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When is the 2024-2025 FAFSA Deadline?
Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.
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Caitlyn Cole is a college access professional with a decade of experience in non-profit program and project management for college readiness and access organizations.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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Are you a high school or college student who is applying for financial aid using the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid? If so, you need to meet the proper FAFSA deadline!
See also: Our step-by-step FAFSA guide to complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA!
Jump ahead to:
- 2024-2025 FAFSA Deadlines
- State Financial Aid Deadlines
- What happens if you miss the FAFSA deadline?
Financial aid is an area where it is advantageous to complete your required steps sooner rather than later. This will allow yourself as much time as possible to receive a strong financial aid package and make a smart financial decision. Another advantage to tackling financial aid early is being eligible for some types of financial aid, such as SEOG, that may depend on when you apply.. In fact, some types of financial aid, such as the Federal SEOG award, may depend on when exactly you apply.
Remember, you will also have to apply for financial aid for each year that you are in school so these deadlines hold true for both first-year freshman students and returning students.
Read on to learn more about all of the deadlines you will need to keep track of (and what to do if you miss any of your deadlines).
Federal 2024-2025 FAFSA deadlines
The three big FAFSA deadlines that students need to keep in mind for the 2024-2025 FAFSA are:
- FAFSA Opens: December 31, 2023
- FAFSA Closes: June 30, 2025
- FAFSA Corrections: September 14, 2025
Apply to these scholarships due soon
Note: The 2024-2025 FAFSA opened late this year in order to prepare the simplified, “better” FAFSA form. There have been many issues with the rollout of this year’s new FAFSA form. If you are a student or parent/guardian trying to complete the form and having trouble, please reach out to a school counselor or financial aid office for support. You can also review open and resolved issues on the FAFSA form on the Federal Student Aid website. Because of these issues and delays, financial aid award packages will be generated by colleges in late March into early April. This may have also impacted enrollment deadlines, please check your colleges website for the most up-to-date information on financial aid and enrollment deadlines.
The 2025-2026 FAFSA is expected to return to normal with an opening date of October 1, 2024.
School FAFSA deadlines
Each school sets their own deadline for submitting the FAFSA, so make sure to check in with your school about their deadlines. These are typically much earlier than state or federal deadlines, so they’re the ones you’ll want to be the most aware of! It’s a good idea to try to start working on your FAFSA after you’ve submitted all of your college applications. This gives you a better chance of getting your estimated financial aid package earlier, giving yourself as much time as possible to make a solid financial decision. This allows them to receive a financial aid package with their acceptance. What’s more, schools that aren’t need-blind use FAFSA to help determine admissions.
Also see: Scholarships360’s free scholarship search tool
State financial aid deadlines for 2024-2025
Each state also has its own financial aid deadline for aid awarded by the state. Keep on reading to learn about the state-specific deadlines that you should know about!
State | Deadline |
Alabama | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
Alaska | The Alaska Education Grant funds are available until depleted (so students should apply ASAP after Dec 31, 2023)
Alaska Performance Scholarships are also only available until depleted. To receive priority consideration, you will need to submit your application by June 30, 2024. |
American Samoa | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
Arizona | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
Arkansas | July 1, 2024 for Academic Challenge and ArFuture Grant fall term, January 10, 2025 for ArFuture Grant spring term |
California | April 2, 2024 (for most CA-specific financial aid programs)
If you are applying for a Cal Grant, you will also need to submit a school-certified GPA by March 2nd.For many state financial aid programs: March 2, 2024 (date postmarked).Additional community college Cal Grants: September 2, 2024
Cal Grant also requires submission of a school-certified GPA by March 2, 2024. |
Colorado | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
Connecticut | March 15, 2024 |
Delaware | May 15, 2024 |
District of Columbia | June 25, 2024 for priority consideration July 1, 2024 for DC Tuition Assistance Grant |
Federated States of Micronesia | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
Florida | May 15, 2024 |
Georgia | ASAP after December 31, 2023 |
Guam | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
Hawaii | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
Idaho | For the Opportunity Scholarship students should apply by March 1, 2024 |
Illinois | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
Indiana | Dec. 31, 2023 for the Adult Student Grant and Workforce Ready Grant
April 15, 2024 for Frank O’Bannon Grant and 21st Century Scholarship |
Iowa | July 1, 2024 (some awards may have even earlier deadlines). |
Kansas | April 1, 2024 (Priority Deadline) |
Kentucky | ASAP after Dec. 31, 2023 |
Louisiana | July 1, 2025 (however, Feb. 1, 2024 is the recommended deadline). |
Maine | May 1, 2024 |
Marshall Islands | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
Maryland | March 1, 2024 |
