your financial aid documents organized. Doing so will save you time and help you out, especially considering the fact that you must file a FAFSA every year you apply for financial aid!
- Make a note of the earliest deadline (state, federal, or college) you need to know on a calendar. Set a notification on your phone a week or two before this deadline, too.
- In September, start looking at the FAFSA with your parents and get together any documentation you might need for it.
- Encourage your parents to prepare their income tax returns as soon as possible after January 1 since you might need their returns for financial aid purposes. Regardless of whether or not your parents plan on paying for your college education, most students will be considered dependents for FAFSA purposes.
- If you have a good counselor at your high school, try to meet with them regularly. Many counselors excel at making sure their students submit all applications and forms in time.
This guy might be able to help you get your FAFSA submitted on time.
What's Next?
College is super pricey these days, making it crucial to apply for financial aid. Learn about the importance of the FAFSA and financial aid in our guide to how much college costs.
Looking for more financial tips? Then check out our expert guides on how to get a student loan and the best jobs for teens.
