Financial Aid Deadlines 2026-27 and 2027-28 by State
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Get your exact SAI before your state's date
Enter numbers from a tax return and see the Student Aid Index the 2026-27 formula produces, with no account.
Get your SAIMissed your state deadline? Federal aid is still open
Pell and federal loans follow the federal deadline, not your state's. See your 2026-27 estimate in about two minutes.
Start the aid checkThe next financial aid deadlines are for the 2027-28 FAFSA, which opened September 23, 2026. Texas asks for it by January 15, 2027, California by March 2, 2027, and several states start paying first-come right now.
If your classes start before July 2027, you file the 2026-27 form instead. Its federal deadline is June 30, 2027, and most of its state deadlines have already passed. Pell Grants and federal loans do not depend on those state dates.
Every date below comes from StudentAid.gov’s state list, checked September 29, 2026, and from the state agencies named. Source · StudentAid.gov: FAFSA deadlines
Where does your income land on the Pell lines?
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State deadlines decide state grants, not June 30
The federal deadline only protects federal aid. StudentAid.gov puts it plainly: missing a state deadline does not affect your federal aid, so file even if your state’s date has passed.
State money is different. Illinois shows what first-come means. For 2026-27, ISAC stopped announcing Monetary Award Program grants for FAFSAs received after April 23, 2026. Later filers who qualified went on a waiting list and get no MAP money unless more funding appears. Source · ISAC: MAP suspension
MAP pays up to $8,400 a year. For 2027-28, ISAC and StudentAid.gov both say to file as soon as possible after October 1, 2026.
The next 2027-28 dates, in order
These are the dates for students starting in fall 2027. Where a state lists more than one program, the program is named.
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States that say file as soon as possible
Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, Vermont, North Dakota, the Alaska Education Grant, Nevada’s Silver State Opportunity Grant and South Carolina need-based grants pay until funds run out. Georgia, Montana, Virginia and Washington also ask for the FAFSA as soon as possible.
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Tennessee Promise application, class of 2027
A separate application in the state student portal. The FAFSA for Tennessee Promise is due April 1, 2027.
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Texas priority date
For the TEXAS Grant, which pays up to $5,399 a semester at a Texas public university, and other state aid. Private and two-year schools may set other dates.
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Missouri priority; Louisiana recommended date
Missouri accepts applications through April 1, 2027. Louisiana’s final date is June 30, 2028.
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Connecticut priority date
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Idaho, Maryland, West Virginia PROMISE
Also Arkansas Governor’s Scholars (Distinguished). Maryland counts the date your FAFSA is received.
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California state aid and Cal Grant
FAFSA or California Dream Act Application plus a school-certified GPA. Cal Grant B pays up to $17,236 a year for 2026-27. Community college students get a second date, Sept 2, 2027.
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Arizona Promise, Kansas, Nevada Promise, Tennessee
Tennessee: State Grant renewals and Tennessee Promise. Missouri’s final date.
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Indiana, West Virginia grants, New Jersey renewals
Indiana covers the Frank O’Bannon Grant, 21st Century Scholarship, Adult Student Grant and Workforce Ready Grant.
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Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maine
Pennsylvania’s May 1 applies to most students; first-time students at community colleges, trade schools and similar programs have until Aug 1, 2027.
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Florida and Delaware
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Iowa, Michigan, Arkansas Academic Challenge
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Federal deadline for the 2027-28 FAFSA
Corrections run to Sept 12, 2028.
