The 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens on December 1, 2024! It’s important to note that while states or colleges may have their own FAFSA deadlines, you can technically still submit your FAFSA after they’ve passed, as long as you submit it before the federal deadline (June 30, annually). State and institutional FAFSA deadlines typically check a student’s eligibility for state and institution-specific grants and scholarships, but are not mandatory if a student prefers to submit their FAFSA by the federal deadline. In any case, we highly encourage you to meet your state and institutional deadlines to ensure you’re being considered for the maximum amount of aid possible! 

With this in mind, here are FAFSA deadlines by state.

Sources: studentaid.gov and NCAN

Alabama

No state deadline; check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Alaska

Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible to be eligible for the Alaska Education Grant. Submit by June 30, 2025 to be eligible for the Alaska Performance Scholarship. 

Arizona

Priority deadline to be considered for the Arizona Promise Program: April 1, 2025. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Arkansas

Complete the FAFSA by July 1, 2025 to be considered for state-specific aid, such as The Academic Challenge Scholarship and the Arkansas Future Grant.

California

Complete the FAFSA by March 3, 2025 to be considered for state-based aid. Cal Grant requires submission of a school-certified GPA by March 3, 2025. To qualify for additional community college Cal Grants, submit by September 2, 2025.

Colorado

No state deadline; check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Connecticut

For priority consideration, submit by February 15, 2025. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Delaware

June 15, 2025. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

District of Columbia

Priority deadline: June 25, 2025. To be considered for the DC Tuition Assistance Grant, submit by July 1, 2025. 

Florida

May 15, 2025. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Georgia

Apply as soon as possible after FAFSA opens. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Hawaii

Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Idaho

Complete the FAFSA by March 1, 2025 to be considered for state-specific aid, such as the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship.

Illinois

Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible to be considered for state-specific aid, such as the Monetary Award Program (MAP). 

Indiana

Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after December 31, 2024 to be considered for state-specific aid, such as the Adult Student Grant and the Workforce Ready Grant. The deadline for state-specific grants and scholarships, such as the Frank O’Bannon Grant and 21st Century Scholarship, is April 15, 2025. 

Iowa

July 1, 2025. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Kansas

Priority deadline: April 1, 2025. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Kentucky

ASAP after FAFSA opens; check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Louisiana

Recommended that you submit by February 1, 2025. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Maine

May 1, 2025. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Maryland

Tobe considered for the Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Awards (EEA) Program, submit by March 1, 2025. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Massachusetts

May 1, 2025. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Michigan

July 1, 2025. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Minnesota

June 30, 2026. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Mississippi

Complete the FAFSA by April 30, 2025 to be considered for state-specific aid, such as the HELP Grant. To be considered for the MTAG and MESG grants, submit by October 15, 2025.

Missouri

Priority deadline: February 3, 2025. Regular deadline: April 1, 2025. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Montana

For priority consideration, submit by December 1, 2024. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Nebraska

No state deadline; check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Nevada

Complete as soon as possible to be considered for the Silver State Opportunity Grant. To be considered for the Nevada Promise Scholarship, submit by May 1, 2025. 

New Hampshire

No state deadline; check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

New Jersey

Complete the FAFSA by April 15, 2025 to be eligible for the Tuition Aid Grant (TAG). All other applicants should submit by September 15, 2025.

New Mexico

No state deadline; check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

New York

June 30, 2026. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

North Carolina

Submit your FAFSA for priority consideration at a UNC System Institution by June 1, 2025. Submit your FAFSA for priority consideration at a community college by August 15, 2025. 

North Dakota

ASAP after FAFSA opens; check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Ohio

October 1, 2025; check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Oklahoma

No state deadline; check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Oregon

Submit your FAFSA as soon as possible to be considered for the Oregon Opportunity Grant. Deadlines for other state grants, such as the Oregon Promise Grant, vary. To be considered for OSAC Private Scholarships, submit by March 1, 2025. 

Pennsylvania

May 1, 2025. The deadline for all first-time applicants planning to enroll in a community college, business/trade/technical school, hospital school of nursing, designated Pennsylvania open-admission institution, or nontransferable two-year program is August 1, 2025. 

Rhode Island

No state deadline; check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

South Carolina

To be considered for SC Commission on Higher Education Need-Based Grants, submit ASAP. To be considered for Tuition Grants, submit by August 1, 2025.

South Dakota

No state deadline; check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Tennessee

March 15, 2025 for State Grant prior-year recipients and for consideration for the Tennessee Promise. For the State Lottery, submit by September 1, 2025.

Texas

Priority deadline: January 15, 2025. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Utah

To be eligible for the Opportunity Scholarship, Apply ASAP. Check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.   

Vermont

ASAP after FAFSA opens; check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Virginia

ASAP after December 31, 2024; check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Washington

ASAP after FAFSA opens; check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

West Virginia

ASAP after FAFSA opens; To be eligible for the PROMISE Scholarship, submit by March 1, 2025. To be eligible for state-based grants, submit by April 15, 2025. 

Wisconsin

No state deadline; check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Wyoming

No state deadline; check in with the school(s) you applied to about their deadline.

Have any questions about completing the FAFSA? Text #FAFSA to 33-55-77 to chat with one of our advisors. If you're using a mobile device, click here to have the text message set up for you!