2025 Guide to Managing Federal, State, and School Due Dates

Seeking financial aid for college, grad school, or career school? It’s important to keep in mind that the FAFSA closes on:

• June 30, 2025, for the 2024 – 2025 school year
• June 30, 2026, for the 2025 – 2026 school year. 

These are the last days you can apply for federal financial aid for those school years. However, your school and state likely have their own deadlines you must meet. The earlier you submit your application, the more likely you are to secure more aid. Here’s a look at all the FAFSA deadlines and what you should know as you prepare to apply.

What are the federal FAFSA deadlines?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) typically opens for students to complete on October 1 preceding the school year. For example, the 2023 – 2024 FAFSA opened on October 1, 2022. 

There have been instances when the opening date has been delayed. The 2024 – 2025 FAFSA, for example, opened on December 31, 2023, and the 2025 – 2026 FAFSA opened on December 1, 2024.

Once the FAFSA opens, you have until 11:59 p.m. Central time on June 30 of the school year you’re applying for aid to complete it.

After the deadline, you can no longer submit the form for that school year, unless you’re making a correction or update. Corrections are due in September, but you must wait until your application process is complete before making corrections, which takes up to three days (or up to 10 days for paper applications). Here’s a glance at the upcoming federal deadlines:

The FAFSA is open throughout the school year, so students can apply and potentially receive aid even in the middle of a semester. However, much of that aid—especially grants and scholarships—is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. That means the longer you wait, the more likely you will miss out.

When you submit the FAFSA, you unlock access to federal financial aid, including grants, work-study, and student loans. Some aid, like the Pell Grant and federal loans, is guaranteed if you qualify. However, other programs, such as Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) and work-study, have limited funding and can run out.

That’s why it’s smart to file your FAFSA as early as possible—well before the federal June 30 cutoff. Applying early gives you the best shot at receiving the full aid you’re eligible for.

What are the state FAFSA deadlines to know? 

State FAFSA deadlines vary, so it’s important to know that the deadline that applies to you is the deadline of your state of legal residence—where you permanently live, not where you’re enrolling.

Each state has financial aid programs; state departments and agencies provide funding, including scholarships and grants. 

Some states offer priority deadlines, ensuring your application receives consideration above later applicants, which sometimes explains varying FAFSA deadlines. So even if the federal FAFSA deadline is June 30, starting and submitting your FAFSA well in advance is important. 

You can find your state or U.S. territory’s deadline in the table below. If your state doesn’t list a deadline, call your school’s financial aid office to learn about the deadlines you must submit your FAFSA to be considered for financial aid.

What are the school FAFSA deadlines to know?

To find out your school’s FAFSA deadlines, visit your school’s website. Its financial aid office page should include important financial aid information and deadlines.

Schools typically share contact information on their webpages if no deadlines are listed, so you can call and speak with someone in the financial aid office.

As you research schools and programs, we recommend creating a list of the ones you’re considering. Visit each school or program’s website and write down the contact info or deadlines on the list.

Apply for the FAFSA as soon as possible, even if you’re unsure where to enroll. You just need to list one school to submit your FAFSA, but you can list as many as 20, and potentially add more by updating your form once it’s been processed. You’re also not obligated to accept any aid you’re offered.

Applying as soon as February 1 ensures you can meet the priority deadlines for a variety of schools. A common misconception is that you need to have your taxes filed before applying, but the 2025 – 2026 school year is based on your 2023 tax return, so there is no reason to wait.

How to manage your FAFSA deadlines

The FAFSA has a federal deadline each year, but your state and school may have earlier deadlines—and those are often the ones that determine how much aid you get. To make sure you don’t miss out on grants, work-study, or other financial aid, here are smart strategies to stay on top of your FAFSA deadlines:

• Know your earliest deadline. Check your state and school FAFSA deadlines first—these often come well before the federal deadline of June 30.
• Apply as early as possible. Because some aid is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, submit your application as soon as you can..
• Create your federal student aid (FSA) ID early. Set up your StudentAid.gov account ahead of time for yourself—and your parent or spouse, if their information is required.
• Set calendar reminders. Add key FAFSA dates to your calendar, including school deadlines and time to follow up on your Submission Summary.
• Gather information in advance. Before the application opens, have your Social Security number, tax returns, and other required documents ready to go.
• Check in with your school’s financial aid office. Some colleges require additional forms or have their process, so confirm what they need.
• Review and submit promptly. Double-check your FAFSA before submitting and make sure all contributors (like a parent) have signed their section.
• Follow up after submitting. Once processed, review your FAFSA Submission Summary for errors, and submit corrections before the September deadline.

I tell the families I work with to keep everything straight in a spreadsheet, listing all of the schools you selected on the application. Priority deadlines can vary depending on the state the school is located in. Having everything in a spreadsheet will allow you to track which schools have responded with a financial aid package, allowing you to easily compare packages until you finalize your decision.

Read More:

Read our FAFSA Guide for more details on how to apply for federal financial aid.

What to do if you missed a FAFSA deadline

If you missed your school or state’s FAFSA deadline but it’s still before June 30, submit the FAFSA as soon as possible. You may still qualify for federal aid like Pell Grants or loans, depending on availability—and some schools continue to award aid to late applicants if they have remaining funds.

However, if it’s after June 30, you can no longer submit the FAFSA for that academic year. Federal aid is no longer available, but it’s still worth contacting your school’s financial aid office. It may offer institutional or emergency aid. 

There are also other ways you could pay for college, including:

Scholarships and grants

You don’t always need the FAFSA to qualify for scholarships or grants. These are available from a variety of sources, such as:

• Local nonprofits and community foundations
• Private companies and professional organizations
• Religious groups, membership clubs, and civic organizations

Search online for local opportunities or contact your municipal and county offices for guidance. Be prepared to submit materials like transcripts, test scores, personal essays, and letters of recommendation.

Employer-sponsored education benefits

If you’re working, check with your company’s HR department to see whether it offers education assistance or tuition reimbursement. Many employers are willing to help cover the cost of coursework, especially if it enhances your skills or career growth.

Tuition installment plans

Many colleges and universities offer interest-free tuition payments, allowing you to spread your payments throughout the semester or school year. While these plans don’t reduce your overall costs, they can make college more manageable without debt.

Family support

If your family is in a position to help, consider asking for educational support in place of gifts. Contributions toward tuition, textbooks, or living expenses can make a big difference—and feel more meaningful than birthday or holiday presents.

Private student loans

Private student loans can help fill the gap if you still need more funding. These loans require a credit check and must be repaid with interest, so comparing options is wise.

We recommend using a tool like Credible to compare private student loan offers. You can see rates from multiple lenders in minutes without affecting your credit score. Check out our complete guide for more on the best private student loans.

I haven’t had a client miss FAFSA deadlines, but I have heard horror stories about others missing deadlines and the ability to get federal funding is diminished. However, if the deadline is missed, there are still options for institutional funding in some cases and work-study programs or scholarship opportunities.