How to set your FAFSA deadline

Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA, is the most critical step in the process of paying for college. It opens up the possibility for you to receive grants, loans, and scholarships.

The FAFSA opens every year on October 1st. Every student should try to submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after it opens because various forms of financial aid are awarded on a first-come-first-served basis for those who qualify. The last deadline to file the FAFSA depends on your state and school but is usually within the range of March to June. To find out your school’s deadline, search online with your school’s name and the phrase “FAFSA deadline,” or contact a financial aid advisor at your school.

Most students should put “Submit FAFSA” on their calendar for a day in early October. If you do it later, select your own personal deadline and write it on your calendar on a specific day and make sure to follow through on your plans. Remember that if you are a dependent student, meaning you are under 24 years old, are not married, and have no children of your own, you will likely need a parent or guardian’s help in filling out the form.