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The federal deadline to submit the FAFSA for the 2025-2026 school year is June 30, 2026. If you or your child is currently enrolled or planning to enroll for the upcoming academic year and has not yet filed, you have 33 days. For the 2026-2027 school year, the FAFSA is already available at studentaid.gov with a federal deadline of June 30, 2027, though many state and school deadlines fall much earlier.
Here is what you need to complete it and common mistakes to avoid.
Which FAFSA Deadline Applies to You
| School Year | Federal Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 (current year) | June 30, 2026 | 33 days away — act now |
| 2026-2027 (upcoming year) | June 30, 2027 | Open now — most state deadlines already passed |
The federal deadline is the last possible date, but it is not the most important one. Most states and individual colleges set their own earlier deadlines for state grants and institutional aid. If you miss a state deadline, you lose eligibility for state grant money that does not roll over. The federal deadline is a floor — your actual deadline may have already passed depending on where you are applying.
Check your state’s deadline at studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/fafsa-deadlines.
What You Need to Complete the FAFSA
Gather these items before you start. Having everything ready reduces completion time to 30 minutes or less.
For the student:
- Social Security number
- FSA ID (username and password for studentaid.gov — create one at fsaid.ed.gov if you do not have one)
- Driver’s license number (if applicable)
- 2024 federal tax return (or IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import automatically)
- Records of untaxed income (child support received, veterans benefits, etc.)
- Current bank account balances
- Current investment account values (not including retirement accounts)
For parents (if the student is a dependent):
- Parent’s Social Security number
- Parent’s FSA ID — new for 2026-27: parents can now be invited by email address rather than needing to create their own FSA ID separately
- Parent’s 2024 federal tax return
- Parent’s current bank and investment account balances
- If parents are divorced: information from the parent the student lived with most in the past 12 months
The IRS Data Retrieval Tool: Use It
The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) imports your 2024 tax information directly into the FAFSA from IRS records. This is faster, more accurate, and reduces the chance of verification holds on your application. Use it unless you have amended your 2024 return or have other reasons the imported data would be incorrect.
If your 2024 taxes are not yet filed (the federal extension deadline is October 15, 2026), you can still complete the FAFSA by estimating your income figures and correcting them after filing. Do not delay filing the FAFSA just because your taxes are not done — submit with estimates and update later.
How OBBBA Changes Affect the 2026-27 FAFSA
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act included changes to student loan borrowing limits and Pell Grant eligibility that affect students applying for 2026-27 aid. Key points:
- Annual borrowing caps lowered: The OBBBA reduced how much students can borrow in federal loans annually. Graduate and professional students face significant reductions in Graduate PLUS loan limits. Undergraduates face smaller changes. Budget accordingly if you rely on maximum loan borrowing.
- Pell Grant reforms: The OBBBA made changes to Pell Grant eligibility tied to program outcomes. Some programs at schools with poor graduate earnings data may see reduced or eliminated Pell eligibility for new students.
- Parent PLUS changes: The OBBBA introduced a debt-to-income test for Parent PLUS loan approval that may restrict how much some families can borrow. Check current loan limits at studentaid.gov before planning your financial aid package.
Common FAFSA Mistakes to Avoid
Not listing all schools. You can add up to 20 schools to your FAFSA. Add every school you are considering — schools only see their own entry, not the full list. Adding a school does not obligate you to attend.
Leaving questions blank instead of entering zero. A blank field can flag your application for verification. Enter “0” for income or asset fields that do not apply to you.
Using the wrong parent’s information for divorced families. Use the parent who provided more financial support in the past 12 months, not necessarily the parent you live with or the one who claims you as a tax dependent.
Not reporting business ownership correctly. If a parent owns more than 50% of a business with more than 100 employees, it must be reported as an asset. Small businesses and family farms with fewer than 100 employees are generally excluded.
Missing the school’s priority deadline. Many schools have institutional aid deadlines in February or March. If you are filing now in June, you have likely already missed priority consideration at most four-year schools for 2026-27. Submit anyway — some aid may still be available, and you need to file for federal loans and work-study regardless.
After You Submit
After submitting, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) summarizing what you reported and your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) — now called the Student Aid Index (SAI) under the updated FAFSA methodology. Schools use the SAI to calculate your financial aid package.
If you are selected for verification, the school will request additional documents. Respond quickly — delayed verification responses can hold up aid disbursement.
If your financial situation changed significantly in 2026 compared to 2024 (job loss, medical expenses, divorce), contact the school’s financial aid office directly to request a professional judgment review. Schools have discretion to adjust aid packages based on current circumstances not reflected in the FAFSA.
Quick Checklist
- Create FSA IDs for student and parent at fsaid.ed.gov if not already done
- Gather Social Security numbers, 2024 tax returns, and bank/investment balances
- Go to studentaid.gov and start the FAFSA
- Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import tax data
- List all schools you are considering (up to 20)
- Submit before June 30 for the federal deadline (check your state deadline separately)
- Review your SAR for errors after submission
Sources: studentaid.gov FAFSA deadlines 2026; NerdWallet student loan OBBBA analysis; Charles Schwab personal finance calendar 2026. FAFSA rules and deadlines are subject to change. Verify current information at studentaid.gov before filing. This article is for informational purposes only.
