FAFSA Deadline For 2026 – 2027

Q: What is the FAFSA deadline for 2026–2027, and when can or should I start to apply for federal financial aid via FAFSA if I will need it for the 2026 and 2027 school year?

A:

For the 2026–2027 school year, the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) covers classes you take between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027. That usually includes:

• Fall 2026 semester
• Spring 2027 semester
• Summer 2027 term (if your school uses summer financial aid)

Federal FAFSA Deadline for 2026–2027

For federal aid, the official FAFSA deadline for the 2026–2027 school year is:

June 30, 2027, 11:59 p.m. Central Time (CT)

For a full walkthrough of the FAFSA form, timelines, and what to expect, see our step-by-step overview on FAFSA and Financial Aid.

This is the absolute last day the U.S. Department of Education will accept a 2026–2027 FAFSA. You can submit corrections for a short period after that, but if you miss this federal deadline, you will not be eligible for federal aid for that academic year.

When Does the 2026–2027 FAFSA Open?

The FAFSA for 2026–2027 becomes available in the fall of 2025. For this cycle, the U.S. Department of Education opened the 2026–2027 FAFSA in late September 2025, slightly ahead of the usual October 1 target date.

Going forward, families should expect the FAFSA to open around October 1 of the year before the school year starts, unless the Department of Education announces a different release schedule.

Bottom line: For 2026–2027, you can start your FAFSA as soon as it opens in fall 2025 and continue filing it up until June 30, 2027, for federal aid consideration.

When Should You File the FAFSA for 2026–2027?

You can wait, but you really shouldn’t. Even though the federal deadline is June 30, 2027, many types of aid are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. That includes some:

• State grants and scholarships
• Institutional grants or need-based scholarships from your college
• Work-study funds at some schools

To put yourself in the best position for aid, a good rule of thumb is:

• Best time to file: As soon as possible after the FAFSA opens in fall 2025.
• Safe target window: Fall 2025 through early spring 2026, before most state and school priority deadlines.

Tip: Some states and colleges set their own FAFSA priority deadlines in early spring (or even earlier). Always check your state’s and your college’s financial aid pages so you don’t miss out on money that can run out before the federal deadline.

State and College FAFSA Deadlines

In addition to the federal FAFSA deadline, you will also need to pay attention to:

• State deadlines: Many states use FAFSA data to award state grants and scholarships and have much earlier cutoffs.
• College or university deadlines: Schools often set priority dates to package institutional grants, need-based scholarships, and work-study funds.

Because these dates vary widely and can change from year to year, always check:

• Your state’s higher education or student aid website
• Your college’s financial aid office website

You can also review the current list of state FAFSA deadlines on the U.S. Department of Education’s website at the official FAFSA deadline page: FAFSA Deadlines (studentaid.gov).

What Information Does the 2026–2027 FAFSA Use?

The 2026–2027 FAFSA uses your family’s 2024 tax and income information. That means you don’t need to wait for your 2025 tax return to file. In most cases, you’ll:

• Use your (and your parents’, if you’re a dependent student) 2024 federal tax return
• Provide current information about savings, investments, and certain other assets, if required
• Use your FSA ID to log in and approve the secure transfer of your tax data

Tip: If a parent or student doesn’t have an FSA ID yet, create it a few days before you plan to file so you’re ready to go when the form opens.

Why Filing Early Matters

Filing early isn’t just about being done—it can directly impact how much aid you receive. Filing your FAFSA soon after it opens can help you:

• Maximize your chances for limited state and institutional grants
• Improve your odds of getting campus-based aid like work-study (where available)
• Get your financial aid offer earlier so you can compare schools and plan your budget

Waiting until late spring or close to the June 30, 2027 federal deadline means:

• Many first-come, first-served funds may already be gone
• You’ll have less time to fix errors or submit missing documents
• Your aid package may arrive very close to when tuition is due

What Happens After You Submit Your 2026–2027 FAFSA?

Once you submit your FAFSA, here’s what typically happens next:

• You receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) summarizing the information you provided.
• The FAFSA calculates your Student Aid Index (SAI), which schools use to help determine your eligibility for need-based aid.
• Each college you listed on the FAFSA receives your information electronically.
• Your school’s financial aid office uses your FAFSA data to prepare a financial aid offer that may include grants, scholarships, federal work-study, and federal student loans.

Carefully review your SAR and your financial aid offers. If you see any mistakes on your FAFSA, you can log back in and make corrections as long as you’re still within the allowed correction window for 2026–2027.

Quick Summary for FAFSA 2026–2027

• School year covered: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
• Federal FAFSA deadline: June 30, 2027 (11:59 p.m. CT)
• Open date: FAFSA becomes available in fall 2025 (released in late September for the 2026–2027 cycle)
• Best time to file: As soon as possible after it opens in fall 2025, and ideally before early spring 2026
• Tax year used: 2024 income and tax information
• Don’t forget: State and college deadlines are often much earlier than the federal deadline, and many funds are first-come, first-served.

If you know you’ll need financial aid for the 2026–2027 school year, plan ahead now: gather your 2024 tax information, create your FSA ID, and be ready to complete the FAFSA as soon as it opens. Filing early gives you more options, more time, and a better chance at getting the most aid you qualify for.