The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the FAFSA, is the form students and families file to apply for federal grants, work-study and federal student loans. Most states and many colleges also use it to award their own aid, so filing it is the first step toward almost every kind of help paying for college.
The FAFSA is filed every year a student is in college, and it uses family income from two years earlier. It produces a Student Aid Index, the number colleges use to decide how much need-based aid to offer. The 2027-28 form opened on September 23, 2026. The federal deadline comes late, but many states and colleges award their money first come, first served, so filing early matters.
edCircuit's coverage is written for students, parents and the school counselors who help them. It explains what changes each year, what to do once the form is submitted, how financial aid fits with scholarships and loans, and what to do after an acceptance letter arrives. See also Scholarships and Student Loans.
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