FAFSA Deadline 2021-2022

Exams, tests, applications, FAFSA, and other events and processes for college students have timelines and deadlines. It’s understandable for deadlines to cause stress for students, especially the FAFSA deadline 2021. Students looking to secure financial aid might wonder, “when does FAFSA open,” and “when is the FAFSA due date.” 

The quicker and earlier you file your FAFSA, the better your chances are to receive more financial aid. 

The FAFSA deadline for the 2021-2022 session passed is June 30, 2022. Applicants must submit their FAFSA by 11:59 p.m. on that date. 

Read on to learn more about the FAFSA deadline, criteria for application, other state financial deadlines, and helpful notes to get the most out of your financial aid. 

Table of Contents

• What Is the FAFSA Due Date 2021?
• When Does the FAFSA Open?
• Eligibility Criteria to Apply For FAFSA
• 6 Best Practices for Filling Out FAFSA
• What’s New This Year with FAFSA?
• List of FAFSA Deadlines for Individual States
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Conclusion

What Is the FAFSA Due Date for 2021-2022?

The FAFSA due date 2021 is the latest possible date that a student can file and submit their FAFSA.  

The FAFSA deadline for the 2021-2022 school year is June 30, 2022.

From open to close, the FAFSA application process lasts 18 months. The FAFSA opens for applications in October, or specifically October 1, 2020 for the 2021-2022 year. The federal FAFSA application deadline usually falls on June 30 every year, in this case, June 20, 2022. Additionally, 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 on “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 taken into account to assess eligibility.

Students should also look into state financial aid beforehand to apply for federal support.

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

When Does the FAFSA Open?

The FAFSA usually opens on October 1 every year, for the following school year. Applications are accepted until the end of the school year you wish to obtain aid for. So, if you attend college for the 2021-2022 session, you can submit your FAFSA up until June 30, 2020. 

Academic Year	FAFSA Open Date	Federal FAFSA deadline
2021-2022	Oct1, 2020	June 30, 2022
2022-2023	Oct1, 2021	June 30, 2023

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 a 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 

 

6 Best Practices for Filling Out FAFSA

As you can see, there are many documents you need to keep track of to apply for FAFSA. Follow these tips to ensure your application goes smoothly. 

1. Always check your email for confirmation that you’ve filed your application or submitted any documents. 
2. Refer to the FAFSA Process Worksheet.
3. Fill out forms and gather documents sooner rather than later.
4. Make copies of documents submitted and your FAFSA application for your records. 
5. Remember to submit your application before midnight on the FAFSA due date. 
6. Check the FAFSA website frequently and stay up-to-date on any upcoming changes to the application process. 

What’s New This Year with FAFSA?

Given the COVID-19 pandemic, there were a couple of changes in the FAFSA application for 2021. 

 

Higher Income Threshold for Expected Family Contribution (EPC)

Last year, the annual income threshold to receive an expected family contribution (EPC) of zero increased from $26,000 to $27,000. With an EFC of zero, students are eligible to receive the maximum amount of aid possible. 

 

Critics say that the EPC threshold increase does not adequately consider the financial repercussions students felt from the pandemic. 

 

Schedule 1 Question and Data Retrieval Tool

The FAFSA questions changed slightly to be consistent with tax form changes by the IRS. Specifically, family tax forms impact how a student’s EFC is calculated. Previously, the IRS Schedule 1 tax form included a capital gains exception, which has been removed this year. Additionally, a virtual currency exception was added. 

 

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool, which helps students seamlessly add tax information to the FAFSA, will now account for the Schedule 1 filing question automatically. 

 

List of FAFSA Deadlines for Individual States

Each state has its own deadlines for students to apply for state aid programs. The detailed list below lists those deadlines and state programs for 2021-2022. Remember, sometimes colleges have their own deadlines too, so it’s important to check individual college websites as well. 

Alabama: Consult your financial aid administrator.

Alaska

Alaska Education Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1. Awards are given based on availability, so don’t wait too long to apply.  

Alaska Performance Scholarship: June 30, 2021 for priority consideration. 

American Samoa: Consult your financial aid administrator.

Arizona: Consult your financial aid administrator.

Arkansas

Academic Challenge: July 1, 2021 (by midnight CT)

ArFuture Grant (fall term): July 1, 2021 (by midnight CT)

ArFuture Grant (spring term): Jan. 10, 2022 (by midnight CT). 

California

March 2, 2021 for many state programs

Sept 2, 2021 for additional community college Cal grants

Colorado: Consult your financial aid administrator.

