Student Success

Important FAFSA Info and Deadlines You Need to Know

Don’t leave money on the table.

There are more than 9.9 million students in the United States receiving roughly $120.8 billion in postsecondary education funding each year through the Department of Education’s (DOE) Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA). What’s more, billions of dollars in Pell Grants go unclaimed each year.

To receive federal aid, students need to apply for it—and they can do this by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form.

Given how much high schoolers and college students have a lot on their plates—from preparing for high-stakes exams to juggling extracurriculars and sports to working part-time jobs and caring for their families—they might miss an important submission deadline.

We’re here to help! Read on for the important FAFSA information and dates to know to apply for federal financial aid:

What is the FAFSA?

FAFSA is the form that students must submit in order to receive federal financial aid for postsecondary studies.

Once submitted, the FAFSA form is used by colleges and career schools to calculate the Student Aid Index (SAI) and determine how much financial aid a student is eligible to receive, including loans, scholarships, grants, and work-study funds.

When should I complete the FAFSA form?

The DOE processes more than 17.6 million FAFSA forms annually, so it's important to submit by the DOE’s deadlines.

Typically, the FAFSA form is made available on October 1 each year, and the deadline to submit is June 30. Often, it’s best to submit as early as possible; however, many schools have their own priority dates and deadlines, and it’s important to be aware of (and follow) those.

Remember: The form must be submitted every year to continue receiving financial aid!

Below are FAFSA form submission deadlines for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 school years:

When is the FAFSA form due?

The FAFSA form for the 2025–26 school year must be submitted by 11:59 P.M. CT on June 30, 2026.

If there are updates and/or corrections, they must be submitted by 11:59 P.M. CT on September 12, 2026.

Additionally, each state has its own deadlines for local grants and financial aid. More information can be found on the FAFSA Deadlines page.

How much financial aid can I receive?

The answer varies from person to person. Some students may be eligible to receive federal student loans, state loans, and private loans—or any combination of the three.

On the federal level, the maximum combined amount of Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Loans an undergraduate student can borrow each year is between $5,500 and $12,500 based on dependency status and year of school.

Graduate and professional students can borrow up to $20,500 in Direct Unsubsidized Loans each academic year.

What if I don’t receive enough financial aid?

Schools may offer different financial aid packages, so it’s best to compare financial aid offers and make a decision based on budget. In some cases, it may be possible to (respectfully and tactfully) request additional aid from a school’s financial aid office.

For returning students, it’s best to schedule a meeting with the school’s office of financial aid as soon as possible to discuss options.

Postsecondary schools want to help students progress toward graduation, so they’re usually willing to work with students and families to overcome financial barriers.

What do I do once I submit the FAFSA form?

Creating a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) is the first step in submitting the FAFSA form.

To create a FSA ID, sign up on the Federal Student Aid website (students will need their Social Security Number and a valid email address).

After submitting the FAFSA form (it’s not long!), students can check their submission summary online by logging in to the StudentAid.gov Dashboard, selecting the submission from the “My Activity” section, and clicking “View FAFSA Submission Summary.”

Students can also check the status of their FAFSA submission by logging in to the StudentAid.gov Dashboard and selecting the submission from the “My Activity” section. There, the FAFSA form will be labeled as one of the following:

• Draft: Your form is incomplete.
• In Progress: You consented, approved, and signed your section of the form but have not submitted it yet.
• In Review: Your form was submitted but has not yet been processed.
• Action Required: The form is missing your consent and approval/signature, or the form was processed and requires a correction.
• Processed: Your application was processed, and no further action is necessary.
• Closed: Your form can no longer be submitted because the federal deadline has passed.

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