when is fafsa due
For federal aid, FAFSA is generally due June 30 of the academic year you’re getting aid for, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time.
Quick Scoop: Key FAFSA Deadlines
- For the 2025–2026 school year, the federal FAFSA deadline is June 30, 2026.
- For the 2026–2027 school year, the federal FAFSA deadline is June 30, 2027.
- You can usually make corrections until around mid‑September of the same year (for 2025–26, corrections are due around September 14, 2026).
- The form is typically available starting in the fall before the school year (often October 1, though recent years had special early/late releases).
Think of June 30 as the absolute federal cutoff, but your real “deadline” is often much earlier.
Federal vs State vs School Deadlines
- Federal deadline: June 30 of the end of that aid year (for example, 2025–26 FAFSA due June 30, 2026).
- State deadlines: Many states run out of grant money early and set earlier dates (sometimes as early as February–April).
- College deadlines: Individual colleges often have priority deadlines that can be months before the federal date.
Because state and school money can run out, filing months before June 30 usually means more aid options.
What You Should Do Now
- Check which year you’re attending school (2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27, etc.).
- Look up your state’s FAFSA deadline and your college’s financial aid priority deadline on their websites.
- Aim to submit as soon as the form for your year opens, not just “before it’s due,” to maximize grants and work‑study chances.
Example
If you start college fall 2025, you’re using the 2025–26 FAFSA, which is due federally on June 30, 2026, but your state or college might want it months earlier—sometimes by early spring 2025.
TL;DR: “When is FAFSA due?” → Federally, June 30 of that aid year (like June 30, 2026 for 2025–26), but treat your state and college priority deadlines—usually much earlier—as your real due dates.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.