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Federal, state, and college student aid all have different deadlines.
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The deadline to apply for federal student aid for the 2023-24 school year is June 30, 2024.
You should fill out your FAFSA as soon after October 1 as possible for the best chance at aid.
You might have to complete the College Scholarship Service Profile to be eligible for college aid.
Student aid can help you afford college, but you’ll only get it if you apply for it on time. Take note of the deadlines for federal, state, and college aid so you don’t miss out on the chance to get any money you’re eligible for. You can read more about the differences between these types of aid here.
Federal student aid deadlines
School yearFirst day to file FAFSALast day to file FAFSACorrections or updates due
2022-23
October 1, 2021
June 30, 2023
September 9, 2023
2023-24
October 1, 2022
June 30, 2024
September 9, 2024
You’ll have about 20 months to get your Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, in from the start of the application period to the end each academic year. You should apply for the FAFSA as soon after October 1 as possible.
Keep in mind, the earlier you apply, the more likely you are to qualify for aid that has a limited pool of money available. This includes grants, scholarships, and certain federal work-study programs. While you can submit your FAFSA up until June 30 for a given academic year, you’ll want to submit earlier to get your money in time for the start of the school year.
It takes about 30 minutes to one hour to fill out your FAFSA. Your FAFSA information will be used to determine your eligibility for state and college aid as well.
State student aid deadlines
In addition to the FAFSA, you might need different applications for each state program, and many of them have yearly deadlines. If you don’t meet a deadline one year, you can often reapply the next. You can look over a clickable map of programs by state here.
Some states operate on a first-come, first-served basis when determining financial aid, so the sooner you apply, the better.
College student aid deadlines
Be sure you’re clear on your college’s FAFSA deadline by contacting its financial aid office. Some schools’ deadlines are the date that your form is processed, while others make the deadline the date the school gets your processed FAFSA data.
In addition to the FAFSA, you may have to fill out the College Scholarship Service Profile, or CSS Profile, to qualify for aid. The deadline for the CSS Profile is different for every school, so check with each place you’re applying. CollegeBoard, the organization that oversees the CSS, recommends submit your application at least two weeks before your colleges’ deadlines.
Learn more about how to apply for financial aid here.