3 FAFSA Deadlines to Watch Out For

Deadlines are the arch enemy of every student across the country. When you are busy with classes, taking part in extracurricular activities; it is quite easy to forget about FAFSA application deadlines till you hear the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. There are some critical deadlines that you should not miss out on, especially if you are applying for a federal aid. If you delay your FAFSA submission, you are forfeiting the federal faucet that will pay for your college tuition. There are three main deadlines that you need to keep track of. Let us take a look at them:

1. The college deadline – The most important deadline is the ones that come from the colleges and typically, it is quite early. They tend to vary from school to school, but they will come well in advance of the beginning of the academic year. For each college you are applying, it’s important to look up the school’s FAFSA deadline and make sure that you apply at the earliest. Many times, funds are distributed on a first come, first served basis. Most of the federal aid deadlines are priority ones.

2. The state deadline – This is determined by the home state you live in. It tends to vary in each state and sometimes it can come in as early as February 15. States will offer financial aid till they are out of money. Many students who apply early are awarded larger sums of money. So make sure that you apply early. You can check out the deadline in your state here.

3. The federal deadline – This is the last deadline and comes from the Department of Education. Some of the federal aid programs are short on funds. So, it is a good idea to apply as soon as you possibly can. And since the college and state deadlines come in early, it is advised to get started on your financial aid paperwork as soon as possible.

FAFSA Deadlines