Completing the FAFSA isn’t a “one and done” deal for college students.
Although students may hear a lot about financial aid when they are just beginning to pursue college, it’s an important factor throughout their education beyond high school.
Because eligibility for federal financial aid (and other types of financial aid) is determined each year, it’s important for students to complete the FAFSA every year in which they plan to enroll in college and want to receive financial aid. The good news for most students is that completing the FAFSA has gotten easier in recent years with students just needing to review or update information.
All students, no matter what grade level in college, should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible when it becomes available for the next academic year – usually on October 1.
Students who haven’t yet completed the 2026-27 FAFSA (which became available last October) still have plenty of time to complete it. It’s important, however, that students check with the financial aid office about any deadlines. Many colleges have priority deadlines for their financial aid. Often those deadlines are in the spring, but some colleges do have deadlines as early as November or December.
For many students, financial aid is critical to help them pay for college, enabling them to successfully complete their education and the FAFSA is key to receiving that financial aid.
