The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens on Oct. 1 every year. Although the federal deadline gives you until June of the following year to submit, states and schools set much earlier deadlines. Instead of waiting until a FAFSA deadline approaches, it’s a better idea to submit this important form as close to Oct. 1 as possible. If you apply early, not only will you meet all the various FAFSA deadlines, but you might also get more financial aid for college. Here are
the details you should know about… - When the FAFSA is due: 3 dates to know
- Why you should submit the FAFSA as soon as possible
- Upcoming changes to the FAFSA
- What else? FAFSA FAQs
- Tracking your deadlines and other next steps
When is the FAFSA due? 3 dates to knowSince some financial aid is doled out on a first-come, first-served basis, it’s a good idea to
submit the FAFSA as soon as you can. This application becomes available on Oct. 1 every year. So if you’re an incoming college freshman, you could submit the FAFSA starting on Oct. 1 of your senior year in high school. However, the FAFSA isn’t technically due then. If you need to wait, keep in mind these three FAFSA deadlines: 1. The federal FAFSA deadline
2. Your college’s FAFSA deadline
3. Your state’s FAFSA deadline 1. The federal FAFSA deadline
| School year | FAFSA start date | Federal FAFSA deadline |
|---|
| 2021-22
| Oct. 1, 2020
| June 30, 2022
| | 2022-23
| Oct. 1, 2021
| June 30, 2023
|
Since the Department of Education offers the FAFSA funding, it also sets a deadline for the application. But this deadline is a long one — you’ll have access to the FAFSA for over a year and a half. The FAFSA for the 2022-23 school year, for instance, became available on Oct. 1, 2021. It remains open until June 30, 2023. Plus, you can make corrections or updates until Sept. 10, 2023. Most students
file the FAFSA much closer to the date it opens than the date it closes. The main reason to file the FAFSA later in the school year would be if you had a major change in your financial circumstances. “Students can file the FAFSA until the end of the academic year and still get some aid,” says Mark Kantrowitz, financial aid expert and publisher of SavingforCollege.com. “This most often
happens when a wealthy student has a change in family financial circumstances (e.g., death of a parent) that significantly affects their ability to pay for college.” Unless you have a major change in your financial circumstances, you probably don’t need to worry about the federal FAFSA deadline since you’ll be submitting the FAFSA months ahead of it. But you do need
to consider state and college FAFSA deadlines, both of which come up a lot sooner. 2. Your college’s FAFSA
deadlineColleges rely on the FAFSA to award financial aid. If you get into a school, you’ll likely see your financial aid package at the same time as your acceptance letter. So for many colleges, you’ll need to submit the FAFSA in time for them to review your application and calculate your financial aid. Each college sets its own
deadline for the FAFSA. Note that a few schools also require the CSS Profile , another document that assesses your financial need. Head to the financial aid website of each college on your list to find its FAFSA deadlines. Tufts University, for example, sets an early-decision FAFSA due date of Nov. 22, the same date its early-decision applications are due. If you’re applying by Tufts’ regular
decision deadline of Feb. 1, you’ll also need to submit your FAFSA by Feb. 1. At Tufts, as with some other colleges, your FAFSA deadline falls on the same day as or close to your college application deadline. However, you still might want to file the FAFSA months earlier to qualify for as much financial aid as possible from your state. 3. Your state’s FAFSA
deadlineFinally, each state might also set its own FAFSA deadline for incoming college students. States have financial aid programs, especially for residents attending in-state public colleges, as well. Connecticut’s FAFSA deadline for the 2021-22 school year, for example, was Feb. 15, 2021, at least for priority consideration. To qualify
for state financial aid, you need to file the FAFSA before the state deadline. In fact, the earlier you can submit your financial aid application, the better, since some aid is given out on a first-come, first-served basis. “Students should file the FAFSA as soon as possible on or after Oct. 1,” says Kantrowitz. “Students who file the FAFSA within the first three months (October, November and December) tend to receive more than twice as much grant funding, on average, as students who file
the FAFSA later.” Some states, like Illinois, Kentucky and Oklahoma, simply urge students to get the FAFSA in as soon as possible after Oct. 1. These states say awards are distributed until state financial aid funds are depleted. Even though filling out the FAFSA can be time consuming, getting it done early is well worth the effort. Find your state’s
FAFSA deadline: The Department of Education maintains a list of every state’s FAFSA deadline. You can find the deadline for your state here. File your FAFSA close to Oct. 1Instead of asking, “When is the FAFSA due?” a better question would be, “When does the FAFSA become available?” It opens on Oct. 1 every year, so you should simply plan on submitting your application
then. Instead of waiting until your school, state or federal FAFSA deadline, try to file the FAFSA ASAP. You might start preparing your information in September so you can submit the application right after it opens in October. Then, you won’t have to worry about all these FAFSA deadlines. Instead, you can focus your attention on applying for scholarships.
