when is the deadline for fafsa

The federal deadline to submit the FAFSA for the 2025-2026 academic year is June 30, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. Central Time. This means you have until that date to file your FAFSA application for federal student aid for that academic year. However, it's recommended to submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after it becomes available, which for 2025-2026 is expected to be on or before December 1, 2024. Filing early increases your chances of receiving aid, since some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, if you need to make corrections or updates to your FAFSA submission, the deadline for those is typically a few months later; for 2025-2026, corrections must be submitted by September 14, 2026. Keep in mind that states and individual colleges may have their own earlier deadlines for FAFSA submissions, so you should check those specific deadlines as well to maximize your financial aid opportunities.