Federal financial aid deadlines

Submit your FAFSA to the U.S. Department of Education as soon as possible after January 1 of the year in which you're trying to get federal financial aid. But, don't be too early! If you try to submit your FAFSA for the coming academic year earlier than January 1, it will not be processed.

On the other hand, you can submit a FAFSA from January 1 of the applicable academic year through the end of that academic year. That's 18 months in which to meet a deadline. It also gives you time to apply for spring and summer courses if you didn't apply for the fall academic period.

State financial aid deadlines

Most states have deadlines for submitting applications for state financial aid. These deadlines may coincide with the federal deadline or may be up to one year before it. The state deadlines are printed on the front of the FAFSA.

School financial aid deadlines

Most schools have deadlines that are even earlier than the corresponding state and federal deadlines. You can usually find these dates on the school's website or by contacting the financial aid office.