Every state’s 2027-28 FAFSA date
“School-set” means the state publishes no statewide date; your college’s financial aid office sets it. States marked first-come award until funds run out, so earlier is better even without a date.
| State | 2027-28 date | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | School-set | Ask your aid office |
| Alaska | ASAP; June 30, 2027 | Education Grant first-come; Performance Scholarship priority |
| Arizona | Apr 1, 2027 | Arizona Promise priority |
| Arkansas | Mar 1 / July 1, 2027 | Governor's Scholars Distinguished / Academic Challenge, Future Grant (fall) |
| California | Mar 2, 2027 | Most state aid; Cal Grant GPA. Sept 2, 2027 for community college |
| Colorado | School-set | Ask your aid office |
| Connecticut | Feb 15, 2027 | Priority consideration |
| Delaware | May 15, 2027 | State aid |
| District of Columbia | June 25, 2027 | Priority; DC TAG needs the DC OneApp by July 1, 2027 |
| Florida | May 15, 2027 | Date processed |
| Georgia | ASAP after Oct 1, 2026 | Check GAfutures for program forms |
| Hawaii | School-set | Ask your aid office |
| Idaho | Mar 1, 2027 | Opportunity Scholarship |
| Illinois | ASAP after Oct 1, 2026 | MAP, first-come until funds run out |
| Indiana | Apr 15, 2027 | Frank O'Bannon, 21st Century, Adult Student, Workforce Ready |
| Iowa | July 1, 2027 | Some programs set earlier dates |
| Kansas | Apr 1, 2027 | Priority consideration |
| Kentucky | ASAP after Oct 1, 2026 | First-come until funds run out |
| Louisiana | Feb 1, 2027 recommended | Final date June 30, 2028 |
| Maine | May 1, 2027 | Date received |
| Maryland | Mar 1, 2027 | Educational Excellence Awards; date received |
| Massachusetts | May 1, 2027 | Priority consideration |
| Michigan | July 1, 2027 | Competitive Scholarship, Tuition Grant priority |
| Minnesota | 30th day of term | State Grant; North Star Promise priority June 1, 2027 |
| Mississippi | Apr 30 / Oct 15, 2027 | HELP Grant / MTAG and MESG |
| Missouri | Feb 1, 2027 | Priority; accepted through Apr 1, 2027 |
| Montana | ASAP after Oct 1, 2026 | Priority consideration |
| Nebraska | School-set | Ask your aid office |
| Nevada | ASAP; Apr 1, 2027 | Silver State Opportunity Grant first-come; Nevada Promise |
| New Hampshire | School-set | Ask your aid office |
| New Jersey | Apr 15 / Sept 15, 2027 | TAG renewals / new fall-and-spring applicants |
| New Mexico | School-set | Priority varies by school |
| New York | June 30, 2028 | FAFSA; TAP also needs its own application |
| North Carolina | ASAP; June 1, 2027 | Private colleges / UNC System and community colleges; first-come |
| North Dakota | ASAP after Oct 1, 2026 | First-come until funds run out |
| Ohio | Oct 1, 2027 | State aid |
| Oklahoma | School-set | Ask your aid office |
| Oregon | ASAP after Oct 1, 2026 | Opportunity Grant, first-come until funds run out |
| Pennsylvania | May 1 / Aug 1, 2027 | Most students / first-time at community colleges and trade schools |
| Rhode Island | School-set | Ask your aid office |
| South Carolina | ASAP; Aug 1, 2027 | Need-based grants first-come / SC Tuition Grants |
| South Dakota | School-set | Ask your aid office |
| Tennessee | Apr 1, 2027 | State Grant renewals, Tennessee Promise; other grants first-come |
| Texas | Jan 15, 2027 | Priority; private and two-year schools may differ |
| Utah | School-set | Opportunity Scholarship lists its own date |
| Vermont | ASAP after Oct 1, 2026 | First-come until funds run out |
| Virginia | ASAP after Oct 1, 2026 | Dates vary by school |
| Washington | ASAP after Oct 1, 2026 | WASFA for students who cannot file the FAFSA |
| West Virginia | Mar 1 / Apr 15, 2027 | PROMISE / Higher Education Grant and WV Invests |
| Wisconsin | School-set | Ask your aid office |
| Wyoming | School-set | Ask your aid office |
States revise these lists. Before you rely on a date, confirm it on your state higher education agency’s site. Our state aid directory lists each state’s main grant and what it pays.
