When Is The 2024-25 FAFSA Due?

The last day you can submit the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is June 30, 2026, the federal deadline. Colleges and states often have their own deadlines, so the sooner you apply after the FAFSA application opens, the better your chances of qualifying for financial aid. Keeping up with your state and college FAFSA deadlines may help you avoid missing out on certain grant and scholarship opportunities.

When is the FAFSA due?

The FAFSA deadline for the 2025-26 academic year is June 30, 2026, while the deadline for the 2024-25 academic year is June 30, 2025.

If you wait until the deadline to submit your application, however, you’ll miss out on financial aid for the fall and spring semesters. In this instance, you would only be able to receive aid for summer classes.

Additionally, some aid is given on a first-come, first-served basis. This means that if you apply soon after the opening date, you may receive more aid based on your expected family contribution (EFC). Additionally, many states and colleges have their own application deadlines for aid, so if you wait too long to file your FAFSA, you could miss out on state and college financial aid opportunities.

If you want to get a head start on financial aid for the 2025-26 school year, the FAFSA opened to applicants on Nov. 18, 2024.

State and institutional FAFSA deadlines

Many states have their own scholarships and grants for local students attending an in-state college. These forms of aid are often limited, which is why it’s best to fill out the FAFSA sooner rather than later. Plus, state and institutional deadlines are typically earlier than the federal FAFSA deadline.

For individual school deadlines, contact your college’s financial aid office. Here are the deadlines for each state for the 2024-25 school year:

For some programs, additional forms may be required. For more details about your state’s deadline requirements, head to the Department of Education’s website.

Why you should file your FAFSA early

Many university-based scholarships and state grants are only available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you wait too long to fill out the FAFSA, that money could be long gone.

Also, the sooner you apply, the sooner you’ll get your financial aid award letter from the university. If you haven’t filled out the FAFSA, the college can’t tell you how much financial aid you qualify for. If you’re an incoming freshman, this could make it harder to decide which college to attend.

Can I make changes to the FAFSA after I’ve applied?

You can change some details of your FAFSA if needed, even after the federal deadline — for the 2025-26 academic year, you’ll have until Sept. 13, 2026, to make those adjustments. This includes changes to your personal details, contact information or dependency status. You may also want to contact the schools you’ve applied to and inform them that you’ve updated the FAFSA.

If you used the wrong Social Security number (SSN) on the form, you can make changes by logging into your StudentAid.gov account. The Social Security Administration will then verify your information, after which you can submit a correction to your completed FAFSA form.

However, you can’t change financial details, such as savings account balances. If you expect extreme financial hardship like bankruptcy or permanent income loss and that information isn’t detailed on your FAFSA, you can send a financial aid appeal letter to a representative from your college’s financial aid office.

What to do if you miss the FAFSA deadline

If you miss the deadline for the current academic year, reach out to your school’s financial aid office to understand your options. Some colleges may be flexible with financial aid, even for students who don’t get their FAFSA in on time.

Other potential options include:

1. Apply for other scholarships: College grants and federal loans aren’t the only types of financial aid available. Look for scholarships from third-party companies and organizations. There are several scholarship search engines you can use to find opportunities.

2. Ask for help: If your parents or other loved ones have the means, they may be able to help you pay for the current school year. Just be sure to submit your FAFSA on time for the upcoming school year to avoid running into the same problem.

3. Consider private student loans: While the FAFSA is required to qualify for federal student loans, you can apply for private student loans without it. Before doing so, calculate how much money you need to borrow and how much you can afford in monthly repayment.

4. Find a part- or full-time job: While it’s not always ideal to work while you’re in school, that income can help you pay for your college education without needing to resort to borrowing money.

5. Consider a community college: The cost of a four-year university can be prohibitive if you don’t have access to financial aid. But if you’re just starting your college career, completing some general coursework at a community college can help you save money before you transfer to a bigger institution to finish your degree.

Take your time to consider all of your options before proceeding with any one of them, and make it a priority to submit your FAFSA for the next year as soon as it opens.

Bottom line

The latest you can file the FAFSA for the 2025-2026 academic year is June 30, 2026, but each state and school has unique deadlines. If you miss this final deadline, you won’t be able to complete the year’s FAFSA. However, if you miss a state or college deadline, you may submit the FAFSA up until the federal deadline, though your chances of receiving aid will be lower. If you haven’t already done so, complete the FAFSA as soon as possible to have the best chance of qualifying for financial aid.