EdCircuit Staff 
The federal FAFSA deadline for the 2027–28 school year is June 30, 2028, but for most students it is the least important date. Colleges and states set their own FAFSA deadlines, often more than a year earlier, and some state grants are handed out until the money runs out. This guide lists the federal date, the correction deadline, every state’s 2027–28 deadline and examples of college priority dates, so families can find the date that actually applies to them.
The three FAFSA deadlines
Federal Student Aid explains that the federal government, your state and your school each set their own dates for their aid programs:
- Your college’s deadline is usually the earliest. It varies from school to school, but typically falls before the academic year starts, often around February. Many colleges call it a priority deadline: file by then to be considered for the best aid package.
- Your state’s deadline depends on your state of legal residence, which is where your permanent address is. Moving to a state only to attend college does not make it your state of residence. Some states set hard deadlines; others suggest dates for priority consideration.
- The federal deadline is usually the latest. You can still qualify for federal aid, including a Pell Grant, up to that date.
A school may count its deadline as the date your FAFSA is processed or the date it receives your processed data, so filing a few days early is safer than filing on the day.
Federal FAFSA deadlines for 2027–28 and 2026–27
| Form | Covers attendance | Tax year used | Submit by | Corrections by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027–28 FAFSA | July 1, 2027–June 30, 2028 | 2025 | June 30, 2028 | Sept. 12, 2028 |
| 2026–27 FAFSA | July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 | 2024 | June 30, 2027 | Sept. 12, 2027 |
Both deadlines are 11:59 p.m. Central time. The 2027–28 form opened on September 23, 2026, the earliest launch in the program’s history for the second year in a row. For summer classes, ask the college which year’s form to use. For what changed on the new form, see edCircuit’s guide FAFSA 2027–28 is open.
FAFSA deadlines by state, 2027–28
The dates below are from Federal Student Aid’s 2027–28 deadline list. “As soon as possible” means the state awards aid until its funds run out, so earlier is better. Federal Student Aid advises checking your state higher education agency’s website for the latest date.
| State | 2027–28 FAFSA deadline |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Contact your financial aid office |
| Alaska | Education Grant: as soon as possible; aid until funds run out. 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. Future Grant: July 1, 2027 (fall), Jan. 10, 2028 (spring) |
| California | Most state aid, including Cal Grant: March 2, 2027 (postmarked), with a school-certified GPA. Community college Cal Grants: Sept. 2, 2027 |
| Colorado | Contact your financial aid office |
| Connecticut | Feb. 15, 2027, for priority |
| Delaware | May 15, 2027 |
| District of Columbia | 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; see GAfutures.org |
| Hawaii | Contact your financial aid office |
| Idaho | Opportunity Scholarship: March 1, 2027 |
| Illinois | Monetary Award Program: as soon as possible; aid until funds run out |
| Indiana | April 15, 2027 (Frank O’Bannon Grant, 21st Century Scholarship, Adult Student Grant, Workforce Ready Grant) |
| Iowa | July 1, 2027; some programs have earlier priority dates |
| Kansas | April 1, 2027, for priority |
| Kentucky | As soon as possible; aid until funds run out |
| Louisiana | June 30, 2028; Feb. 1, 2027, recommended |
| Maine | May 1, 2027 (date received) |
| Maryland | March 1, 2027 (date received) |
| Massachusetts | May 1, 2027, for priority |
| Michigan | July 1, 2027, for priority |
| 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: Oct. 15, 2027 |
| Missouri | Feb. 1, 2027, for priority; accepted through April 1, 2027 |
| Montana | As soon as possible, for priority |
| Nebraska | Contact your financial aid office |
| Nevada | Silver State Opportunity Grant: as soon as possible. Nevada Promise Scholarship: April 1, 2027. Aid until funds run out |
| New Hampshire | Contact your financial aid office |
| New Jersey | Renewing Tuition Aid Grant recipients: April 15, 2027. Other applicants: Sept. 15, 2027 (fall and spring), Feb. 15, 2028 (spring only) |
