Paying for college · 2027–2028
The FAFSA, explained.
The 2027–28 FAFSA opened September 23, 2026, earlier than ever. Here’s what it decides, what you need, and the deadline for every state.
By Lokesh Pampatti, founder of Clarity Prep · Updated October 18, 2026
2027–28 FAFSA: opened September 23, 2026. Covers July 1, 2027 to June 30, 2028. Uses 2025 taxes. Federal deadline June 30, 2028; state and college deadlines are much earlier.
What the FAFSA decides
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the one form behind federal Pell Grants, federal student loans and work-study. Most states use it for their grants and scholarships, and almost every college uses it for its own aid. It’s free, and you file it every year you’re in college.
If you’re a senior applying this fall, the 2027–28 form is yours. Some colleges, mostly private ones, also want the CSS Profile for their own grants.
What you need
- A StudentAid.gov account for you and one for each parent who has to contribute
- Social Security numbers, if you have them
- Your family’s 2025 tax information (the form pulls it from the IRS once everyone consents)
- Current balances of cash, savings and investments (not retirement accounts or your home)
- The colleges you’re applying to. You can list up to 20.
How to fill it out
- Make your StudentAid.gov accounts a few days ahead. New accounts can take a moment to confirm.
- Start the 2027–28 FAFSA at studentaid.gov and invite your parents. This year you can send the invite by text as well as email.
- Each of you gives consent to pull tax data from the IRS and answers your own section.
- Add every college you’re applying to, even ones you’re unsure about.
- Submit and save your FAFSA Submission Summary. Colleges get your information within a few days.
File early
The federal deadline is June 30, 2028, but nobody should wait for it. 15 states say to file as soon as possible or pay some aid until it runs out: Alaska, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington. Colleges set priority deadlines too, often by February, and early decision applicants can be asked for aid forms in November.
Track your college deadlines on the deadlines list, see each college’s net price after grants on its college page, and look for outside money on the list of scholarships for high school students.
FAFSA deadlines by state
| State | 2027–28 deadline |
|---|---|
| Alabama | No state deadline. Ask your college’s financial aid office. |
| Alaska | Alaska Education Grant: as soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026, until funds run out. Alaska Performance Scholarship: June 30, 2027 for priority. |
| Arizona | Arizona Promise Program: April 1, 2027 for priority. |
| Arkansas | Governor’s Scholars (Distinguished): March 1, 2027. Academic Challenge and other Governor’s Scholars: July 1, 2027. Arkansas Future Grant: July 1, 2027 for fall, Jan. 10, 2028 for spring. |
| California | Most state aid, including Cal Grant: March 2, 2027 (Cal Grant also needs a school-certified GPA by then). Community college Cal Grants: Sept. 2, 2027. |
| Colorado | No state deadline. Ask your college’s financial aid office. |
| Connecticut | Feb. 15, 2027 for priority. |
| Delaware | May 15, 2027. |
| Washington, D.C. | June 25, 2027 for priority. DC Tuition Assistance Grant: DC OneApp by July 1, 2027. |
| Florida | May 15, 2027 (date processed). |
| Georgia | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. HOPE and Zell Miller details are on GAfutures.org. |
| Hawaii | No state deadline. Ask your college’s financial aid office. |
| Idaho | Opportunity Scholarship: March 1, 2027. |
| Illinois | Monetary Award Program (MAP): as soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026, until funds run out. |
| Indiana | April 15, 2027 for the Frank O’Bannon Grant, 21st Century Scholarship, Adult Student Grant and Workforce Ready Grant. |
| Iowa | July 1, 2027. Some programs have earlier priority dates. |
| Kansas | April 1, 2027 for priority. |
| Kentucky | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026, until funds run out. |
| Louisiana | June 30, 2028, but the state recommends filing by Feb. 1, 2027. |
| Maine | May 1, 2027 (date received). |
| Maryland | March 1, 2027 for the Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Awards. |
| Massachusetts | May 1, 2027 for priority. |
| Michigan | July 1, 2027 for priority (Michigan Competitive Scholarship and Tuition Grant). |
| Minnesota | State Grant: by the 30th day of the term. North Star Promise: June 1, 2027 for priority. |
