About FAFSA Federal Deadline
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid opens on October 1 and the federal deadline falls on June 30 at the end of the award year — the date this page counts down to. That is the last moment the Department of Education will accept the form for that year, and it is the only deadline on the FAFSA calendar that is the same for everybody.
It is also the least useful one to aim at. State aid and college aid are the money most families actually need, and those deadlines come far earlier — many state priority deadlines land in the middle of January, and individual colleges set their own, sometimes before the end of the calendar year. Aid from both is handed out until it runs out, so filing in October rather than June is often the difference between getting it and not.
The practical advice from every financial aid office is the same: file as soon after October 1 as you can, even if the numbers are estimates, and correct them later. The form takes most families under an hour now that it pulls tax data directly from the IRS.
Upcoming dates
| 2027 | Wednesday, June 30, 2027next |
| 2028 | Friday, June 30, 2028 |
| 2029 | Saturday, June 30, 2029 |
| 2030 | Sunday, June 30, 2030 |
| 2031 | Monday, June 30, 2031 |
FAQ
When is the FAFSA deadline?
FAFSA Federal Deadline is on Wednesday, June 30, 2027. That is 265 days from today. The federal deadline is June 30 at the end of the award year. The form opens the previous October 1 — but state and college deadlines come much earlier, and those are the ones that decide most aid.
Why file early if the deadline is June 30?
State and institutional aid is awarded until the money runs out. Many state priority deadlines fall in mid-January and some colleges set theirs even earlier, so filing in autumn protects aid that filing in spring cannot.
Can I still submit after my state deadline?
Yes — the federal form stays open until June 30, and federal aid such as Pell Grants and loans may still be available. The state and college money attached to the earlier deadlines will usually be gone.
What do I need to fill it in?
Social Security numbers, the relevant tax year return, and records of untaxed income and assets. The form imports tax data directly from the IRS for most filers.