Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form allows you to be considered for federal student aid. In addition, states and colleges use FAFSA information to award their own grants, scholarships, and loans. But, since aid is limited, you have to meet the deadlines!
When should I fill out fafsa for spring 2026?
June 30, 2026
FAFSA forms must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on June 30, 2026. Any corrections or updates must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on Sept. 11, 2026.
Federal Deadlines
2026–22 Academic Year
FAFSA® forms must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Central time (CT) on June 30, 2026. Any corrections or updates must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on Sept. 10, 2026.
2026–21 Academic Year
FAFSA forms must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on June 30, 2026. Any corrections or updates must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on Sept. 11, 2026.
College Deadlines
Each college may have its own deadline. Check with the college(s) you’re interested in attending. You may also want to ask your college about its definition of an application deadline. Is it the date your FAFSA form is processed or the date the college receives your processed FAFSA data?
State Deadlines
Each state has its own deadline. See the listing below.
2026–22 Academic Year State Deadlines
| STATE | DEADLINE |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Alaska | Alaska Education Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted.Alaska Performance Scholarship: For priority consideration, submit your application by June 30, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. |
| American Samoa | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Arizona | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Arkansas | Academic Challenge: July 1, 2026, by midnight CT.ArFuture Grant (fall term): July 1, 2026, by midnight CT.ArFuture Grant (spring term): Jan. 10, 2026, by midnight CT. |
| California | For many state financial aid programs: March 2, 2026 (date postmarked). Cal Grant also requires submission of a school-certified GPA by March 2, 2026. For additional community college Cal Grants: Sept. 2, 2026 (date postmarked) If you’re a noncitizen without a Social Security card or had one issued through the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, you should fill out the California Dream Act Application found at dream.csac.ca.gov. Contact the California Student Aid Commission csac.ca.gov or your financial aid administrator for more information. |
| Colorado | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Connecticut | For priority consideration, submit your application by midnight CT, Feb. 15, 2026. Additional forms might be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. |
| Delaware | April 15, 2026, by midnight CT |
| District of Columbia | For priority consideration, submit your FAFSA form by May 1, 2026. For the DC Tuition Assistance Grant, complete the DC OneApp and submit supporting documents by May 31, 2026, for priority consideration |
| Federated States of Micronesia | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Florida | May 15, 2026 (date processed). |
| Georgia | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Guam | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Hawaii | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Idaho | Opportunity Grant: For priority consideration, submit your application by midnight CT, March 1, 2026. Additional forms might be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. |
| Illinois | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Visit isac.org for Monetary Award Program renewal deadline information. Awards are made until funds are depleted. |
| Indiana | Adult Student Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. New applicants must submit additional forms at ScholarTrack.IN.gov.Workforce Ready Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026.Frank O’Bannon Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted.21st Century Scholarship: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. |
| Iowa | July 1, 2026, by midnight CT. Earlier priority deadlines may exist for certain programs. Additional forms may be required. |
| Kansas | For priority consideration, submit your application by midnight CT on April 1, 2026. Additional forms might be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. |
| Kentucky | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards made until funds are depleted. |
| Louisiana | July 1, 2026 (July 1, 2026 recommended) |
| Maine | May 1, 2026, by midnight CT |
| Marshall Islands | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Maryland | March 1, 2026, by midnight CT |
| Massachusetts | For priority consideration, submit your application by midnight CT on May 1, 2026. |
| Michigan | May 1, 2026. |
| Minnesota | 30 days after term starts, by midnight CT. |
| Mississippi | MTAG and MESG Grants: Sept. 15, 2026, by midnight CT.HELP Scholarship: April 30, 2026, by midnight CT. |
| Missouri | For priority consideration, submit your application by Feb. 1, 2026. Applications are accepted through April 1, 2026, by midnight CT. |
| Montana | For priority consideration, submit your application by Dec. 1, 2026. Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| N. Mariana Islands | For priority consideration, submit your application by midnight CT on April 30, 2026. Additional forms may be required. |
| Nebraska | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Nevada | Silver State Opportunity Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted.Nevada Promise Scholarship: March 1, 2026. Additional forms might be required. Awards are made until funds are depleted.All other aid: Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required. |
| New Hampshire | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| New Jersey | 2026–22 Tuition Aid Grant recipients: April 15, 2026, by midnight CT.All other applicants:Fall and spring terms: Sept. 15, 2026, by midnight CTSpring term only: Feb. 15, 2026, by midnight CT |
| New Mexico | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| New York | June 30, 2026, by midnight CT. Additional forms might be required. |
| North Carolina | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. |
| North Dakota | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. |
| Ohio | Oct. 1, 2026, by midnight CT |
| Oklahoma | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. |