| Don’t forget your CSS Profile
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| Many colleges
additionally require a form called the CSS Profile to distribute financial aid. Your college should state the CSS Profile deadline on the financial aid section of its website, but check with the financial aid office if you have questions about filling out the CSS Profile or when it is due.
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Upcoming changes to the FAFSAThe FAFSA for the 2023-24 school year will look a little different than it did in previous years, thanks to the recent Consolidated Appropriations Act. Here are some changes to keep in mind, which will appear on the FAFSA that opens on Oct. 1, 2022. 1. The FAFSA will ask fewer questionsIn an effort to simplify the FAFSA and make it more accessible for students and their families, lawmakers are
reducing the number of questions it asks. Instead of 108 questions, this form may ask just 36. What’s more, families might not have to use the IRS Data Retrieval tool to transfer their financial information. Instead, this data will be directly imported into the FAFSA from their tax return, whenever possible. 2. The Expected Family Contribution will get a new nameExpected Family Contribution (EFC) has long been a confusing term, so it’s getting a new name soon — the Student
Aid Index (SAI). Rather than an indication of how much your family is expected to pay for college, the SAI indicates your financial need. Moving forward, it will also be possible for a student’s Student Aid Index to be negative, a change that will help schools determine which students have the greatest financial need. 3. More students might be eligible for a Pell Grant (and amounts may increase)The Pell Grant is a federal grant offered to students with the highest
demonstrated financial need. Under the new Consolidated Appropriations Act, Pell Grant eligibility will expand to an estimated 1.7 million more students. What’s more, the amount of the grant may increase. In 2020-21, for example, the Pell Grant maximum was $6,345, while the amount increased to $6,495 in 2021-22. It will likely increase again for the following school year. 4. Schools might take unemployment into account during a national emergencySince so many people lost
their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the new act is making it easier for schools to consider unemployment when calculating a student’s financial aid eligibility. Specifically, institutions can reevaluate a student’s eligibility for aid based on any unemployment benefits their family received during the national emergency. If you think you might be eligible for more aid, reach out to your school’s financial aid office to discuss your situation. FAFSA FAQsHere
are answers to a few frequently asked questions about the FAFSA. For more information, head to our comprehensive FAFSA FAQ. When does the FAFSA become available?
The FAFSA becomes available on Oct. 1 each year. When should you apply for the FAFSA?
Since some financial aid is doled out on a first-come, first-served basis, it’s a good idea to
submit the FAFSA as close to the date it opens (Oct. 1) as possible. Applying early may help you get the most financial aid for college. Should you submit the FAFSA before applying to college?
Many students submit the FAFSA before they’ve sent off their college applications. If you’re a senior in high school, for example, you might submit the FAFSA in October but
submit your college applications in January or later. You can submit the FAFSA to the colleges you’re planning to apply to, but you can also add colleges later if you change your mind. As mentioned, some colleges set their FAFSA deadlines on the same day as their application deadlines. So if you haven’t already submitted your FAFSA, you will likely want to do so by
the time your college application deadline rolls around. Can you make changes to the FAFSA?
