Returning to school can mean fitting classes around work, family, and bills. The FAFSA is a starting point for financial aid, but choosing the right year and completing every required section matters. Use this checklist to prepare for 2027–28.
Choose the form for your school year
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is free. Schools use its information to assess federal aid and may also use it for other aid. Filing does not guarantee an award. The Department of Education opened the 2027–28 form on September 23, 2026. See the launch announcement.
| Attendance period | FAFSA form |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 | 2026–27 |
| July 1, 2027–June 30, 2028 | 2027–28 |
If your classes begin in a summer session, ask the school which award year applies. You may need to complete a FAFSA for each school year you attend. Check the Federal Student Aid instructions.
Gather your records before you start
Create your own StudentAid.gov account and keep your login private. The 2027–28 form asks for 2025 tax information, even if your income is different today. You may also need current information about assets. See what the form asks for.
Follow each question’s instructions. Not every applicant sees the same questions. The form asks for certain assets, but does not include retirement accounts in the investment question. Review the student walkthrough.
Check whose information the FAFSA needs
FAFSA dependency status is determined by specific questions. It is not the same as whether someone claims you on a tax return. Many adult students qualify as independent, but answer the questions for your own circumstances. Review the dependency questions.
An independent student reports their own information and, if married, their spouse’s information as required. A dependent student generally must provide parent information. Paying your own bills or being unclaimed on a parent’s tax return alone does not establish independent status.
Identify any required contributor
A contributor is a person the form requires to provide information, consent to tax information transfer, and sign. A required contributor needs their own account. Their participation does not make them responsible for paying your school bill. See the contributor checklist.
If you are married and not separated, your spouse’s information matters. When you filed the relevant return jointly with your current spouse, you generally report your spouse’s information without inviting them as a separate contributor. If you did not file jointly, the form may require your spouse to participate. Answer the form’s questions, especially if your marital status changed since 2025.
Invite the person the form identifies
Enter the requested contact details accurately and let the person know an invitation is coming.
Complete each required section
Each contributor signs and gives consent and approval for the IRS transfer, even if they did not file a tax return.
Check the final submission
Finishing your own section is not the same as submitting the complete form. Check that all required contributors finished and signed.
Without required consent and approval, you cannot receive federal student aid. Providing the information manually does not replace that consent. Read the consent guidance.
Put three deadlines on your calendar
The school, your state of legal residence, and the federal government have separate deadlines. Some state and school funds are limited or have priority dates. Additional state or school forms may be required. Compare the three deadlines.
Ask the financial aid office
Find the FAFSA and any separate aid application deadlines for your program.
Check your state’s rules
Look for hard deadlines, priority dates, and additional forms.
Do not rely on the last date
The federal deadline is June 30 at the end of the award year. Earlier state or school deadlines may apply.
For example, a fictional student planning a fall 2027 start finds a school priority date of February 1, 2027 and a state date of March 1, 2027. They should plan around February 1, while checking the actual deadlines and any extra forms. These dates are examples, not published deadlines.
Explain a change in your finances
A 2025 return may not reflect a later job loss, pay cut, or major medical expense. Complete the FAFSA using the information it requests. Then contact the financial aid office to request an aid adjustment, sometimes called professional judgment. Read the definition and examples.
Ask the office which records it needs and how to submit them. The school reviews the circumstances and may adjust your FAFSA information. An adjustment is not automatic, and a request does not guarantee more aid.
Review the result and compare offers
After processing, review your FAFSA Submission Summary for corrections or requests for verification. Check your account and school messages, and provide requested documents by the school’s deadline. See the submission steps.
The Student Aid Index is a number schools use in assessing need. It is not an aid offer or the amount you must pay. Each school will determine its aid offer. Compare grants, work-study, and loans separately, and check enrollment requirements before accepting. Learn how the index works.
Sources and update
Checked November 2, 2026. Confirm current deadlines and program requirements with your school and state.
Frequently asked questions
Am I too old to complete the FAFSA?
Adult students can complete the FAFSA. Eligibility depends on the applicable aid rules and your circumstances, not on an assumption that aid is only for recent high school graduates.
Do I need a parent’s information if I support myself?
Not necessarily, but paying your own bills alone does not make you independent for FAFSA purposes. Answer the dependency questions and contact the financial aid office if you have unusual circumstances.
What if my income is lower now than in 2025?
Submit the form using the requested information. Then ask the school’s financial aid office about an aid adjustment and the documents it needs.
Does my spouse always need a separate account?
A spouse who is required to contribute needs a separate account. The form determines whether to invite your spouse based on your answers, including your marital and tax filing circumstances.