FAFSA Deadline

Hi CC,

I am not applying for financial aid from any of my colleges; I simply would qualify for nothing or next to nothing. However, I am looking at the deadline to submit the FAFSA, and under “Financial Aid” sections of the colleges I’m looking at, the deadline has passed (Feb 1). However, it is my understanding that filing the FAFSA by that deadline is specifically JUST if I am seeking aid from the school. My counselor is pushing me to send the FAFSA but I am unsure when the deadline is if I’m not applying for aid from the school itself. For example, UPenn states

" If you intended to apply for only federal and/or state financial assistance, you need only submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the appropriate federal and/or state deadlines. The FAFSA is used to determine your eligibility for federal and state student financial aid programs."

This is cookie cutter clear, but I’m not sure if this applies everywhere. I would appreciate any help. Thanks.

If you aren’t applying for need based aid…you don’t need to file a FAFSA. If you are…you gotta do it.

The date posted by the school is the school’s priority deadline, and they will consider all the applications received by that date for the school’s aid and any aid the school controls, like SEOG or work study funds. You can submit the FAFSA any time before the year ends (June 2017) and still receive the federal loans and any Pell grant you are entitled to.

If the school thinks you are applying for aid (you checked a box on the application) let them know you aren’t filing so they go ahead and complete your application. Not a big deal, but just let them know.

I think it is a good idea to file the FAFSA even if you don’t think you’ll get anything. My daughter got an alum grant and they would not have considered her if she didn’t have the FAFSA on file. Her EFC was higher than tuition, but she still got this grant.

I think you need to file a FAFSA before YOUR academic year ends for the Direct Loan. So if your school ends in May…June would be too late.

@kelsmom could you clarify?