Yes, it is possible to make changes to the FAFSA. In fact, you’re expected to update your FAFSA information if certain family circumstances have changed, such as the number of family members in your household. To update your information or correct an error, you can sign
into your FAFSA with your FSA ID, click on “Make FAFSA Corrections” and resubmit the form. Tracking deadlines and other next stepsWhen you’re applying for college, there are a lot of moving parts. Here are some next steps to keep in mind so you can stay organized and on track. Write down your deadlines: Not only do you have to keep up with application deadlines, but you also have to think about when the FAFSA (and in some cases, the CSS
Profile) is due. Look up the deadlines for all the schools you’re applying to and write them down in one place — like a notebook, spreadsheet or calendar. Research whether you need to submit additional forms. Some schools also require the CSS Profile, for example. Look up the requirements for every school on your list to make sure you’re not missing out on any financial aid. Apply for scholarships. Don’t wait to get your financial aid award before
applying for scholarships. You can apply for scholarships throughout the college application process, as well as after you’ve already enrolled in college. Scholarships can help ease the financial burden, though it could be worth exploring whether your college practices
scholarship displacement. Compare your financial aid awards. Once you get your acceptance letters and financial aid packages, you can compare them to see which school would be the best fit for your budget. If your financial aid offer falls short, you might be able to appeal for more aid. Need a student loan?Here are our top student loan lenders of 2022!
| Lender | Variable APR | Eligibility | |
|---|
|
| 3.24% – 14.86%1
| Undergraduate
Graduate
| Visit College Ave
| |
| 3.58% – 12.28%2
| Undergraduate
Graduate
| Visit Earnest
| |
| 4.00% – 14.34%3
| Undergraduate
Graduate
| Visit SallieMae
| |
| 0.00% – 23.00%4
| Undergraduate
Graduate
| Visit Edly
| |
| 3.25% – 9.69%6
| Undergraduate
Graduate
| VISIT CITIZENS
| |
| N/A6
| Undergraduate
Graduate
| Visit FundingU
| | * The Sallie Mae partner referenced is not the creditor for these loans and is compensated by Sallie Mae for the referral of Smart Option Student Loan customers. 1 Important Disclosures for College Ave. College Ave Student Loans products are made
available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC.. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply. - As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000.
- Rates shown are for the College Ave Undergraduate Loan product and include autopay discount. The
0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. Variable rates may increase after consummation.
- This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Deferred Repayment Option with a 10-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 8.35% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 120 monthly payments of $179.18 while in the
repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $21,501.54. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary.
Information advertised valid as of 11/15/2022. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on the creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of full
principal and interest payments with the shortest available loan term.
2 Rate range above includes optional 0.25% Auto Pay discount. Important Disclosures for Earnest.
Interest Rate Disclosure: Actual rate and available repayment terms will vary based on your income. Fixed rates range from 4.24% APR to
13.03% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Variable rates range from 3.83% APR to 12.53% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Earnest variable interest rate student loans are based on a publicly available index, the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The variable rate is based on the rate published on the 25th day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent.
The rate will not increase more than once per month. Although the rate will vary after you are approved, it will never exceed 36% (the maximum allowable for this loan). Please note, Earnest Private Student Loans are not available in Nevada. Our lowest rates are only available for our most credit qualified borrowers and contain our .25% auto pay discount from a checking or savings account. It is important to note that the 0.25% Auto Pay discount is not available while loan payments are
deferred.
