Financial Aid and Scholarship Deadlines

When to Apply for Federal Financial Aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) uses income and tax information from two tax years prior. See the chart below to help you know when you can apply for federal financial aid and which tax year information you should use.

Academic Year
(Fall, Spring, Summer)
Date You Can Start
Applying for Aid
FAFSA
Application Year
Income Based
on Tax Year
2026-2027 October 1, 2025 2026-2027 2024
2027-2028 September 23, 2026 2027-2028 2025

When to Apply for State Financial Aid

The deadline for state funding varies from state to state. You can review each states deadline by visiting studentaid.gov or checking your state higher education agency's website.