This guide lays out a school year of aid dates in order, from the FAFSA opening in the fall to the payments that arrive when classes start. It shows which source sets each date, so you can add the right deadlines to your own calendar.
Fall, when the FAFSA opens
The FAFSA normally opens by October 1 for the award year that starts the next July. Filing early matters for more than the federal grants. FSEOG funds at each school are limited and often awarded early, and many colleges set priority dates for their own grants in the fall or winter.
Colleges that use the CSS Profile often want it in the fall, especially from early decision or early action applicants. Each college lists its own Profile deadline, which can differ from its FAFSA priority date. Check both dates on each college's aid page and write them down separately.
High school seniors applying for ROTC scholarships face deadlines during the senior year, set by each branch. Check the branch's own timeline early in the fall.
Winter, when state and campus windows close
State grant deadlines vary widely. Some states set a fixed date early in the calendar year, while others pay grants until the money runs out, so the order in which students file matters. Your state's higher education agency publishes its dates, and many high school counselors keep a copy.
Winter is also when many local scholarships open. A community foundation may gather dozens of local funds behind one application with a single deadline in winter or early spring. Civic clubs, unions and congregations set their own dates, often announced through high school counseling offices.
Put each renewal date on the same calendar as your first deadlines.
Spring, when offers and local awards arrive
Aid offers usually arrive in late winter or spring, after admission. Many four-year colleges ask for a decision by May 1, which leaves a short window to compare offers and request a review. Some students are also asked to complete verification, which means sending documents before any aid is paid.
Local scholarship results tend to come in spring, sometimes at a school awards night. Report each one to the college's aid office once you accept it, since outside money can change other parts of the offer. Departmental scholarships at your college may also open in spring for the following year.
Summer, before the money pays out
Summer is the time to finish the paperwork that lets money reach your account. Send scholarship checks or sponsor forms to the bursar or student accounts office, and confirm that each outside award has been reported. If you plan to take summer classes, ask whether year-round Pell can pay for them.
Federal Work-Study jobs are often posted in late summer or the first weeks of the term. The aid office or student employment office can tell you when listings go up. Aid is paid to your student account at the start of each term, and a credit balance is refunded within 14 days.
Dates that come back every year
The FAFSA must be filed again for each award year, and the same early dates apply each time. Satisfactory academic progress is checked at least once a year, often after the spring term. State merit awards and college scholarships check grades and credits on their own schedules.
Some awards carry yearly tasks of their own. TEACH Grant recipients complete counseling and sign an agreement each year, and many private scholarships ask for a transcript before they renew. Put each renewal date on the same calendar as your first deadlines.
Steps to take this week
- Note the date the FAFSA opens
- Look up your state's grant deadline
- List each college's priority and Profile dates
- Ask a counselor when local scholarships open
Who decides
Your college's financial aid office and your state's higher education agency
Early filing matters because some state and campus funds are limited and paid in the order students apply.
