2027-28 Financial Aid and FAFSA State Deadlines

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) launches on October 1, 2026, for the 2027–28 academic year. Submitting your FAFSA as early as possible is essential if you want to secure federal grants, state funding, institutional scholarships, and student loans.

Federal FAFSA Aplication Deadlines

While the federal government sets an 18-month timeline to complete the application, individual state and school deadlines occur much earlier. Many states award financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis. Waiting until the federal cutoff could mean missing out on thousands of dollars in state aid. Review the 2027–28 state FAFSA deadlines below to ensure you apply on time and maximize your financial aid package. Once you have submitted your FAFSA, you can make edits and corrections through September 12, 2028, at 11:59 PM (CST).

State-by-State FAFSA Deadlines for 2027-28

The 2027 – 28 FAFSA state deadlines below are in alphabetical order. Check with your school’s financial aid office or your state's higher education website to verify your deadline for financial assistance. Additional forms may be required, state by state. Alabama – Check with your financial aid administrator. Alaska – Alaska Education Grant: ASAP after October 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Alaska Performance Scholarship: For priority consideration, submit your application by June 30, 2027. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Arizona – Submit your application by April 1, 2027, for priority consideration. Arkansas – Academic Challenge: July 1, 2027. Arkansas Future Grant (fall term): July 1, 2027. Arkansas Future Grant (spring term): January 10, 2028. California – March 2, 2027 (date postmarked). Cal Grant also requires submission of a school-certified GPA by March 2, 2027. For additional community college Cal Grants, the deadline is September 2, 2027. 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 available 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, 2027, for priority consideration. Additional forms might be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. Delaware – May 15, 2027 District of Columbia - Submit your FAFSA form by June 25, 2027, for priority consideration. For the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG), complete the DC OneApp and submit supporting documents by July 1, 2027, for priority consideration. Florida - May 15, 2027 Georgia - ASAP after October 1, 2026 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 (CST) on March 1, 2027. Illinois - ASAP after October 1, 2026. Visit isac.org for Monetary Award Program renewal deadline information. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Indiana - April 15, 2027 Adult Student Grant Workforce Ready Grant Frank O'Bannon Grant 21st Century Scholarship Iowa - July 1, 2027. Some programs may have different priority deadlines. Additional forms may be required. Kansas - Submit your application by midnight (CST) on April 1, 2027, for priority consideration. Kentucky - ASAP after October 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Louisiana - June 30, 2028. It’s recommended to submit your application by February 1, 2027. Maine – May 1, 2027 Maryland – March 1, 2027 Massachusetts – Submit your application by May 1, 2027, for priority consideration. Michigan – July 1, 2027 Michigan Competitive Scholarship Michigan Tuition Grant Minnesota – State Grant: Submit your application by the 30th day of the term. North Star Promise: Submit your FAFSA by June 1, 2027. All Other Aid: Check with the financial aid office at the college or career school you plan to attend. Additional forms may be required. Mississippi – HELP Grant: Submit your application before April 30, 2027. MTAG and MESG Grants: October 15, 2027, by midnight Central Time (CT). Missouri – Submit your application by February 2, 2027, for priority consideration. Applications are accepted through April 1, 2027. Montana – ASAP after October 1, 2025, 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 October 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Nevada Promise Scholarship: April 1, 2027. Additional forms might be required. New Hampshire – Check with your financial aid administrator. New Jersey – Tuition Aid Grant recipients: April 15, 2027, by 11 PM (CST). All other applicants for the fall and spring terms: September 15, 2027, by 11 PM (CST). All other applicants for the spring term only: February 15, 2027, by 11 PM (CST). New Mexico – Check with your financial aid administrator. New York – June 30, 2028, by midnight (CST). North Carolina – Private institutions: ASAP after October 1, 2025. UNC System Institutions: Apply by June 1, 2027. Community colleges: Apply by August 15, 2027. North Dakota – ASAP after October 1, 2026 Ohio – October 1, 2027 Oklahoma – Contact your financial aid administrator Oregon - Oregon Opportunity Grant: ASAP after October 1, 2025. OSAC Private Scholarships: March 1, 2027. 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, 2027. All other applicants: May 1, 2027. 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 October 1, 2026. SC Tuition Grants: August 1, 2027 South Dakota – Check with your financial aid administrator. Tennessee – April 1, 2027 State Lottery (fall term): September 1, 2027. State Lottery (spring term): March 1, 2028. State Lottery (summer term): May 1, 2028. Texas – Submit your application by January 15, 2027, for priority consideration. Utah – Check with your financial aid administrator. Vermont – ASAP after October 1, 2026 Virginia – ASAP after October 1, 2026 Washington – ASAP after October 1, 2026. Students who are 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, 2027. New applicants must submit additional forms at cfwv.com. WV Higher Education Grant Program: April 15, 2027 WV Invests Grant: Submit your application by April 15, 2027, for priority consideration. Wisconsin – Check with your financial aid administrator. Wyoming – Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required.

College and University FAFSA Deadlines

Some colleges and universities have their own FAFSA deadlines. As you apply to colleges, check with financial aid administrators for their preferred due date. Additionally, schools may ask you to submit supplemental financial aid forms. These forms will provide a more detailed picture of your family's financial circumstances by asking questions that the FAFSA may not.

How to Prepare for the 2027-28 FAFSA Launch

The best way to prepare for the FAFSA launch on October 1 is to gather all of your required financial documents and personal details ahead of time. You can download our FAFSA checklist to ensure you have everything you need before you start. In addition to completing the FAFSA, applying for scholarships is one of the most effective ways to lower your out-of-pocket costs and avoid taking on unnecessary student loan debt. While federal and state aid can cover a portion of your expenses, scholarships provide free money that never has to be paid back! If you haven’t already, create your free Fastweb profile today. By filling out your profile, our algorithm automatically matches you with vetted, personalized scholarship opportunities tailored to your unique background, accomplishments, and goals.