What is the deadline for FAFSA 2021?
Matthew Barrera
Updated on March 31, 2026
June 30, 2021
FAFSA open date and deadline
| Academic year | FAFSA open date | Federal FAFSA deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | Oct. 1, 2019 | June 30, 2021 |
| 2021-22 | Oct. 1, 2020 | June 30, 2022 |
What is the earliest date a student can file their FAFSA?
To be considered for federal student aid for the 2021–22 award year, you can complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form between Oct. 1, 2020, and 11:59 p.m. Central time (CT) on June 30, 2022.
When should I fill out FAFSA for spring 2021?
For priority consideration, submit your application by Feb. 1, 2021. Applications are accepted through April 1, 2021, by midnight CT. For priority consideration, submit your application by Dec. 1, 2020. Check with your financial aid administrator.
Does filing independent affect financial aid?
As a college-bound high school graduate or the parent of a student applying to colleges, you may wonder if independent students get more financial aid than dependent students. Overall, the answer is no, although some Department of Education (DOE) programs provide more money to independent students than dependent ones.
What year taxes do I need for FAFSA 2020-2021?
You cannot update your 2020-21 FAFSA form with your 2019 tax information after you file your 2019 tax return. The 2020-21 FAFSA form requires only 2018 tax information.
Can I claim myself as independent on fafsa?
A student can’t simply choose to file as an independent on the FAFSA, the application that most schools use to determine financial aid awards. For the most part, the FAFSA relies on parental information unless the student is applying for graduate school.
What tax year does FAFSA use for 2020 21?
2018
The 2020-21 FAFSA form requires only 2018 tax information.
Can you file independent on taxes and dependent on fafsa?
A student may be considered independent for tax purposes, but not for financial aid. A dependent student must provide information about their own finances and for their parents’, such as bank account balances, the value of any investment accounts and taxable income (such as wages and interest income).
