FAFSA Deadline 2023: Don’t Miss Out on Financial Aid!

As a college student, you’ve probably gone around looking for financial advice at one point or another. And if you’ve read an article or two about funding your college education, one prominent piece of advice you probably saw was that you should fill out the FAFSA. The authors might have even gone a step further and stated that you should always file your FAFSA first before considering other forms of financial aid.

There are a few reasons why you should work on your FAFSA as soon as possible. First, the quicker and earlier you file your FAFSA, the better your chances are to receive more financial aid because you are getting in before funds are depleted. Second, federal student loans can be much better than private loans for many reasons. Thus, federal student aid (and scholarships, grants, and fellowships!) should always be your first go-to before considering private funding.

Filling out your FAFSA is critically important to making college more affordable overall. But when is the FAFSA deadline?

Read on to learn more about FAFSA deadline 2023, other important deadlines to remember, and tips and tricks to make your life easier.

When Is the FAFSA deadline from 2022 to 2023?

The government keeps a regular FAFSA deadline from year to year. It is always on the 30th of June after the school year, so the FAFSA 2022-23 deadline is on June 30, 2023.

So if you’re asking the question, “when does FAFSA close?” you can expect that the answer will always be that the FAFSA form for the academic year prior will always close on June 30th. For example, for the 2021-2022 AY, FAFSA closed on June 30, 2022. For the 2023-2024 AY, the FAFSA will close on June 30, 2024.

If you are asking, “when is the FAFSA due for spring 2023?” the answer is the same because that’s still part of the 2022-2023 cycle. The FAFSA deadline for spring 2023 is on June 30, 2023.

However, just because you have until June 30th to submit doesn’t mean you should wait that long to fill out your FAFSA form. It’s critically important to take note of other deadlines imposed by your state and your school’s financial aid office. You don’t want to miss out on state or school aid!

Note that when you fill out your form, you can add any missing details to your FAFSA after you’ve applied. To do so, sign into your account on fafsa.ed.gov, and click “Make FAFSA Corrections” on the My FAFSA page.” Then, enter your FAFSA ID, change your information, and resubmit your FAFSA. 

Certain documents and evidence, such as your income tax details, are considered to assess eligibility.

Before applying for federal support, students should also look into state financial aid. The state deadlines are usually earlier than the FAFSA due date, so remember to plan ahead. 

If you have any questions about submitting your FAFSA, you can contact 1800-433-3243. You can also seek assistance from your school’s financial aid office.

When Does the FAFSA Open Every Year?

So when should you apply? Well first, when does FAFSA open for 2022-23? 

FAFSA opens for 2022-2023 school year and any other academic year on October 1st.

Academic Year	FAFSA Open Date	Federal FAFSA deadline
2022-2023	Oct1, 2022	June 30, 2023
2023-2024	Oct1, 2023	June 30, 2024

From open to close, the FAFSA application process lasts 18 months. The FAFSA opens for applications in October, or specifically October 1, 2021, for the 2022-2023 year. 

It’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA as close to the open date as possible in order to increase your chances of getting more aid before funds are depleted.

That doesn’t mean it’s too late to submit yours now — you have time, though you should complete your FAFSA application for 2023 as soon as possible instead of waiting until it comes due. And if you’re worried that you don’t have enough time to complete yours, don’t. It really doesn’t take that long to fill out your FAFSA as long as you have all your requirements at the ready.

FAFSA Deadline 2023 to 2024: What You Need to Know

The 2023 to 2024 deadlines are just like the FAFSA 2022-23 open and close dates. You can expect to start submitting your FAFSA form by October 1st, 2023. The form will become unavailable on the due date: June 30, 2024.

If you are wondering, when is the FAFSA due for fall 2023? The FAFSA deadline for fall 2023 is on June 30, 2024.