Massachusetts | May 1, 2024 (Priority Deadline) |
Michigan | May 1, 2024 |
Minnesota | June 30, 2025 |
Mississippi | October 15, 2024 for MTAG and MESG GrantsApril 30, 2024 for HELP Scholarships |
Missouri | February 1, 2024 (Priority Deadline)Applications are accepted through April 1, 2024 |
Montana | March 1, 2024 (Priority Deadline) |
N. Mariana Islands | April 30, 2024 (Priority Deadline) |
Nebraska | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
Nevada | ASAP after December 31, 2023 for Silver State Opportunity Grant
March 1, 2024 for Nevada Promise Scholarships |
New Hampshire | Contact your financial aid administrator |
New Jersey | April 15, 2024 for the 2023–24 Tuition Aid Grant. September 15, 2024 for Fall and Spring terms. February 15, 2025 for Spring term only |
New Mexico | Contact your financial aid administrator |
New York | June 30, 2025 |
North Carolina | June 1, 2024 if you are attending a UNC system institution, awards are made till funds are depleted
Aug. 15, 2024 if you are attending a community college, awards are made till funds are depleted |
North Dakota | ASAP after Dec. 31, 2023 |
Ohio | October 1, 2024 |
Oklahoma | Contact your financial aid administrator |
Oregon | Oregon Opportunity Grant: ASAP after Dec. 31, 2023 (funding is first come, first served).OSAC Private Scholarships: March 1, 2024 Oregon Promise Grant: Contact your state agency. |
Palau | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
Pennsylvania | August 1, 2024 for community college, business, trade, technical school, hospital school of nursing, non transferable 2-year program, or any designated Pennsylvania Open-Admission institution. May 1, 2024 for all other applicants. |
Puerto Rico | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
Rhode Island | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
South Carolina | SC Commission on Higher Education Need-based Grants: As soon as possible after Dec. 31, 2023
Tuition Grants: June 30, 2024 |
South Dakota | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
Tennessee | April 15, 2024 for state grants and the Tennessee Promise, September 1, 2024 for state lottery for the fall term, February 1, 2025 for state lottery for the spring and summer terms |
Texas | March 15, 2024 (priority deadline) |
U.S. Virgin Islands | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
Utah | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
Vermont | ASAP after Dec. 31, 2023 |
Virginia | ASAP after Dec. 31, 2023 |
Washington | ASAP after Dec. 31, 2023 |
West Virginia | March 1, 2024: PROMISE Scholarship.
April 15, 2024: WV Higher Education Grant Program and WV Invests Grant. |
Wisconsin | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
Wyoming | Contact your financial aid administrator. |
What happens if you miss the FAFSA deadline?
If you happen to miss the FAFSA deadline or state financial aid deadline, you should get on the phone ASAP with your college’s financial aid office. Seriously. Get off of this webpage and immediately contact a financial aid officer to explore your options.
If it’s not too late, you might be able to appeal for financial aid and merit scholarships. Here are some tips for making your appeal, as well as an example appeal letter.
However, if you are in a situation where you have exhausted all options through your college, then you have three main options:
- Scholarships
- Gap year
- Alternative financing
Let’s discuss the pros and cons of each of these options…
Scholarships
Scholarships are free money that does not need to be repaid, similar to need-based financial aid that you may secure through the FAFSA. There are many different types of scholarships for lots of different types of students.
However, scholarships can be a bit unpredictable. Some colleges and organizations do offer full ride scholarships, but these are extremely competitive for even the strongest students. Additionally, all scholarships do not automatically renew each year you are in school. You need to be familiar with how many years each scholarship will be awarded to you so that you can plan ahead.
Ultimately, scholarships can be a good option if you received a strong merit scholarship from a college or if you were not expecting to receive a large amount of need-based financial aid.
Related: Should you submit the FAFSA before or after acceptance?
Gap year
If you have a high amount of demonstrated financial need and have not had luck with scholarships, a gap year may be your next best option. This will allow you to defer your college acceptance for a year. This means that you will be able to make your financial aid deadlines and qualify for the proper amount of financial aid.
The biggest downside to a gap year is that not all colleges will permit you to do a gap year (generally, you will need to apply and receive permission from the college). Additionally, gap year students will have to start their college education a year later. This can be unappealing for some students, but gap year experiences can have many benefits.
Alternative financing
Finally, alternative financing, such as Income Share Agreements or student loans, can be an option if you miss the FAFSA deadline. The upside to this option is that receiving this type of financing is more predictable–virtually all students will be able to secure some sort of ISA or student loan financing.
The downside to this option is that both student loans and ISAs need to be paid back. This can be particularly true for students who would qualify for a high amount of need-based financial aid. Student loans and ISAs can be useful if used properly, but we always recommend that students sit down and work out the numbers to see what their post-college debt or income repayment plan would look like.
Frequently asked questions about FAFSA deadlines
Is it too late to apply to FAFSA 2024-2025?
When should I fill out my FAFSA for 2024-2025?
What happens if I don’t fill out FAFSA?