The 2025 FAFSA filing window opens October 1, 2024 and closes June 30, 2025

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2025–26 school year became available on October 1, 2024. You can submit it anytime between that date and June 30, 2025. There is no single "due date" — instead, there is a six-month window. However, your school and state may have earlier deadlines, and financial aid is often distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, so filing early matters.

The federal government does not penalise you for filing in March instead of October. But schools, states, and some aid programs do run out of money. If you wait until May or June, you may find that grants and work-study positions are already gone, even though you would have received them if you had filed in November.

Key Takeaways

  • The federal FAFSA window runs from October 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, but your school or state may have an earlier deadline.
  • Filing early increases your chances of receiving grants and work-study, which are often distributed first-come, first-served.
  • You can file the FAFSA on fafsa.gov using your FSA ID or by logging in with your state ID in some states.
  • After you submit, your school receives your information and sends you a financial aid offer, usually within two to four weeks.
  • If you miss your school's deadline, contact the financial aid office to ask whether you can still receive aid for that year.

Why your school's deadline may be earlier than June 30

Colleges and universities set their own priority deadlines, which are usually in February, March, or April. If you file after your school's deadline, you may still receive federal loans, but grants and work-study positions may be gone. Some schools will not process your aid package at all until after their deadline has passed, which delays your offer letter.

State governments also set deadlines for state-funded grants. These vary widely — some states have deadlines in March, others in May or June. If you live in a state with a state grant program, check your state's higher education agency website for the exact date. Missing a state deadline can cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars in grant money that does not need to be repaid.

To find your school's deadline, log into the financial aid portal or call the financial aid office directly. Do not assume it is June 30.

How to file before your school's deadline

Start by going to fafsa.gov. You will need either an FSA ID (a username and password you create on the site) or the ability to log in using your state ID, which some states now allow. Have your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and tax information ready.

If you are a dependent student, you will also need one parent's or guardian's information. If your parents are divorced or separated, use the parent who claimed you on their most recent tax return. If neither claimed you, use the parent you lived with for the majority of the past 12 months.

The form itself takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete if you have your documents in front of you. After you submit, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) by email within three business days. Your school will also receive your information and begin preparing your financial aid offer.

What happens after you submit your FAFSA

Once your school receives your FAFSA information, the financial aid office reviews it and calculates how much federal aid you may receive. They then send you an aid offer letter, which lists grants, loans, and work-study. This usually arrives within two to four weeks, though it can take longer if your FAFSA is flagged for verification.

Verification means the school is asking you to prove the information you reported — usually income, family size, or citizenship status. If your FAFSA is selected for verification, the school will send you a list of documents to submit. This process can add two to four weeks to your timeline, so filing early gives you a buffer.

After you receive your aid offer, you can accept or decline each type of aid. You do not have to accept loans if you do not want them. If you have questions about your offer, contact your school's financial aid office.

Filing after your school's deadline

If you miss your school's deadline, contact the financial aid office immediately. Many schools will still process your FAFSA, but you may not receive grants or work-study. You may still be offered federal loans. Some schools have a second or third deadline for late filers, so ask whether one exists.

If you are starting school in the spring semester instead of the fall, your school may have a different deadline. Ask when you enroll.

If you cannot file by June 30

If you do not file the FAFSA by June 30, 2025, you cannot receive federal aid for the 2025–26 school year. However, you can still file for the 2026–27 school year starting October 1, 2025. If you are already enrolled in school and did not file for the current year, ask your financial aid office whether you can receive aid retroactively or whether you should wait and file for the next year.

Some schools offer emergency loans or other aid to students who did not file the FAFSA. It is worth asking, even if you think you have missed the window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file the FAFSA if I do not have a Social Security number?

No. You must have a valid Social Security number to file the FAFSA. If you are an international student, you cannot file the FAFSA, but you may be able to receive aid directly from your school. Contact the financial aid office to ask what options exist.

What if I do not know my parents' income yet because taxes are not filed?

You can estimate your parents' income based on last year's tax return or on what you expect this year to be. You can update your FAFSA later if the actual income is different. Filing early with an estimate is better than waiting until taxes are done, because you will not miss your school's deadline.

Do I have to file the FAFSA every year?

Yes. You must file a new FAFSA for each school year you are enrolled. If you do not file, you will not receive federal aid, grants, or work-study, even if you received them the year before.

What if my school's deadline has already passed?

Call your financial aid office and explain your situation. Many schools will still process your FAFSA even after the deadline, though you may not receive grants. It is worth asking whether a late deadline exists or whether you can receive aid for a future semester.