Other Key Deadlines to Remember

The FAFSA due date is not the only important financial aid deadline you need to remember. There are three priority deadlines altogether:

• The FAFSA (federal) deadline
• The state deadline
• The college deadline

You might be surprised but the first due date you’ll get out of all three is your college deadline. These are usually early and sometimes may even be before the academic year begins. It’s prudent to apply early to ensure you can get the most aid possible from your college. Find out when the college deadline is so you don’t miss out on your FAFSA deadlines!

Your state’s deadline may also vary. Some may have hard deadlines, such as a due date. Others may simply have limited funds, so they recommend you submit ASAP before funds are depleted. Find out when your state’s deadline is and act accordingly.

Eligibility Criteria to Apply For FAFSA

To apply for FAFSA, you must meet these eligibility requirements:

• Have financial need
• U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Enrolled in or accepted to an eligible degree or certificate program at a college or career school
• Have a social security number
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress
• Be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for Direct Loan Funds
• Sign a FAFSA declaration stating that:
• you are not in default on a federal student loan,
• you do not owe money on a federal student grant, and
• you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes. 

If you’re a non-U.S. citizen, student with a criminal conviction, or student with a disability, you must meet additional eligibility requirements. 

In addition to the above requirements, you must present various documents for your FAFSA:

• FAFSA I.D.
• Driver’s license, security card, registration card, or proof of residence if you’re a non-U.S. citizen. 
• W-2 forms, 1099 forms, and income status details for yourself and your parents
• If married, income details for both yourself and your spouse
• Record of income such as veteran benefits, social security income, military allowances, clergy allowances, and welfare benefits
• Business or farm records if applicable
• Stock and investment records
• Records of sudden financial circumstances, such as unexpected exorbitant health expenses
• Title IV Institution Code for each school you’ve been accepted to 

If you are struggling with putting your FAFSA together, seek assistance from your school’s financial aid office. The financial aid office is best suited to advise you on your FAFSA and any other student aid matters.

Best Practices for Filling Out FAFSA

Although filling out your FAFSA doesn’t take a lot of time, it can still be problematic if you aren’t sure of how to gather the requirements (or where to even get them from). Here are a few handy tips to help you prepare to file your form before the FAFSA deadlines hit:

1. If you think you may struggle to file the FAFSA on your own, contact your school’s financial aid office for guidance.
2. Take note of the FAFSA deadlines. Don’t just remember when FAFSA closes, also make a note of when the college deadline (and the state deadline!). Remembering these deadlines can make your life easier and reduce the stress and pressure you feel throughout the process.
3. Always check your email for confirmation that you’ve filed your application or submitted any documents. 
4. Refer to the FAFSA Process Worksheet.
5. Fill out forms and gather documents sooner rather than later. Again, submitting your FAFSA as early as possible rather than waiting for the deadlines is best.
6. Make copies of the documents submitted and your FAFSA application for your records. 
7. Remember to submit your application before midnight on the FAFSA due date.
8. Check the FAFSA website frequently and stay up-to-date on any upcoming changes to the application process.
9. Keep in touch with your school’s financial aid office throughout the process if need be.

You can file your FAFSA entirely on your own without any assistance. However, we cannot stress enough the importance of seeking guidance from your school’s financial aid office if necessary.

List of FAFSA Deadlines for Individual States

Each state has its own deadlines for students to apply for state student aid programs. The detailed list below includes those deadlines and state programs for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 (for states where deadlines have already passed). Remember, colleges sometimes have deadlines, too, so it’s important to check individual college websites. 

It’s worth mentioning that the list below is constantly updated with new information on the studentaid.gov website. The deadlines below apply for 2022-2023, where deadlines have not passed; otherwise, they are for 2023-2024.