| Oregon | Oregon Opportunity Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted.OSAC Private Scholarships: March 1, 2026. Additional forms might be required.Oregon Promise Grant: Contact your state agency. Additional forms might be required. |
| Palau | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Pennsylvania | All first-time applicants enrolled in a community college; business, trade, or technical school; hospital school of nursing; designated Pennsylvania Open-Admission institution; or nontransferable two-year program: Aug. 1, 2026, by midnight CT. All other applicants: May 1, 2026, by midnight CT. Additional forms might be required. |
| Puerto Rico | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Rhode Island | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| South Carolina | SC Commission on Higher Education Need-based Grants: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted.Tuition Grants: June 30, 2026, by m idnight CT.< /td> |
| South Dakota | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Tennessee | State Grant: Prior-year recipients receive award if eligible and apply by March 15, 2026. All other awards made to neediest applicants. Awards are made until funds are depleted.Tennessee Promise: March 15, 2026, by midnight CT.State Lottery for fall term: Sept. 1, 2026, by midnight CT.State Lottery for spring and summer terms: Feb. 1, 2026, by midnight CT. |
| Texas | For priority consideration, submit your application by Jan. 15, 2026. Additional forms might be required. Private and two-year institutions may have different deadlines. Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Utah | Regents’ Scholarship: Feb. 1, 2026. For priority, submit your application by Dec. 4, 2026.Other programs: Check with your financial aid administrator. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Additional forms might be required. |
| Vermont | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Additional forms might be required. |
| Virginia | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Washington | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026.Students ineligible for federal aid but who meet state financial aid program and residency requirements should complete the Washington Application for State Financial Aid at readysetgrad.org/wasfa instead of the FAFSA form. Contact the Washington Student Achievement Council (readysetgrad.org/wasfa) or your financial aid administrator for more information. |
| West Virginia | PROMISE Scholarship: March 1, 2026. New applicants must submit additional forms at cfwv.com. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency.WV Higher Education Grant Program: April 15, 2026.WV Invests Grant: For priority consideration, submit your application by April 15, 2026. |
| Wisconsin | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Wyoming | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
2026–21 Academic Year State Deadlines
| STATE | DEADLINE |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Alaska | Alaska Education Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Alaska Performance Scholarship: For priority consideration, submit your application by June 30, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. |
| Alberta | There is no state (or province) deadline for Alberta. |
| American Samoa | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Arizona | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Arkansas | Academic Challenge: June 1, 2026, by midnight CT. Higher Education Opportunity Grant: June 1, 2026, by midnight CT. Workforce Grant: Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| British Columbia | There is no state deadline for British Columbia. |
| California | For many state financial aid programs: March 2, 2026 (date postmarked). Cal Grant also requires submission of a school-certified GPA by March 2, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to obtain proof of mailing their GPA and to retain a copy of their GPA form. For additional community college Cal Grants: Sept. 2, 2026 (date postmarked). If you’re a noncitizen without a Social Security card or had one issued through the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, you should fill out the California Dream Act Application found at dream.csac.ca.gov. You don’t need to fill out a FAFSA form to be eligible for California student financial aid. Contact the California Student Aid Commission (csac.ca.gov) or your financial aid administrator for more information. Additional forms might be required. Applicants are encouraged to keep a record of their submission by printing out their online FAFSA confirmation page or obtaining proof of mailing the FAFSA form. |
| Canada | Contact your financial aid office. There is no state (or province) deadline for Canada. |
| Colorado | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Connecticut | For priority consideration, submit your application by Feb. 15, 2026, midnight CT. Additional forms might be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. |
| Delaware | June 15, 2026, by midnight CT. |
| District of Columbia | For priority consideration, submit your FAFSA form by May 1, 2026. For the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG), complete the DC OneApp and submit supporting documents by June 30, 2026, to be given priority consideration. |
| Federated States of Micronesia | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Florida | May 15, 2026 (date processed). |
| Foreign Country | Contact your financial aid office. There is no state deadline for foreign countries. |
| Georgia | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Guam | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Hawaii | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Idaho | Opportunity Grant: For priority consideration, submit your application by midnight CT on March 1, 2026. Additional forms might be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. |
| Illinois | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Visit isac.org for Monetary Award Program renewal deadline information. Awards are made until funds are depleted. |
| Indiana | Adult Student Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. New applicants must submit additional forms at ScholarTrack.IN.gov. Workforce Ready Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Frank O’Bannon Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. 21st Century Scholarship: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. |
| Iowa | July 1, 2026, by midnight CT. Earlier priority deadlines might exist for certain programs. Additional forms might be required. |
