Students must file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for the Federal Pell Grant. Pell Grants are money students can use to help pay for school that doesn't have to be paid back. Additionally, students will not have access to Federal Work-Study options to help pay for their education if they qualify. You must complete your FAFSA to know if you are eligible for federal student aid and financial aid from your state!
Financial aid is given on a first-come, first-served basis, and money can run out. Filing your FAFSA as close to the form release date can serve you best and help ensure you get the most financial aid possible.
2025-26 FAFSA Now Open
The FAFSA has substantially improved over the past two years. This year, a select audience could test the updated form via the beta FAFSA to ensure the smooth rollout of the 2025-2026 FAFSA, with the promise of full-form access by December 1, 2024.Federal FAFSA Deadlines
The FAFSA deadline for the 2025-26 academic year is June 30, 2026.State FAFSA Deadlines
The 2025-26 FAFSA state deadlines below are in alphabetical order. Check with your school’s financial aid office or state’s higher education website to verify your deadline for financial assistance. Additional forms might be required, state-by-state. Alabama – Check with your financial aid administrator. Alaska – Alaska Education Grant: ASAP after November 14, 2024. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Alaska Performance Scholarship: For priority consideration, submit your application by June 30, 2025. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Arizona – Submit your application by April 1, 2025, for priority consideration. Arkansas – Academic Challenge: July 1, 2025. Arkansas Future Grant (fall term): July 1, 2025. Arkansas Future Grant (spring term): January 10, 2026. California – 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, the deadline is September 2, 2025. Suppose you're a noncitizen without a Social Security card or had one issued through the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. In that case, you should fill out the California Dream Act Application found at dream.csac.ca.gov. Contact the California Student Aid Commission csac.ca.gov or your financial aid administrator for more information. Colorado – Check with your financial aid administrator. Connecticut - Submit your application by February 15, 2025 for priority consideration. Additional forms might be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. Delaware - June 15, 2025 District of Columbia - Submit your FAFSA form by June 25, 2025 for priority consideration. For the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG), complete the DC OneApp and submit supporting documents by July 1, 2025, for priority consideration. Florida - May 15, 2025 Georgia - ASAP after November 14, 2024. Guam - Check with your financial aid administrator. Hawaii - Check with your financial aid administrator. Idaho - Opportunity Grant: For priority consideration, submit your application by midnight CT, March 1, 2025. Illinois - ASAP after November 14, 2024. Visit isac.org for Monetary Award Program renewal deadline information. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Indiana - Adult Student Grant: ASAP after November 14, 2024. Awards are made until funds are depleted. New applicants must submit additional forms at ScholarTrack.IN.gov. Workforce Ready Grant: ASAP after November 14, 2024. Frank O'Bannon Grant: April 15, 2024. 21st Century Scholarship: April 15, 2024. Iowa - July 1, 2025. Different priority deadlines might exist for certain programs. Additional forms may be required. Kansas - Submit your application by midnight CT, April 1, 2025, for priority consideration. Kentucky - ASAP after November 14, 2024. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Louisiana - July 1, 2026 Maine – May 1, 2025 Maryland – March 1, 2025 Massachusetts – Submit your application by May 1, 2025 for priority consideration. Michigan – July 1, 2025 Minnesota – June 30, 2026 Mississippi – HELP Grant: Submit your application before April 30, 2025. MTAG and MESG Grants: October 15, 2024, by midnight Central Time (CT). Missouri – Submit your application by February 3, 2025 for priority consideration. Applications are accepted through April 1, 2025. Montana – Submit your application by December 31, 2024 for priority consideration. Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. Nebraska – Check with your financial aid administrator. Nevada – Silver State Opportunity Grant: ASAP after November 14, 2024. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Nevada Promise Scholarship: March 1, 2025. Additional forms might be required. New Hampshire – Check with your financial aid administrator. New Jersey –Tuition Aid Grant recipients: April 15, 2025, by midnight (CST). All other applicants for the fall and spring terms on September 15, 2025 by midnight (CST). All other applicants for spring term only on February 15, 2025, by midnight (CST). New Mexico – Check with your financial aid administrator. New York – June 30, 2026, by midnight (CST). North Carolina – UNC System Institutions: Apply by June 1, 2025. Community colleges: Apply by August 15, 2025. North Dakota – ASAP after November 14, 2024. Ohio – October 1, 2025 Oklahoma – Contact your financial aid administrator Oregon - Oregon Opportunity Grant: ASAP after November 14, 2024. OSAC Private Scholarships: March 1, 2025. Pennsylvania – All first-time applicants enrolled in a community college, business, trade, technical school, hospital school of nursing, designated Pennsylvania Open-Admission institution, or nontransferable two-year program: August 1, 2025. All other applicants: May 1, 2025 Rhode Island – Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. South Carolina – SC Commission on Higher Education Need-based Grants: ASAP after November 14, 2024. SC Tuition Grants: August 1, 2025 South Dakota – Check with your financial aid administrator. Tennessee – State Grant: Prior-year recipients apply by March 15, 2025. Tennessee Promise: March 15, 2024 State Lottery (fall term): September 1, 2025 State Lottery (spring term): March 1, 2026 State Lottery (summer term): May 1, 2026 Texas – Submit your application by January 15, 2025 for priority consideration. Utah – Check with your financial aid administrator. Vermont – ASAP after December 31, 2024 Virginia – ASAP after December 31, 2024. Washington – ASAP after November 14, 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 at readysetgrad.org/wasfa instead of the FAFSA form. Contact the Washington Student Achievement Council (readysetgrad.org/wasfa) or your financial aid administrator for more information. West Virginia – PROMISE Scholarship: March 1, 2025. New applicants must submit additional forms at cfwv.com. WV Higher Education Grant Program: April 15, 2025 WV Invests Grant: Submit your application by April 15, 2025 for priority consideration. Wisconsin – Check with your financial aid administrator. Wyoming – Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required.College FAFSA Deadlines
Schools and colleges may also have their own financial aid deadlines and financial forms in addition to the federal and state deadlines. Students should contact their school’s financial aid office to verify all financial aid deadlines.2025-26 FAFSA Tools
If you're ready to file the FAFSA, download our free FAFSA Checklist. Get prepared with our FAFSA Checklist.You Might Also Like
Shawna Newman
Managing Editor, Contributing Writer
Shawna Newman is the Managing Editor and a writer at Fastweb. She has over 10 years of experience in higher education. Her direct work with college admissions teams, financial aid officers, college deans, ...