Connecticut: February 15, 2021, for priority consideration

Delaware: April 15, 2021, by midnight

District of Columbia: May 1, 2021, for priority consideration

Federal States of Micronesia: Consult your financial aid administrator.

Florida: May 15, 2021

Georgia: Consult your financial aid administrator.

Guam: Consult your financial aid administrator.

Hawaii: Consult your financial aid administrator.

Idaho

Opportunity Grant: March 1, 2021, for priority consideration

Illinois: As soon as possible after Oct. 1

Indiana

Adult Student Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020

Workforce Ready Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020.

Frank O'Bannon Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. 

21st Century Scholarship: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. 

Iowa: July 1 2021, by midnight CT.

Kansas: April 1, 2021, for priority consideration

Kentucky: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020.

Louisiana: July 21, 2021 recommended, or July 21 2022 (final)

Maine: May 1, 2021 by midnight CT. 

Marshall Islands: Consult your financial aid administrator.

Maryland: March 1, 2021 by midnight CT

Massachusetts: May 1, 2021, by midnight CT, for priority consideration

Michigan: May 1, 2021

Minnesota: 30 days after the school term starts, by midnight CT

Mississippi

MTAG and MESG Grants: Sept. 15, 2021, by midnight CT

HELP Scholarship: April 30, 2021, by midnight CT

Missouri: February 1 2021 for priority consideration; otherwise, April 1, 2021

Montana: December 1, 2020, for priority consideration

1. Mariana Islands: April 30, 2021, for priority consideration

Nebraska: Consult your financial aid administrator.

Nevada

Silver State Opportunity Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020.

Nevada Promise Scholarship: March 1, 2021

All other aid: Consult your financial aid administrator.

New Hampshire: Consult your financial aid administrator.

New Jersey

Tuition Aid Grant recipients: April 15, 2021, by midnight CT.

All other applicants:

• Fall and spring terms: Sept. 15, 2021, by midnight CT
• Spring term only: Feb. 15, 2022, by midnight CT

New Mexico: Consult your financial aid administrator.

New York: June 30, 2022, by midnight CT.

North Carolina: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. 

North Dakota: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. 

Ohio: Oct. 1, 2020 by midnight CT

Oklahoma: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. 

Oregon

Oregon Opportunity Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020.

OSAC Private Scholarships: March 1, 2021. 

Oregon Promise Grant: Contact your state agency. 

Palau: Consult your financial aid administrator.

Pennsylvania

Aug. 1, 2020 for first-time applicants enrolled in community college, business, trade or technical school, hospital school of nursing, designated Pennsylvania Open-Admission institution or non-transferable two-year program.

May 1, 2021 for all other applicants

Puerto Rico: Consult your financial aid administrator.

Rhode Island: Consult your financial aid administrator.

South Carolina

SC Commission on Higher Education Need-based Grants: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. 

Tuition Grants: June 30, 2021, by midnight CT.

As soon as possible after Oct 1, 2019. And for applicants applying for tuition assistance, apply by June 30, 2020, by midnight CT.

South Dakota: Consult your financial aid administrator.

Tennessee

State Grant: March 15, 2021, or soon after

Tennessee Promise: March 15, 2021, by midnight CT.

State Lottery for fall term: Sept. 1, 2021, by midnight CT.

State Lottery for spring and summer terms: Feb. 1, 2022, by midnight CT.

Texas

Jan. 15 2021 for priority consideration

Consult your financial aid administrator for other programs.

U.S. Virgin Islands: Consult your financial aid administrator.

Utah

Regents’ Scholarship: Dec. 4, 2020 for priority consideration; otherwise, Feb. 1, 2021

Other programs: Consult your financial aid administrator.

Vermont: As soon as possible after OCt. 1, 2020

Virginia: Consult your financial aid administrator.

Washington: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020

West Virginia

PROMISE Scholarship: March 1, 2021

WV Higher Education Grant Program: April 15, 2021

WV Invests Grant: April 15, 2021 for priority consideration

Wisconsin: Consult your financial aid administrator.

Wyoming: Consult 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.
• Wait for your financial aid award letter and make sure you know how to read your financial aid letter. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Should I Apply to FAFSA on the Deadline Date?

You’ll maximize your potential financial aid by applying for FAFSA as early as possible. 

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. 

What Are Some Other Ways I Can Pay for School?

The FAFSA isn’t the only way you can obtain financial support for your schooling. Consider looking into college scholarships, grants, internships, and credit maintenance. 

Conclusion

Keeping up with college deadlines is a full-time job, especially the FAFSA due date! Luckily, you can refer to this article to learn the answer to your question, “when does FAFSA open,” and to learn more about the FAFSA deadline 2021. 

 

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