| Kansas | For priority consideration, submit your application by midnight CT on June 1, 2026. Additional forms might be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. |
| Kentucky | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. |
| Louisiana | July 1, 2026 (July 1, 2026 recommended). |
| Maine | May 1, 2026, by midnight CT. |
| Manitoba | Contact your financial aid office. There is no state (or province) deadline for Manitoba. |
| Marshall Islands | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Maryland | March 1, 2026, by midnight CT. |
| Massachusetts | For priority consideration, submit your application by midnight CT on May 1, 2026. |
| Mexico | Contact your financial aid office. There is no state deadline for Mexico. |
| Michigan | March 1, 2026, by midnight CT. |
| Minnesota | 30 days after term starts, by midnight CT. |
| Mississippi | MTAG and MESG Grants: Oct. 15, 2026 by midnight Central time (CT). HELP Grant: April 30, 2026 by midnight CT. |
| Missouri | For priority consideration, submit your application by Feb. 3, 2026. Applications are accepted through April 1, 2026, at midnight CT. |
| Montana | For priority consideration, submit your application by Dec. 1, 2026. Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| N. Mariana Islands | For priority consideration, submit your application by midnight CT on April 30, 2026. Additional forms might be required. |
| Nebraska | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Nevada | Silver State Opportunity Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Nevada Promise Scholarship: April 1, 2026. Additional forms might be required. Awards are made until funds are depleted. All other aid: Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| New Brunswick | Contact your financial aid office. There is no state (or province) deadline for New Brunswick. |
| New Hampshire | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| New Jersey | 2026–20 Tuition Aid Grant recipients: June 1, 2026, by midnight CT. All other applicants for fall and spring terms: Sept. 15, 2026, by midnight CT. All other applicants for spring term only: Feb. 15, 2026, by midnight CT. |
| New Mexico | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| New York | June 30, 2026, by midnight CT. Additional forms might be required. |
| Newfoundland | Contact your financial aid office. There is no state (or province) deadline for Newfoundland. |
| Newfoundland/Labrador | Contact your financial aid office. There is no state (or province) deadline for Newfoundland/Labrador.< /td> |
| North Carolina | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. |
| North Dakota | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. |
| Northwest Territories | Contact your financial aid office. There is no state (or province) deadline for Northwest Territories. |
| Nova Scotia | Contact your financial aid office. There is no state (or province) deadline for Nova Scotia. |
| Nunavut | Contact your financial aid office. There is no state (or province) deadline for Nunavut. |
| Ohio | Oct. 1, 2026, by midnight CT. |
| Oklahoma | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. |
| Ontario | Contact your financial aid office. There is no state (or province) deadline for Ontario. |
| Oregon | Oregon Opportunity Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. OSAC Private Scholarships: March 1, 2026. Additional forms might be required. Oregon Promise Grant: Contact your state agency. Additional forms might be required. |
| Palau | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Pennsylvania | All first-time applicants enrolled in a community college, business, trade, or technical school, hospital school of nursing, designated Pennsylvania Open-Admission institution, or nontransferable two-year program: Aug. 1, 2026, by midnight CT. All other applicants: May 15, 2026, by midnight CT. Additional forms might be required. |
| Prince Edward Island | Contact your financial aid office. There is no state (or province) deadline for Prince Edward Island. |
| Puerto Rico | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Quebec (PQ) | Contact your financial aid office. There is no state (or province) deadline for Quebec (PQ). |
| Quebec (QC) | Contact your financial aid office. There is no state (or province) deadline for Quebec (QC). |
| Rhode Island | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Saskatchewan | Contact your financial aid office. There is no state (or province) deadline for Saskatchewan. |
| South Carolina | SC Commission on Higher Education Need-based Grants: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted.Tuition Grants: June 30, 2026, by midnight CT. |
| South Dakota | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Tennessee | State Grant: Prior-year recipients receive award if eligible and apply by Feb. 1, 2026. All other awards made to neediest applicants. Awards are made until funds are depleted.Tennessee Promise: Feb. 1, 2026 (date received). State Lottery: Fall term: Sept. 1, 2026 (date received). State Lottery: Spring and summer terms: Feb. 1, 2026 (date received). |
| Texas | For priority consideration, submit your application by Jan. 15, 2026. Additional forms might be required. Private and two-year institutions might have different deadlines. Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Utah | Check with your financial aid administrator. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Additional forms might be required. |
| Vermont | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Additional forms might be required. |
| Virginia | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Washington | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Awards are made until funds are depleted.Students ineligible for federal aid but who meet state financial aid program and residency requirements should complete the Washington Application for State Financial Aid at readysetgrad.org/wasfa instead of the FAFSA form. Contact the Washington Student Achievement Council (readysetgrad.org/wasfa) or your financial aid administrator for more information. |
| West Virginia | PROMISE Scholarship: March 1, 2026. New applicants must submit additional forms at cfwv.com. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. WV Higher Education Grant Program: April 15, 2026. |
| Wisconsin | Check with your financial aid administrator. |
| Wyoming | Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. |
| Yukon | Contact your financial aid office. There is no state deadline (or province) for Yukon. |