FAFSA Guide: 2027-2028 Application, Deadlines and Scholarships

FAFSA at a glance

Completing the FAFSA is an important step in paying for college, but scholarships can help cover costs that financial aid leaves behind. Unlike loans, scholarships do not need to be repaid. Explore scholarships for high school seniors and apply alongside your FAFSA to give yourself more options for making college affordable.

What is the FAFSA, and why should I complete it?

FAFSA is the federal application used to determine eligibility for federal student aid. Colleges also use FAFSA information to prepare aid offers, and some state and institutional programs require it. Additionally, some non-institutional scholarships, which you will find when conducting a scholarship search will require you to complete and submit a FAFSA form. Completing the FAFSA does not mean you will have to apply for student loans but it will help you to qualify for federal student loans should you need to borrow money for college. Subsidized federal loans offer terms that are preferable to private loans. Even if you expect little need-based aid, filing may provide you with options that you would otherwise not be aware of.

Think of FAFSA and scholarships as complementary, not competing, steps. FAFSA can open the door to federal and school-based aid. Scholarship applications can uncover additional awards based on achievement, interests, background, community service, career plans, financial need and other criteria.

How does FAFSA affect your scholarship opportunities?

FAFSA can help colleges and some scholarship providers assess financial need, but it is not a scholarship search application. Some need-based scholarships and institutional awards ask for FAFSA information. Other scholarships recognize academic achievement, service, leadership, creative work, intended major, location or other qualifications and may not require FAFSA at all. Complete the free federal application and search independently for scholarships. You can pursue both sources of funding without committing to student loans.

Scholarships for high school seniors: start here

The Scholarships.com directory helps students explore awards by school year and other criteria. The examples below are starting points, not a list of guaranteed or currently open awards. Before applying, confirm each scholarship’s current deadline, grade-level eligibility and requirements with the provider. Better yet, conduct a free college scholarship search and if you qualify for them, you will see them among your scholarship matches.

Which FAFSA should I file?

• 2027-2028 FAFSA: generally for enrollment between July 1, 2027 and June 30, 2028; uses 2025 tax information.
• 2026-2027 FAFSA: generally for enrollment between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027; uses 2024 tax information.
• Summer enrollment can involve different school policies. Ask your college which FAFSA year applies. Submit a new FAFSA for each year you want aid.

Who should complete the FAFSA? Is there an income limit?

Students who may need federal, state or institutional financial aid should consider filing. There is no income ceiling for submitting the FAFSA. Eligibility for particular programs depends on factors such as financial need, citizenship or eligible noncitizen status, enrollment, academic progress and other program rules. Students with higher family incomes may still qualify for certain aid. Do not assume you are ineligible without checking.

Students without eligibility for federal aid may have other state, institutional or private scholarship options. Ask your counselor or financial aid office which applications apply to your circumstances.

What do I need before starting?

• Your own StudentAid.gov account; required parents, spouses or other contributors generally need separate accounts.
• Contributor contact details to send invitations.
• Information about your colleges, family circumstances and financial situation.
• Financial records when requested, such as bank balances, certain investments or untaxed income.
• Consent and approval for the transfer of federal tax information where required.

Many applicants can have federal tax information transferred through the IRS process, but they should review every question carefully. Never send sensitive documents to an unofficial FAFSA website.

Who counts as a FAFSA contributor?

A contributor is someone required to provide information on the FAFSA, such as a parent or spouse. Being a contributor does not make a parent responsible for a student loan. The applicable parent for a dependent student is not necessarily the parent the student lives with. For divorced or separated parents living apart, FAFSA rules generally focus on which parent provided more financial support during the relevant period, with further rules for ties. Contributors without Social Security numbers may be able to create accounts and participate. Use the official FAFSA parent guidance when uncertain.

How to complete the FAFSA: step by step

1. Go to the official FAFSA website and select the correct award year.
2. Create or sign in to your StudentAid.gov account. Ask each required contributor to do the same.
3. Complete the student questions and answer dependency-status questions accurately.
4. Invite contributors and have each complete their required section.
5. Review and provide required consent and approval for tax-information transfer.
6. List colleges you are considering, even if you have not received an admission decision.
7. Review, sign and submit once all required sections are complete.
8. Check your StudentAid.gov dashboard and email for processing updates, missing information or corrections.

When is the FAFSA deadline for 2027-2028?