Alabama	Contact your financial aid administrator
Alaska	Alaska Education Grant - as close to Oct. 1 as possible, awards given until funds depleted Alaska Performance Scholarship - by June 30, 2023 for priority consideration; awards given until funds depleted
Alberta (Canada)	Contact your financial aid administrator
American Samoa	Contact your financial aid administrator
Arizona	Contact your financial aid administrator
Arkansas	Academic Challenge - Midnight of July 1, 2023 Central Time (CT) ArFuture Grant (for fall term) - Midnight of July 1, 2023 CT ArFuture Grant (for spring term) - Midnight of January 10, 2023 CT
British Columbia (Canada)	Contact your financial aid administrator
California	March 2, 2023 for many of the state financial programs; Cal Grant requries you to submit your school-certified GPA by the same date September 2, 2023 for additional Cal Grants for community college Contact your financial aid administrator
Colorado	Contact your financial aid administrator
Connecticut	Midnight of February 15, 2023 for priority consideration
Delaware	Midnight of May 15, 2023
District of Columbia	July 1, 2023 for priority consideration DC Tuition Assistance Grant - August 1, 2023 for priority consideration
Federated States of Micronesia	Contact your financial aid administrator
Florida	May 15, 2023
Georgia	As close to October 1, 2022 as possible
Guam	Contact your financial aid administrator
Hawaii	Contact your financial aid administrator
Idaho	March 1, 2023 Opportunity Scholarship - Midnight on March 1, 2023 CT for priority consideration Contact your financial aid administrator (or state agency)
Illinois	As close to October 1, 2022 as possible
Indiana	Adult Student Grant - As close to October 1, 2022 as possible; awards given until funds depleted Workforce Ready Grant - As close to October 1, 2022 as possible Frank O’Bannon Grant - Midnight on April 15, 2023 CT 21st Century Scholarship - Midnight on April 18, 2023 CT
Iowa	Midnight on July 1, 2023  *Other priority deadlines may exist, contact your financial aid administrator or state agency
Kansas	Midnight on April 1, 2023 CT for priority consideration
Louisiana	July 1, 2024
Maine	May 1, 2023
Manitoba (Canada)	Contact your financial aid administrator
Marshall Islands	Contact your financial aid administrator
Maryland	March 1, 2023
Massachusetts	Midnight on May 1, 2023 CT for priority consideration
Michigan	Midnight on May 1, 2023
Minnesota	30 days after your term starts, must be by midnight CT *Contact your financial aid administrator
Mississippi	MTAG/MESG Grants - Midnight on October 15, 2023 CT HELP Grant - Midnight on April 30, 2023 CT
Missouri	February 1, 2023 for priority consideration Final deadline midnight on April 1, 2023 CT
Montana	Dec 1, 2022 for priority consideration
Northern Mariana Islands	Midnight on April 30, 2023 CT for priority consideration
Nebraska	Contact your financial aid administrator
Nevada	Silver State Opportunity Grant - As close to October 1, 2022 as possible, awards given until funds depleted Nevada Promise Scholarship - March 1, 2023, awards given until funds depleted Other aid - Contact your financial aid administrator
New Brunswick (Canada)	Contact your financial aid administrator
New Hampshire	Contact your financial aid administrator
New Jersey	R2022-23 Tuition Aid Grant renewal applicants and recipients - Midnight on April 15, 2023 CT All other applicants - Midnight on September 15, 2023 CT (fall/spring terms) For spring term only - Midnight on February 15, 2024 CT
New Mexico	Contact your financial aid administrator
New York	Midnight on June 30, 2024 CT
Newfoundland; Newfoundland/Labrador (Canada)	Contact your financial aid administrator
North Carolina	As close to October 1, 2022 as possible, awards given until funds depleted
North Dakota	As close to October 1, 2022 as possible, awards given until funds depleted
Northwest Territories (Canada)	Contact your financial aid administrator
Nova Scotia (Canada)	Contact your financial aid administrator
Nunavut (Canada)	Contact your financial aid administrator
Ohio	Midnight on October 1, 2023 CT
Oklahoma	Contact your financial aid administrator
Ontario (Canada)	Contact your financial aid administrator
Oregon	Oregon Opportunity Grant - As close to October 1, 2022 as possible, awards given until funds depleted OSAC Private Scholarships - March 1, 2023 Oregon Promise Grant - Contact your financial aid administrator
Palau	Contact your financial aid administrator
Pennsylvania	All first-time applicants enrolling in business, technical, or trade school; community college; hospital school (nursing); designated open-admission institution in Pennsylvania; or 2-year nontransferable program - Midnight on August 1, 2023 CT All other applicants - Midnight on May 1, 2023 CT
Prince Edward Island (Canada)	Contact your financial aid administrator
Puerto Rico	Contact your financial aid administrator
Quebec (Canada)	Contact your financial aid administrator
Rhode Island	Contact your financial aid administrator
Saskatchewan (Canada)	Contact your financial aid administrator
South Carolina	SC Commission on Higher Education Grants (Need-Based) - As close to October 1, 2022 as possible, awards given until funds depleted Tuition Grants - Midnight on June 30, 2023 CT
South Dakota	Contact your financial aid administrator
Tennessee	State Grant - March 1, 2023 Tennessee Promise - Midnight on March 1, 2023 CT State Lottery (fall term) - Midnight on September 1, 2023 CT State Lottery (spring/summer terms) - Midnight on February 1, 2024 CT
Texas	January 15, 2023 for priority consideration; 2-year/private institutions may have other deadlines (contact your financial aid administrator)
U.S. Virgin Islands	Contact your financial aid administrator
Utah	Contact your financial aid administrator; awards given until funds depleted
Vermont	As close to October 1, 2022 as possible, awards given until funds depleted
Virginia	Deadlines vary depending on institution; as close to October 1, 2022 as possible *Contact your financial aid administrator
Washington	As close to October 1, 2022 as possible *Contact your financial aid administrator
West Virginia	Promise Scholarship - March 1, 2023 WV Higher Education Grant - April 15, 2023 WV Invests Grant - April 15, 2023
Wisconsin	Contact your financial aid administrator
Wyoming	Contact your financial aid administrator
Yukon (Canada)	Contact your financial aid administrator

