Actualizado 16/08/2022 - 03:42 CDT
It is getting more and more expensive for Americans to go to college and that is why the Free Application for Federal Student Aid [FAFSA] is so important to so many students across the USA.
A lot of current high school students are going to struggle to pay for their college tuition without going into large amounts of student debt.
With tuition on the rise, most families rely on a combination of resources to make it work. Income and savings cover more than half of college costs, while free money from scholarships and grants account for roughly a quarter of the costs and student loans make up most of the rest, according to Sallie Mae's annual "How America Pays for College" report.
What is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid [FAFSA?
FAFSA is, therefore, an incredibly important resource for so many. For the 2023/24 school year, the FAFSA filing season opens this fall on Saturday, October 1, 2022, and the sooner students file the better.
According to Sallie Mae spokesman Rick Castellano, the earlier families fill out the FAFSA forms, the better their chances are to receive aid since some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, or from programs with limited funds.
"You want to get in line for free money and much of it is first come, first served," Castellano said.
"Otherwise, you'll be leaving free money on the table, and those dollars are what help make college affordable."
Only a little more than half of all families know that all students are eligible to submit a claim for FAFSA.
Last year, 70 percent of families completed the FAFSA, up slightly from 68 percent the year before, which was a record low, according to Sallie Mae.
"We would love to see that number be higher," Castellano said.
"Just about everybody who applies for the FAFSA is going to qualify for some form of aid."
Alabama AL Check with your financial aid administrator Check with your financial aid administrator Alaska1 AK AK Education Grant - As early as possible after Oct. 1, 2022
AK Performance Scholarship - June 30, 2023
AK Education Grant - As early as possible after Oct. 1, 2021AK Performance Scholarship - June 30, 2022
American Samoa2 AS Check with your financial aid administrator Check with your financial aid administrator; additional forms may be required Arizona AZ Check with your financial aid administrator Check with your financial aid administrator Arkansas AR Academic Challenge: July 1, 2023, by midnight CTArFuture Grant [fall term]: July 1, 2023, by midnight CT
ArFuture Grant [spring term]: Jan. 10, 2024, by midnight CT
Academic Challenge: July 1, 2022, by midnight CTArFuture Grant [fall term]: July 1, 2022, by midnight CT
ArFuture Grant [spring term]: Jan. 10, 2023, by midnight CT
California CAFor many state financial aid programs: March 2, 2023 [date postmarked]
Cal Grant also requires submission of a school-certified GPA by March 2, 2023
For additional community college Cal Grants - September 2, 2023 - [date postmarked]
[If you’re a noncitizen without a Social Security card or had one issued through the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, you should fill out the California Dream Act Application found at dream.csac.ca.gov.
Contact the California Student Aid Commission csac.ca.gov or your financial aid administrator for more information.]
For many state financial aid programs: March 2, 2022 [date postmarked]
Cal Grant also requires submission of a school-certified GPA by March 2, 2022
For additional community college Cal Grants - September 2, 2022 - [date postmarked]
[If you’re a noncitizen without a Social Security card or had one issued through the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, you should fill out the California Dream Act Application found at dream.csac.ca.gov.
Contact the California Student Aid Commission csac.ca.gov or your financial aid administrator for more information.]
Colorado CO Check with your financial aid administrator Check with your financial aid administrator Connecticut2 CT Feb. 15, 2023, by midnight CT for priority consideration; additional forms might be required Feb. 15, 2022, by midnight CT for priority consideration; additional forms might be required Delaware DE May 15, 2023, by midnight CT April 15, 2022, by midnight CT District of Columbia2 DCJuly 1, 2023 [date received], for priority consideration
Aug. 1, 2023 for DCTAG, complete the DC OneApp and submit additional supporting documents for priority consideration.
Aug. 19, 2022 [date received], for priority consideration
For DCTAG, complete the DC OneApp and submit additional supporting documents on or before Aug. 26, 2022, for priority consideration.