Auto Pay Disclosure: You can take advantage of the Auto Pay interest rate reduction by setting up and maintaining active and automatic ACH withdrawal of your loan payment from a checking or savings account. The interest rate reduction for Auto Pay will be available only while your loan is enrolled in Auto Pay. Interest rate incentives for utilizing Auto Pay may not be combined with certain private student loan repayment programs that also offer an interest rate reduction. For multi-party
loans, only one party may enroll in Auto Pay. It is important to note that the 0.25% Auto Pay discount is not available while loan payments are deferred. Loan Cost Examples: Earnest’s Loan Cost Examples: These examples provide estimates based on principal and Interest payments beginning immediately upon loan disbursement. Variable APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $118.28) and a 11.69% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $21,290.40. For a
variable loan, after your starting rate is set, your rate will then vary with the market. Fixed APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $126.82) and a 13.03% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $22,827.79. These examples provide estimates based on interest only payments while in school. Variable APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $145.41) and a 11.69% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of
$26,173.03. For a variable loan, after your starting rate is set, your rate will then vary with the market. Fixed APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $156.59) and a 13.03% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $28,186.67. Your actual repayment terms may vary. Other repayment options are available. These examples provide estimates based on fixed $25 payments while in school. Variable APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments
of $169.92) and a 11.69% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $30,584.74. For a variable loan, after your starting rate is set, your rate will then vary with the market. Fixed APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $188.42) and a 13.03% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $33,915.55. Your actual repayment terms may vary. Other repayment options are available. These examples provide estimates based on deferred payments.
Variable APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $174.79) and a 11.69% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $31,462.16. For a variable loan, after your starting rate is set, your rate will then vary with the market. Fixed APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $193.75) and a 13.03% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $34,874.28. Your actual repayment terms may vary. Other repayment options are available. It
is important to note that the 0.25% Auto Pay discount is not available while loan payments are deferred. Loan Eligibility criteria: Eligible students must: 1) For college Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors, attend, or be enrolled to attend, a Title IV school full-time. For college Seniors and Graduate students, attend, or be enrolled to attend, a Title IV school at least half-time; and 2) be pursuing a Bachelor’s or Graduate degree. Earnest private student loans are subject to credit
qualification, completion of a loan application, verification of application information, self-certification of loan amount, and school certification. Before applying for private student loans, it’s best to maximize your other sources of financial aid first. It’s recommended to use a 3-step approach to assembling the funds you need: 1) Look for funds you don’t have to pay back, like scholarships, grant and work-study opportunities. 2) Next, fill out a FAFSA® form to apply for federal
student loans. Federal student loans do not require a credit check or cosigner, and offer various protections if you’re struggling with payments. 3) Finally, consider a private student loan to cover any difference between your total cost of attendance and the amount not covered in steps 1 and 2. For more information, visit the Department of Education website at https://studentaid.ed.gov. Earnest Private Student Loans are made by One
American Bank, Member FDIC. One American Bank, 515 S. Minnesota Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. Earnest loans are serviced by Earnest Operations LLC, 535 Mission St., Suite 1663 San Francisco, CA 94105, NMLS #1204917, with support From Navient Solutions, LLC (NMLS #212430). One American Bank and Earnest LLC and its subsidiaries, including Earnest Operations LLC, are not sponsored by agencies of the United States of America. © 2022 Earnest LLC. All rights reserved. LendingTree and
associated sites by LendingTree may receive compensation from Earnest.
3 Sallie Mae Disclaimer: Click here for important information. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. 4 Important Disclosures for Edly. 1.
Loan Example: - Loans from $5,000 – $20,000
- Example: $10,000 IBR Loan with a 7% gross income payment percentage for a Senior student making $65,000 annually throughout the life of the loan.
- Payments deferred for the first 12 months during final year of education.
- After which, $270 Monthly payment for 12 months.
- Then $379 Monthly payment for 44 months.
- Followed by one final payment of $137 for a total of $20,610 paid over the life of the loan.
