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When can I update my FAFSA application? The redesigned FAFSA for the 2024-25 academic year is available at FAFSA.gov. After major delays, the FAFSA corrections process opened on April 16 to students and families who submitted incorrect or incomplete forms.
You can still submit the 2023-24 FAFSA until June 30, 2024.
Dive deeper into FAFSA
When you need to apply: Find out the FAFSA deadline
How much aid you'll get: Estimate your financial aid award
What's on your FAFSA checklist: What you'll need to complete the application
Your financial aid letter: Understand and compare offers
You have to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, for each school year to qualify for aid like grants, scholarships, federal work-study and federal student loans.
But deadlines vary for federal, state and institutional aid. It's important to remember the FAFSA open and close date, which is usually Oct. 1 and June 30, respectively. This year's FAFSA soft launched in late December 2023.
FAFSA open date and deadline
Academic year | FAFSA open date | Federal FAFSA deadline |
---|---|---|
2023-24 | Oct. 1, 2022 | June 30, 2024 |
2024-25 | December 2023 | June 30, 2025 tentatively |
File your FAFSA for next year ASAP
Generally, the FAFSA opens on Oct. 1 each year. The FAFSA for the 2024-25 academic year is an exception as it did not go live until late December, and only intermittently at that. File your FAFSA as close to the open date as possible to improve your chances of qualifying for the most grant, scholarship and work-study aid.
FAFSA applications for the 2023-24 school year opened on Oct. 1, 2022, with a deadline of June 30, 2024.
» MORE: How much should you borrow for college?
Certain aid is awarded to students who apply the earliest, such as federal work-study dollars and many state and institutional grants and scholarships.
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File your FAFSA for last year by June 30
The federal government gives students a deadline of June 30 after the school year in which they need aid. For example, a June 30, 2023 deadline is for the 2022-23 school year.
But you must submit the form much earlier to meet state and college financial aid deadlines and to get your aid dollars in time for the start of the school year.
You only have to file the FAFSA once to be eligible for all three types of aid. Here’s what you need to know about each.
» MORE: Understanding your FAFSA financial aid options
State and institutional FAFSA deadlines
States and individual colleges set their own FAFSA deadlines, typically much earlier than the federal one. You must file your application by these deadlines to qualify for state and institutional grants and scholarships.
If you’re attending an out-of-state school, you may not qualify for state aid — check with the state to see if you do. Find your state financial aid deadline on the Federal Student Aid website. Note that it may be later than prior years due to the delayed opening of the 2024-25 FAFSA.
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Federal FAFSA deadline
The federal deadline is the last day you can submit the FAFSA each year. If you need financial aid for the 2023-24 school year, you can submit the form until June 30, 2024.
Work-study dollars and most state and institutional aid will run out the fastest, but there will still be time to qualify for federal grants and student loans.
Even if you wait until June 30, you can receive these grants and loans retroactively to cover what you’ve already paid for the spring and fall semesters. Or, depending on your school, you may be able to apply the funds to pay for 2023 summer school.
Frequently asked questions
When does FAFSA open?
The FAFSA typically opens on Oct. 1 each year. For the 2024-25 academic year it soft launched in late December and was initially available only intermittently.
When to apply for FAFSA?
Apply for the FAFSA as soon as possible after it opens. Applying early gives you the best chance at getting the most free money for school.
When is FAFSA due for fall 2023?
The 2023-24 school year FAFSA is due June 30, 2024. Corrections are due Sept. 14, 2024.
Should you apply for FAFSA before applying to college?
Yes, apply for the FAFSA once it opens, even if that's before you have applied or been accepted to any colleges. When filling out the FAFSA, you only have to list one of the colleges you're considering applying to. Still, it is best to include all the colleges you are considering so you don't miss out on any financial aid. You can still add colleges after you submit the FAFSA.
Next steps
Track colleges’ financial aid deadlines. Priority deadlines at individual schools often fall the earliest, so those deadlines are the most important to track. Those dates are also the best chance to get the most aid. Look up the deadlines for all of the schools you’re applying to and write them down in one place — try using your phone’s calendar, a spreadsheet or a notebook dedicated to your college search.
Submit any other financial aid applications. Many schools require additional or alternative financial aid applications, such as the CSS Profile, to qualify for state or institutional aid. You'll need to submit all the required paperwork before the deadline to be considered for aid.
Complete the FAFSA ASAP. The open date is not a deadline, but submitting your FAFSA once it's available lets you know where you stand with federal aid sooner.
Wait for your financial aid award letter, which details how much free aid you qualify for and how much in federal loans you can borrow. You may appeal your award if you didn’t get enough aid.
You can make changes to the FAFSA after you've applied. If you spot an error or you need more aid due to a change in your family's finances, you can update the FAFSA before the corrections deadline:
» MORE: See how to check your FAFSA status
Go tofafsa.gov. Click the "Log In" button and type in your FSA ID. Once on the "My FAFSA" page, click "Make Corrections." You can then make a save key, edit your FAFSA and resubmit your application.