Federated States of Micronesia2 FM Check with your financial aid administrator Check with your financial aid administrator Florida FL May 15, 2023 [date processed] May 15, 2022 [date processed] Georgia2 GA As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2022. Additional forms may be required. ASAP after Oct. 1, 2021 Guam GU Check with your financial aid administrator Check with your financial aid administrator Hawaii HI Check with your financial aid administrator Check with your financial aid administrator Idaho2 ID Opportunity Grant - March 1, 2023, by midnight CT for priority consideration. Opportunity Grant - March 1, 2022, by midnight CT Illinois1 IL As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2022. Visit Illinois Student Assistance Commission for Monetary Award Program [MAP] deadline dates. As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2021 Indiana2 INAdult Student Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2022. New applicants must submit additional forms at ScholarTrack.IN.gov
Workforce Ready Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2022
Frank O'Bannon Grant: April 15, 2023
21st Century Scholarship: April 18, 2023
Adult Student Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2021. New applicants must submit additional forms at ScholarTrack.IN.gov
Workforce Ready Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2021
Frank O'Bannon Grant: April 18, 2022
21st Century Scholarship: April 18, 2022
Iowa IA July 1, 2023 by midnight CT; earlier priority deadlines may exist for certain programsJuly 1, 2022 by midnight CT; earlier priority deadlines may exist for certain programs Kansas2 KS April 1, 2023 by midnight CT; contact financial aid administrator or state agency, additional forms may be required April 1, 2022 [date received] Kentucky1 KY As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2022 As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 202 Louisiana LA July 1, 2024 [Feb. 1, 2023 recommended] July 1, 2023 [Feb. 1, 2022 recommended] Maine ME May 1, 2023, by midnight CT May 1, 2022, by midnight CT Marshall Islands2 MH Check with your financial aid administrator Check with your financial aid administrator Maryland MD March 1, 2023, by midnight CT March 1, 2022, by midnight CT Massachusetts MA For priority consideration, May 1, 2023, by midnight CT For priority consideration, May 1, 2022, by midnight CT Michigan MI May 1, 2023, by midnight CT May 1, 2022, by midnight CT Minnesota MN 30 days after term starts, by midnight CT 30 days after term starts, by midnight CT Mississippi MS
MTAG and MESG Grants: Oct. 15, 2023 by midnight CT
HELP Scholarship: April 30, 2023 by midnight CT
MTAG and MESG Grants: Oct. 15, 2022 by midnight CT
HELP Scholarship: April 30, 2022 by midnight CT
Missouri MO For priority: Feb. 1, 2023. Applications accepted through April 1, 2023, by midnight Central time. For priority: Feb. 1, 2022. Applications accepted through April 1, 2022 by midnight CT. Montana2 MT For priority consideration, Dec. 1, 2022 - check with financial aid officer For priority consideration, Dec. 1, 2021 - check with financial aid officer Nebraska NE Check with your financial aid administrator Check with your financial aid administrator Nevada1,2 NV Silver State Opportunity Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2022Nevada Promise Scholarship: March 1, 2023
All other aid: Check with your financial aid administrator
Silver State Opportunity Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2021Nevada Promise Scholarship: March 1, 2022
All other aid: Check with your financial aid administrator
New Hampshire NH Check with your financial aid administratorCheck with your financial aid administrator New Jersey NJ
Renewal applicants[2022-2023 Tuition Aid Grant recipients]: April 15, 2023 by midnight CT
All other applications:
Fall & Spring terms: Sept. 15, 2023, by midnight CT
Spring term only - February 15, 2024, by midnight CT
Renewal applicants [2021-22 Tuition Aid Grant recipients]: April 15, 2022 by midnight CT
All other applications:
Fall & Spring terms: Sept. 15, 2022, by midnight CT
Spring term only - Feb. 15, 2023, by midnight CT
As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2021 Northern Mariana Islands1 MP For priority consideration, April 30, 2023, by midnight CT April 30, 2022, by midnight CT Ohio OH Oct. 1, 2023, by midnight CT Oct. 1, 2022, by midnight CT Oklahoma1 OK As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2022
As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2021 Oregon1,2 OR Oregon Opportunity Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2022
OSAC Private Scholarships: March 1, 2023
Oregon Promise: Contact your state agency Oregon Opportunity Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2021
