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.
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State
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Deadlines
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Alabama
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Check with your financial aid administrator
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Alaska
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April 15, 2009 @
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American Samoa
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Check with your financial aid administrator*
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Arizona
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March 1, 2009 @
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Arkansas
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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) @
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California
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For initial awards - March 2, 2009
For additional community college awards - September 2, 2009 - date postmarked*^
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Colorado
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Check with your financial aid administrator
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Connecticut
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February 15, 2009 *#
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Delaware
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April 15, 2009 @
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District of Columbia
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June 30, 2009 *
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Federated States of Micronesia
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Check with your financial aid administrator*
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Florida
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May 15, 2009 - date processed
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Georgia
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Check with your financial aid administrator
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Guam
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Check with your financial aid administrator*
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Hawaii
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Check with you financial aid administrator*
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Idaho
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Opportunity Grant - March 1, 2009 *#
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Illinois
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First-time applicants - September 30, 2009
Continuing applicants - August 15, 2009 #@
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Indiana
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March 10, 2009 &
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Iowa
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July 1, 2009 ^@
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Kansas
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April 1, 2009 #*@
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Kentucky
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March 15, 2009 #&
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Louisiana
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July 1, 2009 ^
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Maine
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May 1, 2009 @
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Marshall Islands
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Check with your financial aid administrator *
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Maryland
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March 1, 2009 &
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Massachusetts
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May 1, 2009 #^@
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Michigan
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March 1, 2009 &
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Minnesota
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30 days after term starts
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Mississippi
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MTAG and MESG Grants - September 15, 2009
HELP Scholarship - March 31, 2009
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Missouri
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April 1, 2009 @
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Montana
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March 1, 2009 #&
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Nebraska
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Check with your financial aid administrator*
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Nevada
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Check with your financial aid administrator*
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New Hampshire
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May 1, 2009 @
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New Jersey
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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 ^&
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New Mexico
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Check with your financial aid administrator*
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New York
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May 1, 2010 *^@
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North Carolina
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Check with your financial aid administrator
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North Dakota
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March 15, 2009 &
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Northern Mariana Islands
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Check with your financial aid administrator*
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Ohio
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October 1, 2009 @
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Oklahoma
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April 15, 2009 # for best consideration
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Oregon
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Check with your financial aid administrator
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Palau
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Check with your financial aid administrator*
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Pennsylvania
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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 *@
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Puerto Rico
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Check with your financial aid administrator
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Rhode Island
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March 1, 2009 #&
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South Carolina
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Tuition Grants - June 30, 2009 @
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South Dakota
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Check with your financial aid administrator*
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Tennessee
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For State Grant - March 1, 2009#
For State Lottery - September 1, 2009 @
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Texas
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Check with your financial aid administrator*
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U.S. Virgin Islands
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Check with your financial aid administrator*
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Utah
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Check with your financial aid administrator
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Vermont
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Check with your financial aid administrator*
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Virginia
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Check with your financial aid administrator*
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Washington
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Check with your financial aid administrator
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West Virginia
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March 1, 2009 #*^
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Wisconsin
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Check with your financial aid administrator
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Wyoming
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Check with your financial aid administrator*
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* 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