When Can I Apply For Fafsa 2018?

Procrastinators beware — the longer you wait to submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the less money you're likely to receive. The FAFSA deadline for the 2018-2019 school year is June 30, 2019, but submitting your FAFSA as close to the application opening date of October 1, 2017 increases your chances of getting aid.

What Is the FAFSA?

The FAFSA is used to show how much money in federal loans, grants and work-study you should receive. It also determines if you're eligible for scholarships and grants. Colleges also use it to determine if you should get institutional aid. In other words, it's really important that you meet the FAFSA deadline.

The FAFSA always has an 18-month application cycle, which means the FAFSA deadline will rotate every 18 months. It asks for your financial and tax information from the 12 months prior in order to determine how much aid you qualify for.

Who Should Submit the FAFSA?

All high school seniors who are going to college and returning college students should file the 2018-2019 FAFSA. Students who are dependent and independent need to file it. It doesn't matter if you don't know what school you're attending because you can always edit the list later on.

There are several important things to remember: The information provided below is for the 2018-2019 school year.

The FAFSA deadline is June 30, 2019 no matter where you live.
You need to submit your online application by 12:00 am CST on June 30, 2019.
You can make updates or corrections until 12:00 am on September 14, 2019.

Colleges Set Their Own FAFSA Deadline

If you get into a school, you'll probably see your aid package around the same time that you receive your acceptance letter. This means that the college wants to receive your FAFSA application early so they can review both at the same time.

Some schools might require you to submit a CSS profile, which is another document that will show your financial need. It's used by nearly 400 schools and scholarship programs to provide you with aid from non-governmental sources. After you submit, the College Board will send it to programs of your choosing. Check directly on your college's website to find out if this is a requirement and the deadlines for submission.

States Also Set Their Own FAFSA Deadline

It's important to note that there are state financial deadlines you need to adhere to as well. You can find your state-specific deadlines here. For students attending in-state public colleges, states have their own financial aid programs to support attendance. For example, California's deadline is March 2, 2018 for their state financial aid programs.

File the FAFSA before your state's deadline and as early as possible to give yourself the best chances of getting aid. Those who submit early usually have a greater chance of getting financial support, because it's provided to students on a first-come, first-served basis.

Several Other Requirements for Submitting at the State Level:

Additional forms might be required. Your state agency or financial aid contact should be able to tell you.
You might need to obtain proof of mailing.
The deadline might be Central Daylight Time or Central Standard Time, so check carefully.
Submit by the date specified so you can have first consideration.
The deadline could be determined differently — some states go by date received while others go by date postmarked.

Don't Assume You Won't Qualify for Aid

Some students make the mistake of assuming their family's household income is too high to qualify for aid. This isn't true and many students let the FAFSA deadline pass without investigating their options. All students should fill out the FAFSA form, because even families with high household incomes can qualify for aid depending on what schools he is applying to.

If your family earns over $100,000 a year, you may not qualify for need-based aid to attend a state school, but you might receive aid if you're attending a private college that's more expensive. If you have siblings and some are also enrolled in college, then you may qualify for more aid.

More importantly, you'll be eligible for a federal student loan no matter what your circumstances are. You never know when your financial situation might change so it's important to file the FAFSA in the event that your finances change due to a job loss and you need aid. If you miss the FAFSA deadline, then you can't receive aid in time.

Get Your Documents Ready

Even though the opening FAFSA deadline of October 1 has come and gone, you can still get your documents ready to apply. Gather your 2016 tax return, W-2s, bank statements and any records of other assets. You'll also need to get a Create an FSA ID to access the online portal to fill out the application.

Your parents will also need to get a FSA ID if you're listed as a dependent on their tax return. You should get your ID as soon as you can, because it can take up to three days to get it. You can file the FAFSA at Create an FSA ID.

Submit the FAFSA As Soon As You Can

Try to file your FAFSA as soon as possible. Not only will it increase your chances of getting financial aid, but you can then focus your attention on applying for scholarships, too. The FAFSA is a lengthy application, but it's well worth it to get ahead of the FAFSA deadline and then not have to worry about it any longer.

