FAFSA opens October 1 each year, and you can submit from then through June 30 of the following year

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) becomes available on October 1 and stays open until June 30. This means if you are planning to attend college in the fall, you can start your FAFSA in October of the year before you enroll. The application window is long, but submitting early matters because some aid programs run out of money as the year goes on.

The FAFSA is the form that determines how much federal aid you can receive and also affects state and institutional aid. Colleges use your FAFSA information to calculate your financial need and send you aid packages. Even if you think you will not may have access to for aid, submitting the FAFSA is often required to access loans and other programs.

Key Takeaways

  • FAFSA opens October 1 each year and closes June 30, giving you nine months to submit.
  • Submitting in October or November is better than waiting until spring because some aid funds are distributed first-come, first-served.
  • You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and tax information from the previous year to complete the form.
  • Most schools have their own aid deadlines that fall before June 30, so check your college's website for when they need your FAFSA submitted.
  • You can submit a FAFSA for multiple schools at once, and you can update your information if your circumstances change.

Why submitting early matters more than you might think

Colleges and states distribute aid on a rolling basis, meaning they award money to students as FAFSA forms arrive. If you submit in October, your school sees your information first and can make you an offer. If you wait until May, some grant money may already be gone, even if you would have may have access to.

Federal loans are not limited by a pool of money, so timing matters less for those. But state grants, institutional grants, and work-study positions often are. Your college's financial aid office can tell you their priority deadline — the date by which they want your FAFSA in to may provide you are considered for all available aid.

What you need before you start

Gather these documents before you open the FAFSA: your Social Security number, a valid driver's license or state ID, and your tax return from the previous year (or your parents' return if they claim you as a dependent). You will also need your FSA ID, which is a username and password you create to sign in to federal student aid websites.

If you do not have a driver's license or state ID, you can use your Social Security number and date of birth to verify your identity instead. If you are a dependent student, your parent will also need an FSA ID to sign the form. Have your school codes ready too — you can find them on the FAFSA website or your college's admissions page.

How to submit your FAFSA

Go to fafsa.gov and click "Start Your FAFSA." You will create or log into your FSA ID, then answer questions about your family's income, assets, household size, and educational plans. The form takes 30 to 45 minutes if you have your documents ready.

You can save your progress and come back later — the form does not have to be completed in one sitting. Once you finish, you and your parent (if required) will sign electronically using your FSA IDs. After you submit, you will receive a confirmation number. Keep this number and check your email for updates from the schools you listed.

What happens after you submit

Your school will receive your FAFSA information within a few days to a few weeks, depending on how busy the system is. They will then calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and send you a financial aid package that shows grants, loans, and work-study offers. This package is not a bill — it is an offer of aid.

You do not have to accept all the aid offered. You can decline loans or work-study and accept only grants if you prefer. If your circumstances change after you submit (job loss, medical emergency, change in family size), contact your school's financial aid office — they can sometimes adjust your aid package.

Deadlines vary by school and state

While FAFSA itself closes June 30, your college may have an earlier deadline. Many schools want your FAFSA submitted by February or March to include you in their initial aid distribution. Some states also have their own priority deadlines for state grant programs — these are usually in March or April.

Check your college's financial aid website or call their aid office to find out their specific deadline. Missing your school's deadline does not mean you cannot get aid, but it may mean you receive less or have to wait longer for your package. Some schools will still process a FAFSA submitted in May or June, but you should not count on it.

If you miss the June 30 deadline

If you submit after June 30, your FAFSA will not be processed for that academic year. You would need to submit a new FAFSA when the next cycle opens on October 1. However, if you are already enrolled in school and did not submit a FAFSA, contact your financial aid office immediately — they may be able to help you submit a late form or explore other funding options.

Some schools have emergency funds or alternative loans for students who miss the deadline. Your aid office can also tell you whether you can submit a FAFSA for the following year while still enrolled, which would make you may be able to access for aid for the remainder of your current enrollment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I submit a FAFSA if I am not sure which college I will attend?

Yes. You can list up to 10 schools on your FAFSA, and you can add or remove schools later. You do not have to know your final choice when you submit. Many students submit a FAFSA listing several schools they are considering, then update it once they decide where to enroll.

Do I have to resubmit a FAFSA every year?

Yes. You must submit a new FAFSA each academic year you are enrolled in school. The form opens October 1 for the following academic year, so you would submit in fall 2024 for the 2024–2025 school year. Your information from the previous year may carry over, but you still have to review and submit it again.

What if I do not know my parents' tax information yet?

You can submit your FAFSA using estimates and update it later once your parents file their taxes. The FAFSA website has a tool that can pull tax information directly from the IRS, which is more accurate than entering it by hand. You can also submit without your parents' information if you are an independent student.

Can I submit a FAFSA if I am not a U.S. citizen?

Federal student aid is limited to U.S. citizens and certain may be able to access noncitizens. You will need a valid Social Security number to submit a FAFSA. If you are not a citizen, check with your school's international student office or financial aid office to learn what funding you may be able to access.

What if I already submitted a FAFSA and my situation changed?

Log back into your FAFSA using your FSA ID and update your information. Changes like a job loss, divorce, or change in family size can affect your aid amount. After you update, resubmit the form and notify your school's financial aid office of the change so they can recalculate your aid if needed.