| Mississippi | HELP Grant: April 30, 2027. MTAG and MESG grants: Oct. 15, 2027. |
| Missouri | Feb. 1, 2027 for priority; accepted through April 1, 2027. |
| Montana | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026 for priority. |
| Nebraska | No state deadline. Ask your college’s financial aid office. |
| Nevada | Silver State Opportunity Grant: as soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026, until funds run out. Nevada Promise Scholarship: April 1, 2027. |
| New Hampshire | No state deadline. Ask your college’s financial aid office. |
| New Jersey | Tuition Aid Grant: April 15, 2027 if you got it in 2026–27; otherwise Sept. 15, 2027 for fall and spring, or Feb. 15, 2028 for spring only. |
| New Mexico | No state deadline. Priority dates vary by college. |
| New York | June 30, 2028. You may need extra state forms. |
| North Carolina | Private colleges: as soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. UNC System and community colleges: June 1, 2027 for priority. Aid runs out. |
| North Dakota | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026, until funds run out. |
| Ohio | Oct. 1, 2027. |
| Oklahoma | No state deadline. Ask your college’s financial aid office. |
| Oregon | Oregon Opportunity Grant: as soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026, until funds run out. OSAC private scholarships: March 1, 2027. |
| Pennsylvania | May 1, 2027 for most students; Aug. 1, 2027 for first-time students at community colleges, trade schools and some other programs. |
| Rhode Island | No state deadline. Ask your college’s financial aid office. |
| South Carolina | Need-based grants: as soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026, first come, first served. SC Tuition Grants (private colleges): Aug. 1, 2027. |
| South Dakota | No state deadline. Ask your college’s financial aid office. |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Promise and State Grant renewals: April 1, 2027; other State Grants are first come, first served. Lottery scholarships: Sept. 1, 2027 for fall. |
| Texas | Jan. 15, 2027 for priority. Private and two-year colleges may differ. |
| Utah | Opportunity Scholarship: see opportunityscholarship.org. Other aid runs out, so ask your college. |
| Vermont | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026, until funds run out. |
| Virginia | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. Deadlines vary by college. |
| Washington | As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2026. |
| West Virginia | PROMISE Scholarship: March 1, 2027 (plus a form at cfwv.com). WV Higher Education Grant and WV Invests Grant: April 15, 2027. |
| Wisconsin | No state deadline. Ask your college’s financial aid office. |
| Wyoming | No state deadline. Ask your college’s financial aid office. |
Summarized from studentaid.gov’s FAFSA deadlines page (checked October 18, 2026). Your state agency’s site has the final word, and colleges set their own dates on top.
Questions
When did the 2027–28 FAFSA open?
The 2027–28 FAFSA opened September 23, 2026, a week ahead of the October 1 date required by law. It’s the form for the July 1, 2027 to June 30, 2028 school year, so it’s the one high school seniors fill out now.
When is the FAFSA due for fall 2027?
The federal deadline is 11:59 p.m. Central time on June 30, 2028, but state and college deadlines come much sooner, some as early as November 2026 for early applicants. File as soon as you can.
Is the FAFSA first come, first served?
Federal aid like the Pell Grant isn’t. But several states, including Alaska, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Montana, Nevada, pay some aid until the money runs out, and colleges have their own priority dates. Filing early only helps.
How long does the FAFSA take?
The Education Department says it can take as little as 15 minutes. Plan on longer the first time, mostly to set up StudentAid.gov accounts for you and your parents.
Which year’s taxes does the 2027–28 FAFSA use?
It uses 2025 federal tax information, which the form pulls straight from the IRS once you and your parents give consent.
Do I need the FAFSA for scholarships like HOPE?
Many state scholarships and most college aid start from the FAFSA. Georgia residents can apply for HOPE and Zell Miller with the FAFSA or with the state’s GSFAPPS form on GAfutures.org.
Want someone to keep your list on track?
A Clarity Prep mentor builds your college list with you, puts every deadline on one calendar, reads your essays and checks in every week until you hit submit. Not sure where you stand? Try the free chances calculator.