| New Mexico | Contact your financial aid office |
| New York | June 30, 2028 |
| North Carolina | Private colleges: as soon as possible. UNC System and community colleges: June 1, 2027. Aid until funds run out |
| North Dakota | As soon as possible; aid until funds run out |
| Ohio | Oct. 1, 2027 |
| Oklahoma | Contact your financial aid office |
| Oregon | Oregon Opportunity Grant: as soon as possible; aid until funds run out. OSAC private scholarships: March 1, 2027 |
| Pennsylvania | Most students: May 1, 2027. First-time students at community colleges and several other program types: Aug. 1, 2027 |
| Rhode Island | Contact your financial aid office |
| South Carolina | Need-based grants: as soon as possible, first come, first served. Tuition Grants: Aug. 1, 2027 |
| South Dakota | Contact your financial aid office |
| Tennessee | State Grant and Tennessee Promise: April 1, 2027. Lottery programs: Sept. 1, 2027 (fall), March 1, 2028 (spring), May 1, 2028 (summer) |
| Texas | Jan. 15, 2027, for priority; private and two-year colleges may differ |
| Utah | Contact your financial aid office; aid until funds run out |
| Vermont | As soon as possible; aid until funds run out |
| Virginia | As soon as possible; deadlines vary by college |
| Washington | As soon as possible |
| West Virginia | PROMISE Scholarship: March 1, 2027. Higher Education Grant: April 15, 2027. WV Invests Grant: April 15, 2027, for priority |
| Wisconsin | Contact your financial aid office |
| Wyoming | Contact your financial aid office |
U.S. territories and freely associated states either list “as soon as possible” (the Marshall Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands) or ask students to contact their financial aid office.
What changed from last year
Comparing the 2027–28 list with 2026–27 shows a few moves. Tennessee’s State Grant and Promise deadline moved from March 2 to April 1. Indiana’s Adult Student and Workforce Ready grants moved from “as soon as possible” to April 15. North Carolina’s community college date moved from Aug. 15 to June 1, putting it alongside the UNC System.
College priority deadlines: examples
Colleges set their own dates, and they can be much earlier than the state’s. A few 2027–28 examples from colleges’ own pages:
- Iowa State University: Dec. 17, 2026, for first-year students; Jan. 7, 2027, for continuing students; Feb. 25, 2027, for transfer students.
- Ohio State University: Feb. 1, 2027.
- Old Dominion University: March 1, 2027.
- Cal State East Bay: March 2, 2027, matching California’s state date.
Look up the financial aid page of every college on your list and write down the earliest date. That is your real FAFSA deadline.
What if you miss a FAFSA deadline?
Missing a college or state date does not end your chances. Federal Student Aid says to contact your school’s financial aid office, which may still have aid available, and you can still receive federal aid until the federal deadline. Missing the June 30 federal deadline is different: after that date you can no longer submit that year’s form.
How schools can help families meet the deadlines
- Publish the dates that matter locally: your state’s deadline and the priority dates of the colleges most of your graduates attend.
- Hold completion nights before the earliest date, not before June 30. In Texas that means before Jan. 15; for Iowa State applicants, before Dec. 17.
- Flag the first-come states. In states that award aid until funds run out, a few weeks can matter.
- Follow up after filing. Students should check their FAFSA Submission Summary for errors before the correction deadline.
Frequently asked questions
When is the FAFSA due for 2027–28? The federal deadline is June 30, 2028, at 11:59 p.m. Central time, but state and college deadlines are often much earlier, some as early as December 2026.
When did the 2027–28 FAFSA open? September 23, 2026.
Is there a FAFSA deadline for each state? Yes. Each state sets its own date for its aid programs, and some award aid until funds run out. Use the state table above.
What is the FAFSA priority deadline? A date set by a college or state. Filing by then puts you in line for the most aid, especially grants with limited funds.
What is the deadline to correct a 2027–28 FAFSA? Sept. 12, 2028, at 11:59 p.m. Central time.
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