What to Do After Submitting the FAFSA

Have you filed your FAFSA? Congratulations! The hard part is over. To keep things running smoothly, follow these next steps:

• Complete the CSS profile. If you don’t know what that is, the CSS profile, or College Scholarship Service profile, allows you to apply for non-federal student aid. The CSS profile was created and is currently maintained by College Board.
• Wait for your financial aid award letter and ensure you know how to read your financial aid letter. 
• You can also continue seeking other forms of financial aid, such as grants, scholarships, fellowships, work-study placements, and more. For more information on what’s available to you at your program, you can get in touch with your school’s financial aid office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Apply to FAFSA on the Deadline Date?

You’ll maximize your potential financial aid by applying for FAFSA as early as possible. File the FAFSA for the coming academic year as close to October 1st (the opening date) as possible. Filing early increases your chances for more aid because you are getting in before funds are depleted.

How Do I Correct Mistakes on my FAFSA Form?

To correct a FAFSA form, log into your profile and click the Make FAFSA Corrections link. Then, you can either change your e-mail or home address, add or remove colleges, or correct other fields in the form apart from your social security number. 

Is the FAFSA Deadline the Same for All States?

The federal FAFSA deadline is on June 30th most years. However, some states have different deadlines for their financial aid programs. Refer to the list above for more information, so you don’t miss any deadlines when you file the FAFSA. Contact your school’s financial aid office for your college aid deadlines.

What Are Some Other Ways I Can Pay for School?

The FAFSA isn’t the only way to obtain financial support for your schooling. Consider looking into college scholarships, grants, internships, and credit maintenance. You can also look into federal work-study placements or ask your school financial aid office if any campus positions are open.

Conclusion

So, when is the 2022 to 2023 FAFSA due? The final deadline for this academic year is on June 30, 2023. However, although the FAFSA deadline 2023 is on that date, you must consider many other college and state deadlines. Although you can continue to file for the current academic year, you may have missed out on some state or college aid options because funds are depleted.

To avoid missing out on federal student aid as well as college and state aid, take note of the most crucial deadlines and act accordingly for the coming school year. And if you want to continue on into graduate school, know that many programs accept FAFSA, too!
Just starting your college career? If you want to earn your degree online, check out the best online colleges that accept FAFSA.