The FAFSA for 2024–2025 opened October 1, 2023, and most students should submit by June 30, 2025
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2024–2025 school year opened on October 1, 2023. The federal deadline to submit is June 30, 2025, but this is not the deadline that matters most for your money. Your school's financial aid office sets its own deadline — usually between January and March — and submitting after that date means you may lose grant money, work-study positions, or loans that have already run out.
The 2024–2025 FAFSA was significantly delayed compared to previous years. The U.S. Department of Education released it later than planned, which compressed the filing window and created a backlog of applications. If you have not yet submitted, you should do so as soon as possible, because even though the federal deadline is June 30, 2025, your school's priority deadline has likely already passed or is passing soon.
You can file the FAFSA online at studentaid.gov using your FSA ID (Federal Student Aid ID). If you do not have an FSA ID, you will need to create one before you start the application. The process takes 15 to 30 minutes if you have your documents ready.
Key Takeaways
- The federal FAFSA deadline for 2024–2025 is June 30, 2025, but your school's priority deadline is usually much earlier — often in January, February, or March — and determines whether you receive the full amount of aid available.
- You submit the FAFSA at studentaid.gov using an FSA ID, and you will need your Social Security number, tax information, and driver's license or state ID.
- Submitting after your school's priority deadline does not disqualify you, but it may mean grants and work-study jobs are no longer available.
- If you miss your school's deadline, contact the financial aid office directly to ask whether any funds remain and what steps to take next.
Your school's priority deadline is the one that affects your aid package
Each college, university, and career school sets its own financial aid priority deadline. This is different from the federal deadline. Schools use priority deadlines to manage the order in which they award limited funds — grants, work-study, and some loans — to students.
Priority deadlines typically fall between January 1 and March 31, though some schools set them as early as November or as late as May. You can find your school's deadline by logging into your student portal, calling the financial aid office, or searching "[school name] FAFSA deadline" on the school's website. Do not assume all schools in your state or region use the same date — they do not.
If you submit after the priority deadline, your FAFSA is still processed and you still receive aid, but the pool of available money may be depleted. Grants that do not have to be repaid are usually the first to run out. Work-study positions fill quickly. Some federal loans may still be available, but you will not know until the school reviews your application.
What documents you need before you start
Gather these items before you open the FAFSA form. Having them ready cuts the filing time in half and reduces errors that delay processing.
- Your Social Security number
- Your driver's license or state ID number
- Your FSA ID username and password (or create one at studentaid.gov if you do not have one)
- Your parent's or guardian's FSA ID if you are a dependent student
- Your 2023 tax return (yours and your parent's if you are a dependent) — you can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to pull this information directly into the form
- W-2 forms or other income records if you or your parent had income not reported on a tax return
- Records of untaxed income, such as Social Security benefits, veterans benefits, or child support
- Bank and investment account statements (current balances as of the day you file)
If you do not have all of these items, you can still submit the FAFSA with what you have. You can go back and add information later, and the school's financial aid office can help you track down missing documents.
How to file the FAFSA step by step
Go to studentaid.gov and select "Start Your FAFSA." You will be asked to sign in with your FSA ID. If you do not have one, create it on the same site — it takes about 10 minutes and requires your email, Social Security number, and date of birth.
The form asks for your personal information, citizenship status, and driver's license or state ID number. Then it moves to financial information: your income, your parent's income (if you are a dependent), and your assets. You can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import your tax information directly, which is faster and more accurate than typing it in by hand.
Next, you select the schools where you want your FAFSA information sent. You can add up to 10 schools for free. If you want to add more than 10, there is a small fee per additional school. Schools receive your FAFSA within a few days of submission.
Review your answers, sign the form electronically with your FSA ID, and submit. You will receive a confirmation email. The FAFSA is now in the system, and your schools will begin reviewing it.
What happens after you submit
Your school's financial aid office receives your FAFSA and uses it to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) — the amount the government estimates your family can pay toward education. The school then sends you a financial aid package showing grants, loans, and work-study that you may receive.
This package is not automatic. The school reviews your FAFSA, checks it against your school records, and may ask for additional documents if something does not match. If you submitted after the priority deadline, the package may show fewer grant options or no work-study offer.
You will receive your aid package by email or through your student portal. Read it carefully. It shows the total cost of attendance, how much the school is offering to cover, and what you or your family would need to pay or borrow. You then accept or decline each part of the offer.
If you missed your school's deadline
Contact your school's financial aid office immediately. Explain when you submitted your FAFSA and ask whether any grant funds or work-study positions remain available. Some schools hold back a small reserve for late filers or for students with special circumstances.
If your school has already distributed all available grant money, you may still receive federal loans. The financial aid office can tell you what is still available and what your next steps are. Do not assume you have lost all aid — many schools can still help you even after the priority deadline has passed.
If you have not yet submitted the FAFSA at all, do so now. The sooner you submit, the sooner the school can process your application and tell you what aid is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit the FAFSA after June 30, 2025?
No. June 30, 2025, is the federal deadline, and the FAFSA closes after that date. If you have not submitted by then, you cannot file for the 2024–2025 school year. You would need to file for the 2025–2026 school year instead, which opens October 1, 2025.
What if I do not know my parent's FSA ID?
Your parent can create an FSA ID at studentaid.gov using their email, Social Security number, and date of birth. It takes about 10 minutes. If your parent does not have a Social Security number, contact your school's financial aid office — they can walk you through an alternative process.
Do I have to submit the FAFSA every year?
Yes. The FAFSA is for one school year only. If you want aid for the 2025–2026 school year, you must submit a new FAFSA when it opens on October 1, 2025. Your school will remind you of the deadline, but it is your responsibility to file on time.
What if my family's financial situation changed after I submitted?
Contact your school's financial aid office and explain the change. They can review your FAFSA, adjust your aid package if needed, and may ask you to submit updated documents. Do not wait — the sooner you report the change, the sooner they can recalculate your aid.
Can I file the FAFSA on my phone?
Yes. The FAFSA form works on phones and tablets, though a computer or tablet with a larger screen is easier to use. Make sure you have a stable internet connection and all your documents ready before you start.