When it comes to funding education, many students consider federal student aid. And in order to get the funding, you must file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form.
While it may seem easy to fill a simple form, it’s quite challenging to get the Federal Student Aid funding as FAFSA comes with various due dates and deadlines.
If you’re considering Federal Student Aid as your option to get your funding, you’re on the right page. Here’s everything you need to know about FAFSA deadlines.
Let’s begin!
FAFSA stands for a Free Application for Federal Student Aid and enables you to apply for federal grants, student loans, and work-study for free. Your college will use your FAFSA data to determine your federal aid eligibility.
General FAFSA eligibility requirements include:
However, FAFSA isn’t just for students who want or need federal loans. The objective of the FAFSA is also to define aid you won’t have to pay back – for example, scholarships, grants, or work-study funding. Some private scholarships also require a FAFSA as part of their application documents.
There are three essential FAFSA deadlines you must know:
Let’s review each one in detail.
Colleges or schools set the first deadline, which is usually early. While this deadline varies from school to school, it typically comes way before the academic year starts. So if you’re considering applying to more than one college, make sure to look up each school’s FAFSA due date individually to manage and apply early.
Additionally, many school FAFSA deadlines have priority due dates. This means that you need to submit a FAFSA application by that date to receive potential funding. Also, note that some colleges have this due date highlighted on their websites. But if you can’t find it, we recommend you to call the school’s financial aid office to ask when the FAFSA priority deadline is.
The next deadline is set by the state you reside in. While some states have strict deadlines, others are more flexible and only suggest dates to ensure you get priority consideration for funding. We recommend checking your state’s deadline on the official Federal Student Aid Website.
Since many states are limited in funds, their FAFSA may be quite early. For example, if your state deadline is “as soon as possible after Oct.1”, it’s recommended to submit your FAFSA form ASAP.
The federal deadline comes from the US Department of Education, the official FAFSA founders. The only deadline they have is June 30th of each year – this is when the academic year ends.
This means that the 2022-23 FAFSA form won’t be available on the StudentAid website on June 30, 2023, because that’s when the academic year of 2022-23 is over.
However, as some federal student aid programs are limited in funds, it’s best to apply as soon as possible.
Now that you know that there are three different FAFSA deadlines, don’t forget to check them carefully.
First, check your school deadline since their due dates are the earliest. Plus, it varies from school to school, so you’ll need to either search your school website or call the administration directly. Then, check what date your specific state has set as a deadline. Finally, a federal deadline is the least important because it ends on the day the academic year finishes.
Nevertheless, note that no matter when your FAFSA due date is, some schools and states have limited funds. So it’s best if you submit your FAFSA as soon as possible.
In case you miss FAFSA deadlines or, for some reason, you don’t qualify for federal funding, you may need to consider private student loans.
Our professional team at Best Student Loans is dedicated to helping you compare various student funding opportunities and identify the best options for you. Click the Find Loans button below to discover your options.
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