Financial Aid

2021 – 2022 Financial Aid and FAFSA State Deadlines

Our expert financial aid advice? File the FAFSA before the state deadline listed.

Kathryn Knight Randolph

September 28, 2020

Did you know? Many states have their own FAFSA deadline. Find yours below.
<b>Looking for 2022 - 23 FAFSA State Deadlines? Find them here. Though it feels as if school just started, it’s already time to look forward to the next school year. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, otherwise known as the FAFSA, launches on October 1. This form is significant because it is the only way to qualify for federal aid as well as some state and institutional aid. The FAFSA application has a 20-month application cycle, meaning it will be valid as an application until June 30, 2022. However, most states distribute financial aid on a first-come, first-serve basis. So, if you hope to qualify for state aid to pay for college, your state deadline is the one you need to follow. For your reference, here are the 2021 – 2022 financial aid and FAFSA deadlines by each state:

State Deadlines: A - D

Alabama – Check with your financial aid administrator. Alaska -- Alaska Education Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Alaska Performance Scholarship: For priority consideration, submit your application by June 30, 2021. Awards are made until funds are depleted.
Arizona – Check with your financial aid administrator. Arkansas -- Academic Challenge: July 1, 2021, by midnight CT. ArFuture Grant (fall term): July 1, 2021, by midnight CT. ArFuture Grant (spring term): Jan. 10, 2022, by midnight CT. California -- For many state financial aid programs: March 2, 2021 (date postmarked). Cal Grant also requires submission of a school-certified GPA by March 2, 2021. For additional community college Cal Grants: Sept. 2, 2021 (date postmarked). If you’re a noncitizen without a Social Security card or had one issued through the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, you should fill out the California Dream Act Application found at dream.csac.ca.gov. Contact the California Student Aid Commission csac.ca.gov or your financial aid administrator for more information.
Colorado – Check with your financial aid administrator. Connecticut -- For priority consideration, submit your application by midnight CT, Feb. 15, 2021. Additional forms might be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. Delaware -- April 15, 2021, by midnight CT. District of Columbia -- For priority consideration, submit your FAFSA form by May 1, 2021. For the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG), complete the DC OneApp and submit supporting documents by May 31, 2021, for priority consideration.

State Deadlines: F – L

Florida -- May 15, 2021 (date processed). Georgia -- Check with your financial aid administrator. Hawaii -- Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. Idaho -- Opportunity Grant: For priority consideration, submit your application by midnight CT, March 1, 2021. Additional forms might be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. Illinois -- As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. Visit isac.org for Monetary Award Program renewal deadline information. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Indiana -- Adult Student Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. Awards are made until funds are depleted. New applicants must submit additional forms at ScholarTrack.IN.gov. Workforce Ready Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. Frank O'Bannon Grant: April 15, 2021, by midnight Central time (CT). 21st Century Scholarship: April 15, 2021, by midnight CT. Iowa -- July 1, 2021, by midnight CT. Earlier priority deadlines might exist for certain programs. Additional forms might be required. Kansas -- For priority consideration, submit your application by midnight CT, April 1, 2021. Additional forms might be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. Kentucky -- As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Louisiana -- July 1, 2022 (July 1, 2021 recommended).

State Deadlines: M – O

Maine – May 1, 2021, by midnight CT. Maryland – March 1, 2021, by midnight CT. Massachusetts – For priority consideration, submit your application by midnight CT, May 1, 2021. Michigan – March 1, 2021, by midnight CT. Minnesota – 30 days after term starts, by midnight CT. Mississippi – MTAG and MESG Grants: Sept. 15, 2021, by midnight CT. HELP Scholarship: April 30, 2021, by midnight CT. Missouri – For priority consideration, submit your application by Feb. 1, 2021. Applications are accepted through April 1, 2021, at midnight CT. Montana – For priority consideration, submit your application by Dec. 1, 2020. Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. Nebraska – Check with your financial aid administrator. Nevada – Silver State Opportunity Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Nevada Promise Scholarship: March 1, 2021. Additional forms might be required. Awards are made until funds are depleted. All other aid: Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. New Hampshire – Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. New Jersey – 2020 – 21 Tuition Aid Grant recipients: April 15, 2021, by midnight CT. All other applicants: Fall and spring terms: Sept. 15, 2021, by midnight CT. All other applicants: Spring term only: Feb. 15, 2022, by midnight CT. New Mexico – Check with your financial aid administrator. New York – June 30, 2022, by midnight CT. Additional forms might be required. North Carolina – As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. Awards are made until funds are depleted. North Dakota – As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Ohio – Oct. 1, 2021, by midnight CT. Oklahoma – As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Oregon -- Oregon Opportunity Grant: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. Awards are made until funds are depleted. OSAC Private Scholarships: March 1, 2021. Additional forms might be required. Oregon Promise Grant: Contact your state agency. Additional forms might be required.

State Deadline: P – T

Pennsylvania – All first-time applicants enrolled in a community college, business, trade, or technical school, hospital school of nursing, designated Pennsylvania Open-Admission institution, or nontransferable two-year program: Aug. 1, 2021, by midnight CT. All other applicants: May 1, 2021, by midnight CT. Additional forms might be required. Rhode Island – Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. South Carolina – SC Commission on Higher Education Need-based Grants: As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Tuition Grants: June 30, 2021, by midnight CT. South Dakota – Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. Tennessee – State Grant: Prior-year recipients receive award if eligible and apply by Feb. 1, 2021. All other awards made to neediest applicants. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Tennessee Promise: Feb. 1, 2021 (date received). State Lottery: Fall term: Sept. 1, 2021 (date received). State Lottery: Spring and summer terms: Feb. 1, 2022 (date received). Texas – For priority consideration, submit your application by Jan. 15, 2021. Additional forms might be required. Private and two-year institutions might have different deadlines. Check with your financial aid administrator.

State Deadlines: U – W

Utah – Regents’ Scholarship: Feb. 1, 2021. For priority, submit your application by Dec. 4, 2020. Other programs: Check with your financial aid administrator. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Additional forms might be required. Vermont – As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Additional forms might be required. Virginia – Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. Washington – As soon as possible after Oct. 1, 2020. Awards are made until funds are depleted. Students ineligible for federal aid but who meet state financial aid program and residency requirements should complete the Washington Application for State Financial Aid at readysetgrad.org/wasfa instead of the FAFSA form. Contact the Washington Student Achievement Council (readysetgrad.org/wasfa) or your financial aid administrator for more information. West Virginia – PROMISE Scholarship: March 1, 2021. New applicants must submit additional forms at cfwv.com. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. WV Higher Education Grant Program: April 15, 2021. WV Invests Grant: For priority consideration, submit your application by April 15, 2021. Wisconsin – Check with your financial aid administrator. Wyoming – Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms might be required. Are you ready to file the FAFSA? Get prepared with our FAFSA Checklist.

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Kathryn Knight Randolph

Associate Content Editor

Kathryn Knight Randolph is the Associate Content Editor at Fastweb. She has 17 years of higher education experience, working first as an Admissions Officer at DePauw University before joining Fastweb. In b...