The federal deadline for the 2027-2028 FAFSA is June 30, 2028. That is not the deadline most students should plan around. State grant programs and colleges often require earlier submission, sometimes with limited funding. Confirm your state deadline and each college’s priority date, and file as early as practical.

Official deadline information: https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/fafsa-deadlines

Scholarship deadlines are separate from FAFSA deadlines. Set up a second calendar for scholarship applications so you do not miss awards while working on federal aid.

What happens after I submit?

• Review your FAFSA Submission Summary for errors and next steps.
• Understand your Student Aid Index (SAI): it is an eligibility calculation, not a bill or the amount your family must pay.
• Respond promptly if a college requests verification or additional documents.
• Compare aid offers by distinguishing grants and scholarships from loans and work-study.
• If income or circumstances changed since the tax year used on the FAFSA, contact the school about a possible professional-judgment review.
• Correct mistakes through your StudentAid.gov account or with guidance from your financial aid office.

FAFSA, grants, scholarships and student loans: what is the difference?

Grants and scholarships do not need to be repaid when their conditions are met. Work-study provides the opportunity to earn money through eligible employment. Loans are borrowed funds that generally must be repaid with interest. Review award terms carefully, including renewal requirements and any effect an outside scholarship may have on a college aid package.

If you want to limit borrowing, prioritize searching for and applying for scholarships, then compare the full cost of attendance and any remaining gap before deciding whether to borrow. Federal loans and private loans have different terms and protections.

How to reduce what you need to borrow

• Check each college’s priority financial aid deadline and separate scholarship application process. Make sure that any outside scholarships you win will reduce the amount of loans you need, not the amount of grants or scholarships the college is offering.
• Search for scholarships matched to your grade, interests, location and intended field. 
• Apply to as many suitable awards as possible rather than relying on a single large scholarship and apply for smaller, less competitive opportunities as well as the bigger ones.
• Track essay, recommendation and transcript requirements as well as deadlines and keep a running spreadsheet to stay organized.
• Compare total college costs and aid offers, then review borrowing only for any remaining gap that may still exist. Only borrow what you absolutely have to.

Frequently asked FAFSA questions

Should I file if my parents earn a lot?

Yes, you should still complete the FAFSA. There is no income cutoff for submitting FAFSA, and some aid programs or colleges may still use the information.

Does FAFSA cost anything?

No. The federal application is free at StudentAid.gov. 

Do I have to accept student loans?

No. Completing the FAFSA does not obligate you to borrow money for college. However, it will potentially make you eligible for subsidized federal student loans if you do decide to borrow. 

Can I apply before a college accepts me?

Yes. Include schools you are considering and follow their instructions for financial aid applications. Applying for the FAFSA early gives you the best chance to receive financial aid that may be limited. 

Do I have to file FAFSA every year?

Yes. You must submit a new FAFSA for each academic year you want to receive federal student aid, including grants, work-study, and federal student loans. Colleges and states may also require an updated FAFSA for their financial aid programs.

Do scholarships require FAFSA?

Some scholarships require a completed FAFSA, especially those based on financial need. Colleges and scholarship providers may use FAFSA information to determine whether you meet their eligibility requirements.

Can a parent without a Social Security number participate?

Yes. A parent without a Social Security number (SSN) can create a StudentAid.gov account and complete their required section of the FAFSA as a contributor. When creating the account, they should select the option indicating that they do not have an SSN and follow the identity verification instructions.

What if my family’s finances changed?

The FAFSA uses tax information from an earlier year, so it may not reflect your family’s current financial situation. If your family has experienced a job loss, reduced income, a divorce, or significant medical expenses, contact your college’s financial aid office and ask about a special circumstances review.

What if contacting a parent is unsafe or impossible?

If you cannot contact your parents or contacting them would put you at risk, whether because of abuse, abandonment, or estrangement or any other reason, you may qualify for an unusual circumstances review. Indicate this when asked on the FAFSA. You can submit the form without parent information and receive provisional independent student status.

Where can I get FAFSA help?

Use the official FAFSA help resources, your high school counselor or your college’s financial aid office.

Resources for counselors and financial aid offices

Counselors can direct students to StudentAid.gov for the application and federal instructions, then use Scholarships.com to help students continue searching for scholarship opportunities. These are two distinct and complementary steps. Counselors can also share the senior scholarship directory and encourage students to keep applying after filing FAFSA.

Ready for the next step?

Complete your FAFSA free at StudentAid.gov. Then explore Scholarships.com to find scholarship opportunities that may reduce the amount you need to borrow.

Start your free scholarship search today!