Apply for federal student aid with the FAFSA form

The 2026–27 FAFSA form is still open

For attendance from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the federal deadline is June 30, 2027. School and state priority deadlines may be much earlier and some have already passed, so submit now and contact the financial aid office about remaining options.

What the FAFSA form does

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the application used to determine eligibility for federal grants, work-study funds, and federal student loans. States, colleges, career schools, trade schools, and some private aid providers may also use FAFSA information. Filing is free and does not by itself accept a loan.

Choose the correct award year

Select the FAFSA form for the period when you will attend school. The 2026–27 form covers the award year from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027 and uses 2024 federal tax information. A new FAFSA form is generally required for every award year in which you seek aid.

Check three different deadlines

School deadline: the college or career school may set its own priority date and request extra documents.
State deadline: use the deadline for your state of legal residence, not automatically the state where the school is located. A separate state application may be required.
Federal deadline: the 2026–27 form must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Central time on June 30, 2027.

Use the earliest deadline that applies. Missing a priority date can reduce access to limited state or school funds even when the federal form remains open.

Identify everyone who must participate

The student answers questions that determine dependency status under federal law. A dependent student normally needs parent information. An independent married student may need a spouse contributor. Every required contributor must use a separate StudentAid.gov account, provide the requested information, give consent and approval for federal tax information to transfer from the IRS, and sign their own section.

Complete and submit the form

Create or verify the student's StudentAid.gov account.
Confirm the correct award year and review the student's identity and state-of-residence information.
Answer personal-circumstance and financial questions accurately.
Add colleges, career schools, or trade schools that should receive the FAFSA information.
Invite each required contributor and wait for every required section and signature.
Submit the form and save the confirmation.

Review what happens next

After processing, review the FAFSA Submission Summary in the student's account. It is not a financial aid offer. Correct mistakes, complete any state application, respond quickly if a school requests verification documents, and compare the separate aid offers sent by schools.