When to Apply for Federal Financial Aid
IMPORTANT UPDATE: There are major changes and improvements coming to the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. As a result, the new form will be available in DECEMBER 2023, not October 1. The delayed launch date only applies to the 2024-25 FAFSA form.
As you may already know, things have changed with regard to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Now, you are to fill out the FAFSA earlier using 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.
| School Year / Academic Year (Fall, Spring, Summer) |
Date You Can Start Applying for Aid | FAFSA Application Year | Income Based on Tax Year |
| 2022-2023 | October 1st 2021 | 2022-2023 | 2020 |
| 2023-2024 | October 1st 2022 | 2023-2024 | 2021 |
| 2024-2025 | December 2023 | 2021-2025 | 2022 |
| 2025-2026 | October 1st 2024 | 2025-2026 | 2023 |
Spring 2023
| Date | Day | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19 | Thu | Attempted credits calculated for financial aid SAP (11:59 p.m.) | |
| Jan | 19 | Thu | Eligible Pell/TEACH/ND Grants/Scholarships based on enrollment at 11:59 p.m. | |
| Jan | 24 | Tue | Financial aid applied to NDSU account balances | |
| Feb | 1 | Tue | Incoming Freshmen Scholarship Deadline | |
| Mar | 1 | Tue | Currently Enrolled Students Scholarship Deadline | |
| Apr | 1 | Fri | Transfer Students Scholarship Deadline | |
| May | 20 | Fri | Health Professions Student Scholarship Deadline | |
Summer 2023 (All Sessions)
| Date | Day | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun | 20 | Tue | Attempted credits calculated for financial aid SAP (11:59 p.m.) ** |
| Jun | 20 | Tue | Financial Aid Census: Pell, TEACH & State Grant awards are based on enrollment as of 11:59 p.m. |
| Jun | 22 | Thur | Financial aid begins applying to NDSU account balance once enrollment requirements are met. |
Fall 2023
| Date | Day | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug | 30 | Wed | Attempted credits calculated for financial aid SAP (11:59 p.m.) ** |
| Aug | 30 | Wed | Eligible Pell/TEACH/ND Grants/Scholarships based on enrollment as of 11:59 p.m. |
| Sep | 5 | Tue | Financial aid applied to NDSU account balances. |
Spring 2024
| Date | Day | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 18 | Thur | Attempted credits calculated for financial aid SAP (11:59 p.m.) ** |
| Jan | 18 | Thur | Financial Aid Census: Pell, TEACH & State Grant awards are based on enrollment as of 11:59 p.m. |
| Jan | 23 | Tue | Financial aid applied to NDSU account balances |
| Feb | 1 | Thur | Incoming Freshmen Scholarship Deadline |
| Mar | 1 | Fri | Currently Enrolled Students Scholarship Deadline |
| Apr | 1 | Mon | Transfer Students Scholarship Deadline |
| May | 19 | Sun | Health Professions Student Scholarship Deadline |
Summer 2024 (All Sessions)
| Date | Day | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun | 20 | Thur | Attempted credits calculated for financial aid SAP (11:59 p.m.) ** |
| Jun | 20 | Thur | Financial Aid Census: Pell, TEACH & State Grant awards are based on enrollment as of 11:59 p.m. |
| Jun | 25 | Tue | Financial aid begins applying to NDSU account balance once enrollment requirements are met. |