FAFSA State Deadlines

State	Deadline
Alabama	Check with your financial aid administrator
Alaska	Alaska Performance Scholarship – June 30, 2018. For priority consideration, submit an application by date specified. Awards made until funds are depleted. Alaska Education Grant – As soon as possible after October 1, 2017. Awards made until funds are depleted
American Samoa	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required.
Arizona	Check with your financial aid administrator.
Arkansas	Academic Challenge – June 1, 2018 by midnight, Central Time. Workforce Grant – Check with your financial aid administrator. Higher Education Opportunity Grant – June 1, 2018 by midnight, Central Time
California	For many state financial aid programs – March 2, 2018 (date postmarked). Cal Grant also requires submission of a school-certified GPA by March 2, 2018. Applicants are encouraged to obtain proof of mailing their GPA and to retain a copy of their GPA form. For additional community college Cal Grants – September 2, 2018 (date postmarked). If you are a non-citizen without a Social Security card or had one issued through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, you should fill out the California Dream Act Application found at caldreamact.org. You do not need to fill out a FAFSA to be eligible for California student financial aid. Contact the California Student Aid Commission (csac.ca.gov) or your financial aid administrator for more information. Additional forms may be required. Applicants encouraged to keep a record of their submission by printing out their online FAFSA confirmation page or obtaining proof of mailing the FAFSA.
Colorado	Check with your financial aid administrator
Connecticut	February 15, 2018, by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit an application by date specified. Additional forms may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency.
Delaware	April 15, 2018 by midnight, Central Time.
District of Columbia	FAFSA completed by May 1, 2018. For priority consideration, submit an application by date specified. For DCTAG, complete the DC OneApp and submit supporting documents by May 31, 2018. For priority consideration, submit an application by date specified.
Federal States of Micronesia	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required.
Florida	May 15, 2018 (date processed)
Georgia	Check with your financial aid administrator.
Guam	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required
Hawaii	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required
Idaho	Opportunity Grant – March 1, 2018 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit an application by date specified. Additional forms may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency.
Illinois	As soon as possible after October 1, 2018. Awards made until funds are depleted.
Indiana	March 10, 2018 by midnight, Central Time.
Iowa	July 1, 2018 by midnight, Central Time. Earlier priority deadlines may exist for certain programs. Additional forms may be required.
Kansas	April 1, 2018 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit an application by date specified. Additional forms may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency.
Kentucky	As soon as possible after October 1, 2017. Awards made until funds are depleted.
Louisiana	July 1, 2019 (July 1, 2018 recommended)
Maine	May 1, 2018 by midnight, Central Time.
Marshall Islands	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required
Maryland	March 1, 2018 by midnight, Central Time.
Massachusetts	May 1, 2018 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit an application by date specified.
Michigan	March 1, 2018 by midnight, Central Time.
Minnesota	30 days after term starts, by midnight, Central Time.
Mississippi	MTAG and MESG Grants – September 15, 2018 by midnight, Central Time. HELP Scholarship – March 31, 2018 by midnight, Central Time.
Missouri	February 1, 2018. For priority consideration, submit an application by date specified. Applications accepted through April 2, 2018 by midnight, Central Time. Awards made until funds are depleted.
Montana	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required.
N. Mariana Islands	April 30, 2018 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit an application by date specified. Additional forms may be required.
Nebraska	Check with your financial aid administrator.
Nevada	Silver State Opportunity Grant – As soon as possible after October 1, 2017. Awards made until funds are depleted. All other aid – Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required.
New Hampshire	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required.
New Jersey	2017-2018 Tuition Aid Grant recipients – April 15, 2018 by midnight, Central Time. All other applicants – Fall and spring terms – September 15, 2018 by midnight, Central Time. – Spring term only – February 15, 2019 by midnight, Central Time.
New Mexico	Check with your financial aid administrator.
New York	June 30, 2019 by midnight, Central Time. Additional forms may be required.
North Carolina	As soon as possible after October 1, 2017. Awards made until funds are depleted.
North Dakota	As soon as possible after October 1, 2017. Awards made until funds are depleted.
Ohio	October 1, 2018 by midnight, Central Time.
Oklahoma	As soon as possible after October 1, 2017. Awards made until funds are depleted
Oregon	Deadlines vary by program. Visit OregonStudentAid.gov for more information or check with your financial aid administrator.
Palau	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required.
Pennsylvania	All first-time applicants enrolled in a: community college; business/trade/technical school; hospital school of nursing; designated Pennsylvania Open-Admission institution; or non-transferable two-year program – August 1, 2018 by midnight, Central Time. All other applicants – May 1, 2018 by midnight, Central Time. Additional forms may be required.
Puerto Rico	Check with your financial aid administrator.
Rhode Island	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required.
South Carolina	Tuition Grants – June 30, 2018 by midnight, Central Time. SC Commission on Higher Education Need-based Grants – As soon as possible after October 1, 2017. Awards made until funds are depleted.
South Dakota	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required.
Tennessee	State Grant – Prior-year recipients receive an award if eligible and apply by January 16, 2018. All other awards made to neediest applicants until funds are depleted. Tennessee Promise – January 16, 2018 by midnight, Central Time. State Lottery – Fall term, September 1, 2018 by midnight, Central Time; spring and summer terms, February 1, 2019 by midnight, Central Time
Texas	As soon as possible after October 1, 2017. Texas public colleges – March 15, 2018. For priority consideration, submit an application by date specified. Additional forms may be required. Texas private colleges – Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required
U.S Virgin Islands	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required.
Utah	Check with your financial aid administrator.
Vermont	As soon as possible after October 1, 2017. Awards made until funds are depleted. Additional forms may be required
Virginia	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required
Washington	As soon as possible after October 1, 2017. Awards made until funds are depleted.
West Virginia	PROMISE Scholarship – March 1, 2018. New applicants must submit an additional application at cfwv.com. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. WV Higher Education Grant Program – April 15, 2018.
Wisconsin	Check with your financial aid administrator.
Wyoming	Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required

Source: fafsa.ed.gov