College Resources |
Paying for College

Applying for Financial Aid: The Earlier, The Better

Every year, students and their families begin the financial aid process by logging on to www.fafsa.ed.gov to file their Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you are a student planning to enroll in college in the fall of 2009 or spring of 2010, please pay careful attention to the following federal and state financial aid application deadlines.

 

Even if you don't think you will qualify for need-based financial aid, My College Options® strongly encourages you to explore all of your college funding options.

 

What Filing Your FAFSA Will Do For You:

 

  • Computes your financial "need" to cover the costs of attending the colleges you specify on your application.

 

 

  • After you file your FAFSA, the schools that you selected on the application will receive your Student Aid Report. Your prospective colleges base their financial aid offers on the information you submit through FAFSA.

 

 

  • Determines your eligibility for federal and state grants.

 

 

  • Determines your "Expected Family Contribution"- the amount of money (after state, federal and college-based forms of financial aid) that your family will need to pay for college.

 

 

  • The earlier you file the FAFSA, the more aid that there is available. Need-based financial aid is distributed on a "first come, first served" basis.

  

Application Deadlines

 

 

The FAFSA is the federal application for financial aid, but it is also used to apply for aid from other sources, such as your state or school.

TIP: The deadlines for your state or schools may be different from the federal deadlines and you may be required to complete additional forms.

Check with your high school guidance counselor or a financial aid administrator at your school about state and school sources of student aid.

 

 

Federal Student Financial Aid Deadlines

 

The 2008-2009 School Year (July 1st, 2008 - June 30th, 2009):

 

  • FAFSA on the Web applications must be submitted by midnight Central Daylight time, June 30, 2009.

 

  • Corrections on the Web forms must be submitted by midnight Central Daylight Time, September 15, 2009.
  • Note: Your school must have your complete and correct information by your last day of enrollment in the 2008-2009 school year.

 

 

The 2009-2010 School Year (July 1st, 2009 - June 30th, 2010):

 

  • FAFSA on the Web applications must be submitted by midnight Central Daylight time, June 30, 2010.

 

  • Corrections on the Web forms must be submitted by midnight Central Daylight time, September 15, 2010.
  • Note: Your school must have your complete and correct information by your last day of enrollment in the 2009-2010 school year.

 

 

Pay close attention to deadlines! Ask your school about their definition of an application deadline - whether it is the receipt date and time or the process date and time of the application.

 

Federal Student Aid considers a FAFSA’s receipt date and time to be when the FAFSA/correction is submitted successfully.

 

TIP: When you submit your FAFSA, be sure to print out the confirmation page and keep it for your records. It contains a confirmation number with the exact date and time (Central Standard Time) the form was received.

 

Note: Transactions must be completed and accepted by midnight to meet the deadline. If you wait too long to submit your application and it is rejected, you may miss your school’s deadline

 

State Student Financial Aid Deadlines

 

 

State deadlines may be earlier than the federal deadline.

TIP: State forms do not replace filling out the FAFSA. You must fill out the FAFSA to receive federal student aid.

Note: Date received means received by Federal Student Aid unless otherwise indicated.

 

Remember to apply early before funds run out.

 

 

State

Deadlines

Alabama

Check with your financial aid administrator

Alaska

April 15, 2009 @

American Samoa

Check with your financial aid administrator*

Arizona

March 1, 2009 @

Arkansas

For Academic Challenge - June 1, 2009 @
For Workforce Grant - check with your financial aid administrator
For Higher Education Opportunity Grant - June 1, 2009 (fall term); November 1, 2009 (spring term) @

California

For initial awards - March 2, 2009
For additional community college awards - September 2, 2009 - date postmarked*^

Colorado

Check with your financial aid administrator

Connecticut

February 15, 2009 *#

Delaware

April 15, 2009 @

District of Columbia

June 30, 2009 *

Federated States of Micronesia

Check with your financial aid administrator*

Florida

May 15, 2009 - date processed

Georgia

Check with your financial aid administrator

Guam

Check with your financial aid administrator*

Hawaii

Check with you financial aid administrator*

Idaho

Opportunity Grant - March 1, 2009 *#

Illinois

First-time applicants - September 30, 2009
Continuing applicants - August 15, 2009 #@

Indiana

March 10, 2009 &

Iowa

July 1, 2009 ^@

Kansas

April 1, 2009 #*@

Kentucky

March 15, 2009 #&

Louisiana

July 1, 2009 ^

Maine

May 1, 2009 @

Marshall Islands

Check with your financial aid administrator *

Maryland

March 1, 2009 &

Massachusetts

May 1, 2009 #^@

Michigan

March 1, 2009 &

Minnesota

30 days after term starts

Mississippi

MTAG and MESG Grants - September 15, 2009
HELP Scholarship - March 31, 2009

Missouri

April 1, 2009 @

Montana

March 1, 2009 #&

Nebraska

Check with your financial aid administrator*

Nevada

Check with your financial aid administrator*

New Hampshire

May 1, 2009 @

New Jersey

June 1, 2009 if you received a Tuition Aid Grant in 2008-2009
All other applications - October 1, 2009, for fall and spring terms;
March 1, 2010, for spring term only ^&

New Mexico

Check with your financial aid administrator*

New York

May 1, 2010 *^@

North Carolina

Check with your financial aid administrator

North Dakota

March 15, 2009 &

Northern Mariana Islands

Check with your financial aid administrator*

Ohio

October 1, 2009 @

Oklahoma

April 15, 2009 # for best consideration

Oregon

Check with your financial aid administrator

Palau

Check with your financial aid administrator*

Pennsylvania

All 2008-2009 State Grant recipients and all non-2008-2009 State Grant recipients in degree programs - May 1, 2009
All other applicants - August 1, 2009 *@

Puerto Rico

Check with your financial aid administrator

Rhode Island

March 1, 2009 #&

South Carolina

Tuition Grants - June 30, 2009 @

South Dakota

Check with your financial aid administrator*

Tennessee

For State Grant - March 1, 2009#
For State Lottery - September 1, 2009 @

Texas

Check with your financial aid administrator*

U.S. Virgin Islands

Check with your financial aid administrator*

Utah

Check with your financial aid administrator

Vermont

Check with your financial aid administrator*

Virginia

Check with your financial aid administrator*

Washington

Check with your financial aid administrator

West Virginia

March 1, 2009 #*^

Wisconsin

Check with your financial aid administrator

Wyoming

Check with your financial aid administrator*

* Additional form may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency.
^ Applicants encouraged to obtain proof of mailing.
# For priority consideration, submit application by date specified.
@ Deadline by midnight, Central Daylight Time.
& Deadline by midnight, Central Standard Time.

 

Source: FAFSA website: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/before003a.htm- Date: Jan. 19, 2009

 



 
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