About this example The initial payment schedule is set upon receiving final terms and upon confirmation by your school of the loan amount. You may repay this loan at any time by paying an effective APR of 23%. The maximum amount you will pay is $22,500 (not including Late Fees and Returned Check Fees, if any). The maximum number of regularly scheduled payments you will make is 60. You will not pay more than 23% APR. No payment is required if your gross
earned income is below $30,000 annually or if you lose your job and cannot find employment. 2. Edly Student IBR Loans are unsecured personal student loans issued by FinWise Bank, a Utah chartered commercial bank, member FDIC. All loans are subject to eligibility criteria and review of creditworthiness and history. Terms and conditions apply.
5 Important Disclosures for Citizens Bank.
- Variable Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates are based on the 30-day average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) index, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. As of September 1, 2022, the 30-day average SOFR index is 2.23%. Variable
interest rates will fluctuate over the term of the loan with changes in the SOFR index, and will vary based on applicable terms, level of degree and presence of a co-signer. The maximum variable interest rate is the greater of 21.00% or the prime rate plus 9.00%.
- Fixed Rate Disclosure: Fixed rate ranges are based on applicable terms, level of degree, and presence of a co-signer.
- Lowest Rate Disclosure: Lowest rates are only available for the most
creditworthy applicants, require a 5-year repayment term, immediate repayment, a graduate or medical degree (where applicable), and include our Loyalty and Automatic Payment discounts of 0.25 percentage points each, as outlined in the Loyalty Discount and Automatic Payment Discount disclosures. Rates are subject to additional terms and conditions, and are subject to change at any time without notice. Such changes will only apply to applications taken after the effective date of change.
Undergraduate
Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 3.25%-10.35% (3.25% – 9.69% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 4.24% – 10.59% (4.24% – 9.93% APR). Graduate Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 3.75%-9.90% (3.75% – 9.68% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 5.22% – 10.14% (5.22% – 9.91% APR). Business/Law Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 3.75%-9.35% (3.75% – 9.16%
APR). Fixed interest rates range from 5.20% – 9.59% (5.20% – 9.39% APR). Medical/Dental Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 3.75%-9.02% (3.75% -8.98% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 5.18% – 9.26% (5.18% – 9.22% APR). Parent Loan Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 3.25%-9.21% (3.25% – 9.21% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 3.96%-9.50% (3.96%-9.50% APR). Bar Study Rate
Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 6.58%-11.72% (6.58% – 11.62% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 7.39% – 12.94% (7.40% – 12.82% APR). Medical Residency Rate Disclosure: Variable interest rates range from 5.67%-9.17% (5.67% – 8.76% APR). Fixed interest rates range from 6.99% – 10.49% (6.97% – 10.08% APR).
6 Important Disclosures for Funding U.
Offered terms are subject to change. Loans are made by Funding University which is a for-profit enterprise. Funding University is not affiliated with the school you are attending or any other learning institution. None of the information contained in Funding University’s website constitutes a
recommendation, solicitation or offer by Funding University or its affiliates to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments or other assets or provide any investment advice or service.
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Can I still apply for FAFSA for spring 2023?
The Federal Deadline
Our only time limit is that each year the FAFSA form for that particular academic year becomes unavailable after June 30. That means that the 2023–24 FAFSA form will disappear from StudentAid.gov on June 30, 2024, because that's the end of the 2023–24 school year.
What year does FAFSA 2022
For example, if your classes begin in the Summer 2022, Fall 2022 or Spring 2023 semesters, submit the FAFSA for the 2022-2023 academic year. If your program of study begins with classes in the Summer 2023, Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 semesters, please submit the FAFSA for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Is the 2023 FAFSA open?
The beginning of the 2023–24 FASFA® cycle was Oct. 1, 2022. The application is available until June 30, 2024—but be sure to remind your students that some funds are limited, so it's a good idea to apply as soon as possible. Students can apply online via fafsa.gov.
What months does the 2022
The 2022-23 FAFSA form opened October 1, 2021, and will be available until June 30, 2023.
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