Still enrolling for 2026-27? These dates are left
Students starting this fall, this winter or next spring file the 2026-27 FAFSA. Most of its state dates passed in spring 2026, but a few are still ahead.
| Date | What closes |
|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Ohio state aid, 2026-27 |
| Oct 15, 2026 | Mississippi MTAG and MESG, 2026-27 |
| Jan 10, 2027 | Arkansas Future Grant, spring term |
| Feb 15, 2027 | New Jersey TAG, spring-only applicants |
| Mar 1, 2027 | Tennessee lottery programs, spring term |
| June 30, 2027 | Federal deadline; also New York and Louisiana |
| Sept 12, 2027 | Last day for 2026-27 corrections |
Your school needs a processed FAFSA while you are still enrolled, and some schools set their own cutoff. StudentAid.gov suggests asking what your school means by “deadline”: the date your form is processed or the date the school receives it.
Your deadline depends on when you start class
Match your start date to a form, then to the earliest date that applies to you.
| If you start | File | Your working deadline |
|---|---|---|
| This fall through spring 2027 | 2026-27 FAFSA, now | Your school’s cutoff; federal June 30, 2027 |
| Summer 2027 | Ask your school which form | Depends on the form it assigns |
| Fall 2027 | 2027-28 FAFSA, now | Your state’s date above, or now if it pays first-come |
| Not sure yet | 2027-28 FAFSA, now | Filing commits you to nothing |
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I miss my state’s deadline?
You still get any Pell Grant and federal loans you qualify for. You may lose that year’s state grant, and in first-come states you may be waitlisted. File anyway: some states pay late filers if money remains.
Does filing early raise my Pell Grant?
No. Pell follows the formula for your SAI and enrollment. Early filing matters for state grants, first-come programs and campus aid.
Which tax year do I use?
The 2026-27 FAFSA asks for 2024 tax information. The 2027-28 FAFSA asks for 2025 tax information. Most filers import it straight from the IRS.
Your next step
File the form that matches your start date, then see what it could pay before the next date on your list. The aid check shows your 2026-27 Pell range, state grant, campus aid and loan limits in about two minutes, before any email.
Know your aid stack before the next deadline
About two minutes. Pell, state grant, campus aid and loan limits for 2026-27 stacked, shown before any email.
Start the aid checkWant your Pell lines by email? Go to the quick check
Sources
Every figure in this guide comes from one of these pages. How we check sources
- Federal Student Aid: FAFSA deadlines (2027-28 and 2026-27 state lists)
- Federal Student Aid: FAFSA application page
- U.S. Department of Education: 2027-28 FAFSA launch press release (Sept 23, 2026)
- Federal Student Aid: Filling out the FAFSA form
- Illinois Student Assistance Commission: Monetary Award Program (suspension dates)
- California Student Aid Commission: Cal Grant
- College for TN: Tennessee Promise
- Oregon Student Aid: Oregon Opportunity Grant
- FSA Partner Connect: 2026-27 Pell Grant maximum and minimum award amounts (GEN-26-01)
Related Resources
FAFSA Guide 2026-27 and 2027-28: Which Form to File
Two FAFSA forms are open. File 2026-27 for classes through June 2027 (2024 taxes) or 2027-28 for fall 2027 on (2025 taxes). Steps, documents, deadlines.
State Financial Aid Programs 2026-27: Grants by State
Cal Grant pays up to $17,236 and Maryland's Guaranteed Access Grant up to $18,000 for 2026-27. Each state's main grant, next deadline and forms.
How Much Financial Aid Will I Get in 2026-27?
Undergraduates averaged $16,810 in aid in 2024-25, $12,080 of it grants. For 2026-27, Pell pays up to $7,395. How each part of your aid is set.
Grants for College in 2026-27: Pell, FSEOG, TEACH and State
Pell pays up to $7,395 for 2026-27, FSEOG up to $4,000 and state grants like Cal Grant up to $17,236. How each grant works and the one form that applies.