FAFSA Deadlines For 2027-28 And 2026-27: Federal, State, And School Due Dates

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2027-28 school year opens October 1, 2026, and closes June 30, 2028. If you'll be in school between July 1, 2027 and June 30, 2028, that's your form. If you're asking about this school year (2026-27), that form opened last September and is due June 30, 2027.

Neither federal date is the one that matters. States and colleges set their own deadlines, many of them in the first quarter of 2027, and a lot of state grant money is first-come, first-served. Filing early is how you get Pell Grants, state grants, school aid, and federal student loans in the same package. The 2027-28 SAI chart shows what your number will be before you file.

You can apply for the FAFSA here: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

Key FAFSA Deadlines:

• 2027-2028 FAFSA: opens October 1, 2026. Federal deadline June 30, 2028. State deadlines start January 15, 2027.
• 2026-2027 FAFSA: Open October 1, 2025, Deadline is Technically June 30, 2027. But you need to fill out the FAFSA way before then! 

Important Update For 2026 FAFSA Opening Date (For 2027-28 FAFSA)

The FAFSA will open for all families by October 1, 2026, according to the current information from the Department of Education. This is better than last year's FAFSA, which opened on December 1.

If you're curious about what this means for your financial aid situation, check out our Student Aid Index Chart and Calculator.

Federal FAFSA Deadline

The "technical" Federal FAFSA deadline is June 30 in the year you are applying for. You can start applying for the FAFSA as early as October 1 they year before. It is extremely important that you file the FAFSA every year.

However, your state or school may have a significantly earlier deadline.

Note: You don't want to wait for the Federal deadline because a lot of the "best" aid is first-come, first-serve. The deadline is useful for getting last minute student loans, if necessary.

State FAFSA Deadlines

Many states set their own guidelines when it comes to providing financial aid and the FAFSA requirements along with it. 

We've put together a comprehensive guide on Financial Aid and Student Loans available by state, and you'll see a lot of states requiring certain FAFSA deadlines. Make sure you check with your state if you are applying for state-based financial aid. 

Here is the list of the state financial aid deadlines. Remember, these are the deadline - most aid is still first-come, first-served.

School FAFSA Deadlines

Finally, every school may maintain their own deadlines for when to file the FAFSA, with many schools opting for a first-come, first-serve approach to providing need-based financial aid.

If you are going to need scholarships or grants to pay for college, make sure you touch base with your college's financial aid office so that you understand any deadlines or recommendations about when to apply.

For example, many CSS Profile schools have an Early Decision requirement of having the CSS Profiel complete by November 15.

At the end of the day, earlier is usually better. 

How To Fill Out The FAFSA

If you're not sure where to start, here's our step-by-step FAFSA walkthrough, updated for 2027-28. Divorced or separated parents should read which parent files first, because the contributor rules decide whose income counts. And if you're on the fence, file it anyway because it's required for federal loans, work-study, and many scholarships require it regardless of income.

FAFSA Deadline FAQ

When does the FAFSA open for 2027-28?

October 1, 2026, according to the Department of Education. Beta participants have been filing since August, and those submissions count.

Can I file before October 1?

Only through the beta program. Everyone else files on or after October 1, 2026. Filing in the first few weeks is the goal; there's no advantage to filing on day one versus day ten, but there's a real cost to filing in March in a first-come, first-served state.

What is the federal FAFSA deadline for 2027-28?

June 30, 2028, 11:59 p.m. Central, with corrections through September 12, 2028. For 2026-27 it's June 30, 2027 and September 12, 2027. Your state and school deadlines are earlier.

Which FAFSA do I file for spring 2027?

The 2026-27 FAFSA. The 2027-28 form doesn't cover anything before July 1, 2027.

Do states have different FAFSA deadlines?

Yes; see the table above. About a dozen states have no fixed date and defer to your school; about a dozen more award aid until funds run out, which means "file in October." Each state's scholarships and grants have their own rules.

Should I file the FAFSA even if I don't think I'll qualify for aid?

Yes. Federal student loans, work-study, and many merit scholarships require a completed FAFSA regardless of income, and the income limits are higher than most families assume.

How long does it take?

Most first-time filers finish in 20–30 minutes if every contributor has an FSA ID and consents to the FUTURE Act Direct Data Exchange, which pulls tax data automatically. Returning filers on the 2027-28 form should be faster because prior answers prepopulate.

Final Thoughts

When you are going to college, you should apply for the FAFSA every year. Beyond eligibility for scholarships and grants, the FAFSA is also what you need to get student loans.

You should apply for the FAFSA as early as possible. It's relatively easy to do online, and will take about 20-30 minutes of your time. The bottom line is, don't miss the deadline, and apply early.