Financial Aid Calendar

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January | February | March | April | May | June | July |
August | September | October | November | December


January

  • Submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1. Be sure to list the schools you’re considering (up to six) on the application. Estimate the required tax information if you haven’t filed your taxes yet. And don’t forget to check out our tips on completing the FAFSA.
  • Submit state financial aid applications if required. Check with your school’s financial aid office for deadlines.
  • Use the Scholarship Search Engine, powered by Scholarships 101, to find scholarships, grants, fellowships, and other free money for college opportunities.


February

  • Approximately two weeks after submitting your FAFSA, you should receive notice that the application was received.
  • If you submitted your FAFSA early in January, you might receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) in February — it usually takes four to eight weeks.
  • Submit a state financial aid application, if required.
  • Check with the schools to which you’ve applied and complete any financial forms they require.


March

  • If you submitted your FAFSA early in January or early February, you might receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) in March — it usually takes four to eight weeks. If you haven’t received your SAR yet (assuming it’s been at least four weeks since you submitted your FAFSA), contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (800) 433-3243.
  • Review your SAR carefully; make any necessary corrections directly on Part 2 of the SAR, and return it to the address provided, or submit changes to the FAFSA online via FAFSA Corrections on the Web.


April

  • College acceptance letters usually arrive before May 1.
  • Look for an award letter from each of the schools to which you’ve been accepted. This letter lists the types and amounts of financial aid you’ll receive for the upcoming academic year.


May

  • Choose the school you wish to attend and let them know. Notify the schools you didn’t select so they can award your financial aid package to other eligible students.
  • Complete applications for federal college loans, including Stafford student loans and PLUS loans for parents. If you still need money for college, you may want to consider private student loans.
  • If you haven’t already done so, you can submit your FAFSA online.

June

  • If you haven’t already done so, submit your FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
  • If you haven’t already, complete applications for federal student loans, federal parent loans, and private student loans, as necessary.


July

  • Notify your school about any changes in your financial situation, including any outside scholarships and grants you’ve received.
  • It’s still not too late to complete applications for federal college loans and private student loans.
  • High school seniors: Now’s the time to request brochures and information from the schools you’re interested in attending.


August


September

  • High school seniors: Decide which teachers, friends, coaches, employers, and mentors you’ll ask to write your letters of recommendation for you.


October

  • Continue to look for scholarships and grants.
  • High school seniors: Submit your early-decision and early-action college applications, if applicable.


November

  • Review the FAFSA requirements and put together the paperwork you’ll need. For help, see our tips on completing the FAFSA.
  • High school seniors: Collect letters of recommendation in preparation for submitting college admissions applications.


December

  • Happy holidays! Warm up by filling out the FAFSA pre-application worksheet in anticipation of a January submission.
  • High school seniors: Now’s the time to submit applications for admission to the colleges of your choice.

Financial Aid Advisor

» Financial Aid Advisor: The Guided Tour
» First step: Completing the FAFSA
» The financial aid process
» Paying for college: Know your options