Know Your Deadlines

Deadlines can vary by school, state, or program of study. Know your individual deadlines.
State and school-based student aid deadlines tend to be earlier than federal.
The deadline for the Pennsylvania State Grant Program is May 1 for degree students.
Submit your FAFSA as soon as you can after January 1.
Use estimates on your FAFSA if you cannot complete your taxes before your earliest financial aid deadline. You may later need to supply actual tax returns to verify accuracy of estimates.

Your FAFSA deadline will usually be your school’s financial aid deadline.

Your FAFSA deadline is specific to your situation. Be sure you know your earliest deadline that requires the FAFSA to be complete.
Deadlines for aid from your state, your school, and private sources tend to be earlier than for federal aid.
Deadlines can differ for first-time and renewal students and can depend on program type.

FAFSA Deadlines

What	Who	Deadline
School-based Student Aid	All undergraduate and graduate students.	Varies by school Carefully read any school information you receive and check your schools' financial aid websites.
Pennsylvania State Grant Attending school outside of PA? View other states' grant deadlines.	First-time undergraduate students in college, university, or college-transferable programs. All undergraduate renewal students.	May 1
	First-time students in business, trade, technical, and nursing school, or two-year terminal (non-transferable) program at a community, junior, or four-year college.	August 1
Federal Student Aid	All undergraduate and graduate students.	After January 1 Of the calendar year in which you plan to attend school and need aid. If you will begin school in September 2008, then apply as soon after January 1, 2008 as possible.

Deadlines for aid from your school can be as soon as January or February. Be sure to review any school information you receive and check your school's financial aid website.
You DO NOT need to complete your taxes to submit the FAFSA. Just use estimated income and tax data and make any changes after you (or your parents) file your tax return. You may later be asked to supply actual tax returns to verify accuracy of estimates.
You must submit a FAFSA for each school year that you would like to receive aid.
Only submit one FAFSA per year.
Besides the FAFSA, you should track school, scholarship, and other application deadlines. View Step 2: Identify Your Specific Deadlines.
You can track what you need to do to pay for school with collegeCalendar. Get deadlines, events, and more sent right to your inbox. View calendar now.