If you or your child are planning to attend college or trade school, it’s almost always a good idea to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
FAFSA forms are how you apply for federal loans and grants that can help pay for school. Even if you don’t think you qualify for federal aid, many colleges, universities, and trade schools will still ask you to submit a FAFSA before giving you a student loan or other financial aid.
Learn about the FAFSA process and deadlines below!
FAFSA Deadlines
If you are in school right now, the federal deadline to complete your FAFSA for student aid for the current year is soon: June 30, 2025!
If you are planning to attend college in fall of 2025, the FAFSA form for the next school year is available now. This form, the “2025–26 FAFSA form,” is for student aid awards that go out between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026. The federal deadline for this form is not until next year – but every school and state has its own deadlines.
Go to the government’s Student Aid website to look up FAFSA deadlines for your state!
Student Aid Basics
Federal student aid can come in the form of loans, grants, and work-study jobs. The program is run by the U.S. Department of Education.
Watch this video below for an introduction to the student aid process:
Read more about the different types of student aid on the government’s website.
Get an Estimate of Your Student Aid
If you want help understanding what your options are for paying for school, you can use the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid Estimator to get an early estimate of the aid you and your family could qualify for. It takes five to ten minutes to complete.
Start Your Application
Once you’re ready, you can start filling out your FAFSA online by creating an account at the Department of Education’s Student Aid website.
You’ll need information about the finances of both the student who is attending college and his or her parents or guardians. Here are the documents that you should plan to have ready when you fill out your FAFSA:
- Social Security Numbers for you and your parents.
- Tax returns
- Records of child support received
- Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts
- Net worth of investments, businesses, and farms
Get Help
The student aid process can be confusing. But you don’t have to navigate it alone.
The Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) is available to answer questions for students and parents about the FAFSA form, navigating the student aid website, and more. Click below to find out how to contact them.
The Fight Ahead
Unfortunately, the Department of Education and all of its student aid programs could face changes or even total shutdown for next year given the current debate in Washington. Working America will be joining our allies in advocating for a fair economy and a government that gives working families what they deserve. Our strength comes from you – our members. Only by acting together can we fight back against the greedy corporations and their friends.
We’re asking all Working Americans to pledge to stay informed about what policies our leaders are advancing that support a fair economy and protecting consumers. Sign up here if you pledge to be part of that mission and if you want Working America updates and opportunities about a fair economy.
We know that these are uncertain times, and many of us are concerned about the future. Go to workingamerica.org/gethelp for more guides and tips on navigating the economy and preparing for the unknown.
Information on this page is taken from www.studentaid.gov and was current as of March 18, 2025. Some information may have changed since.