OSAC Private Scholarships: March 1, 2022
Oregon Promise: Contact your state agency Palau2 PW Check with your financial aid administrator Check with your financial aid administrator Pennsylvania2 PA
All first-time applicants at a community college; a business/trade/technical school; designated Pennsylvania Open-Admission institution; hospital school of nursing; or enrolled in a non-transferable two-year program: Aug. 1, 2023, by midnight CT
All other applicants: May 1, 2023, by midnight CT
All first-time applicants at a community college; a business/trade/technical school; designated Pennsylvania Open-Admission institution, or a hospital school of nursing; or enrolled in a non-transferable two-year program: Aug. 1, 2022, by midnight CT
All other applicants - May 1, 2022, by midnight CT
Puerto Rico PR Check with your financial aid administrator Check with your financial aid administrator Rhode Island2 RI Check with your financial aid administratorCheck with your financial aid administrator South Carolina1 SC Tuition Grants: June 30, 2023, by midnight CT
SC Commission on Higher Education Need-based grants: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2022 Tuition Grants: June 30, 2022, by midnight CT
SC Commission on Higher Education Need-based grants: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2021 South Dakota2 SD Check with your financial aid administrator Check with your financial aid administrator Tennessee1 TN
State Grant: March 1, 2023, prior-year recipients receive award if eligible and apply by deadline. All other awards made to neediest applicants until funds are depleted.
TN Promise: March 1, 2023, by midnight CT
State Lottery - Fall term: Sept. 1, 2023, by midnight CT
State Lottery - Spring & summer terms: Feb. 1, 2024, by midnight CT
State Grant: Feb. 1, 2022: Eligible prior-year recipients receive priority, and all other awards made to neediest applicants until funds are depleted.
For State Lottery - Fall term: Sept. 1, 2022, by midnight CT
Spring & summer terms: Feb. 1, 2023, by midnight CT
For TN Promise: Feb. 1, 2022, by midnight CT
Texas2 TX For priority consideration: Jan. 15, 2023Private and two-year institutions may have different deadlines For priority consideration: Jan. 15, 2022
Private and two-year institutions may have different deadlines U.S. Virgin Islands2 VI Check with your financial aid administrator Check with your financial aid administrator Utah1
UT Check with your financial aid administrator
Regents’ Scholarship: Feb. 1, 2022. For priority, submit your application by Dec. 4, 2021.
Other programs: Check with your financial aid administrator. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Additional forms might be required.
Vermont1,2 VT As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2022 As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2021 Virginia2 VA As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2022. Deadlines will vary by institution. Contact your financial aid office for more information. Check with your financial aid administrator Washington1 WAAs soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2022.
Students ineligible for federal aid but who meet state financial aid program and residency requirements should complete the Washington Application for State Financial Aid at //wsac.wa.gov/wasfa instead of the FAFSA form. Contact the Washington Student Achievement Council [//wsac.wa.gov/wasfa] or your financial aid administrator for more information.
As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2021.
Students ineligible for federal aid but who meet state financial aid program and residency requirements should complete the Washington Application for State Financial Aid at readysetgrad.org/wasfa instead of the FAFSA form. Contact the Washington Student Achievement Council [readysetgrad.org/wasfa] or your financial aid administrator for more information.
West Virginia2 WVFor PROMISE Scholarship: March 1, 2023
New applicants must also submit additional application at www.cfwv.com. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency.
For WV Higher Education Grant Program: April 15, 2023
For WV Invest Grant: For priority consideration by April 15, 2023
For PROMISE Scholarship - March 1, 2022
New applicants must also submit additional application at www.cfwv.com. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency.
For WV Higher Education Grant Program - April 15, 2022
For WV Invests Grant: April 15, 2022 for priority consideration
Wisconsin WI Check with your financial aid administrator Check with your financial aid administrator Wyoming WY Check with your financial aid administrator Check with your financial aid administrator