The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2026-27 school year has officially opened. Students are encouraged to apply early to determine eligibility for various financial aid programs, including federal, state, and institutional assistance, even if they believe they might not qualify.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2026-27 school year is now open, with the Education Department continuing to process applications despite a U.S. government shutdown. Students planning to attend college next year are strongly advised to complete the application as soon as possible. The FAFSA is a free government application that assesses students' and their families' financial information to determine eligibility for federal financial aid, including work-study and loans, as well as state and school-specific aid. It can also be a requirement for some private, merit-based scholarships. While the federal deadline for the 2026-27 FAFSA is June 30, 2027, individual states have earlier deadlines for their financial aid programs (e.g., California: March 2, 2026; Kansas: April 15, 2026). This year's application launched on September 24, a week earlier than the anticipated October 1. To prepare, applicants should create a studentaid.gov account and gather necessary documents, including their Social Security number, driver's license number, alien registration number (if applicable), federal income tax returns (W-2s), bank statements, records of investments, and untaxed income. Both first-time and returning college students should apply, as many qualify for aid they may not expect. Dependent students will need to provide financial information from at least one parent, who must also create their own FSA IDs and can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to input tax information.
