FAFSA Deadline by State for 2026-27: The Complete List

When you apply for FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, you are taking the first step toward federal student aid, state grants, scholarships, and work-study. Yet, the federal FAFSA due date is not the deadline that matters most. Every state sets its own FAFSA deadline, and many of these state deadlines fall months before the federal cutoff. Missing a FAFSA priority deadline can mean losing out on limited financial aid funds even if you are still eligible under federal rules.

If you have been searching for “when is the FAFSA deadline?” or “when is FAFSA due in my state?”, the short answer is: probably much earlier than you think. Below is the full FAFSA deadline for every state for the 2026-27 award year, straight from the U.S. Department of Education, along with the federal deadline for the FAFSA, and tips for making sure you file on time.

Federal FAFSA Deadline for 2026-27

If you are applying for federal financial aid, the FAFSA due date for 2026-27 is 11:59 p.m. Central Time (CT) on June 30, 2027. Corrections or updates must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on September 12, 2027.

That said, this federal deadline for the FAFSA is a last resort, not a target. Federal student aid, like Pell Grants, is entitlement-based. Most state and school student aid is first-come, first-served. The real deadline that affects how much financial aid you receive is almost always your FAFSA state deadline, not the federal one.

FAFSA Deadlines by State for 2026-27

Use this list to find your FAFSA state deadline for 2026-27. Many FAFSA financial aid programs award funds until they run out, so filing early matters just as much as filing correctly.

Alabama: Contact your financial aid office; no fixed state deadline.
Alaska: Alaska Education Grant, as soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025 (funds are limited). Alaska Performance Scholarship, priority deadline June 30, 2026.
Arizona: Arizona Promise Scholarship priority deadline, April 1, 2026.
Arkansas: Academic Challenge and Arkansas Future Grant (fall term), July 1, 2026. Arkansas Future Grant (spring term), Jan. 10, 2027.
California: Most state aid programs, March 2, 2026 (postmark date). Cal Grant GPA certification, March 2, 2026. Community college Cal Grant, Sept. 2, 2026.
Colorado: Contact your financial aid office; no fixed state deadline.
Connecticut: Priority deadline, Feb. 15, 2026.
Delaware: May 15, 2026.
District of Columbia: Priority deadline, June 25, 2026. DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DC OneApp), July 1, 2026.
Florida: May 15, 2026.
Georgia: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025.
Hawaii: Contact your financial aid office; no fixed state deadline.
Idaho: Opportunity Scholarship priority deadline, March 1, 2026.
Illinois: Monetary Award Program (MAP), as soon as possible after the filing period opens; funds run out.
Indiana: Frank O’Bannon Grant and 21st Century Scholarship, April 15, 2026. Adult Student Grant and Workforce Ready Grant, as soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025.
Iowa: July 1, 2026 (earlier priority deadlines may apply for specific programs).
Kansas: Priority deadline, April 1, 2026.
Kentucky: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025.
Louisiana: July 1, 2027 (recommended to file by Feb. 1, 2026).
Maine: May 1, 2026.
Maryland: Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Awards (EEA), March 1, 2026.
Massachusetts: Priority deadline, May 1, 2026.
Michigan: Michigan Competitive Scholarship and Michigan Tuition Grant priority deadline, July 1, 2026.
Minnesota: Minnesota State Grant, 30th day of the term. Minnesota North Star Promise priority deadline, June 1, 2026.
Mississippi: HELP Grant, April 30, 2026. MTAG and MESG Grants, Oct. 15, 2026.
Missouri: Priority deadline, Feb. 2, 2026 (accepted through April 1, 2026).
Montana: Priority deadline, as soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025.
Nebraska: Contact your financial aid office; no fixed state deadline.
Nevada: Silver State Opportunity Grant, as soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025. Nevada Promise Scholarship, April 1, 2026.
New Hampshire: Contact your financial aid office; no fixed state deadline.
New Jersey: Renewal Tuition Aid Grant recipients, April 15, 2026. Other applicants (fall/spring), Sept. 15, 2026. Spring term only, Feb. 15, 2027.
New Mexico: Contact your financial aid office; priority consideration varies by school.
New York: June 30, 2027.
North Carolina: UNC System institutions, June 1, 2026. Community colleges, Aug. 15, 2026. Private institutions, as soon as possible.
North Dakota: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025.
Ohio: Oct. 1, 2026.
Oklahoma: Contact your financial aid office; no fixed state deadline.
Oregon: Oregon Opportunity Grant, as soon as possible (funds are limited). OSAC Private Scholarships, March 1, 2026.
Pennsylvania: Most applicants, May 1, 2026. First-time applicants at community colleges, business/trade schools, or nursing schools, Aug. 1, 2026.
Rhode Island: Contact your financial aid office; no fixed state deadline.
South Carolina: SC Tuition Grants (independent institutions), Aug. 1, 2026. SC need-based grants, as soon as possible.
South Dakota: Contact your financial aid office; no fixed state deadline.
Tennessee: State Grant and Tennessee Promise, April 1, 2026. State Lottery (fall term), Sept. 1, 2026.
Texas: Priority deadline, Jan. 15, 2026.
Utah: Opportunity Scholarship deadlines vary; check opportunityscholarship.org.
Vermont: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025.
Virginia: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025 (deadlines vary by institution).
Washington: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2025.
West Virginia: PROMISE Scholarship, March 1, 2026. WV Higher Education Grant and WV Invests Grant, April 15, 2026.
Wisconsin: Contact your financial aid office; no fixed state deadline.
Wyoming: Contact your financial aid office; no fixed state deadline.

U.S. territories and Canadian provinces (American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and all Canadian provinces) have no fixed state deadline; check with your financial aid office.

Why Your State FAFSA Deadline Matters More Than the Federal One

Most state grant programs distribute aid on a first-come, first-served basis until funds run out. That means two students with identical financial need can get very different results depending on when they filed. Filing at the earliest point your state allows, generally as soon as the FAFSA opens on Oct. 1, gives you the best shot at state and school aid before it is gone. Missed your state deadline? File anyway! You might receive federal funding still.

Tips for Meeting Your FAFSA Deadline

Always confirm your specific deadline with your state’s higher education agency and your college’s financial aid office, since school-level deadlines can be earlier than state deadlines. Gather your tax information, Social Security number, and list of colleges before you start (you can now list up to 20 schools on the 2026-27 form). When you apply for FAFSA, set your target date, not June 2027, if your state uses first-come, first-served funding. Mark both the FAFSA priority deadline and the final deadline on your calendar, since missing the priority date does not always mean losing all student aid, but it usually means a smaller award.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the FAFSA deadline? The federal deadline for 2026-27 is June 30, 2027, but your FAFSA state deadline is likely months earlier. Check the list above for your state’s exact date.

When is FAFSA due if I want state aid? Most FAFSA priority deadline dates fall between January and July 2026, well ahead of the federal cutoff.

What is the FAFSA due date for federal aid? June 30, 2027, is the final FAFSA due date for federal financial aid, but this is not the same as the deadline for the FAFSA used for state grants and FAFSA financial aid programs, which are usually much earlier.

Should I still file if I missed my state deadline? File anyway! You might still receive federal funding.