FAFSA basics
One free form. Most of your college aid.
The FAFSA is the free form that opens the door to federal grants, state aid, work study and most college aid.
Many families skip it because they think they earn too much or missed the deadline. Usually, neither is true.
Here is what it is, who qualifies and when to file.
Free to fileAt StudentAid.gov, once each school year
What it is
It is free. It unlocks the most money.
Before scholarships or loans, the FAFSA comes first. Here is why.
What is the FAFSA?
The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Colleges, Virginia and the federal government use it to decide your federal student aid, state grants and school aid. It is free to file at StudentAid.gov, and you file it again each year.
Federal grants
Like the Pell Grant, which you never have to repay.
Virginia state aid
Virginia uses the FAFSA for most state grant programs.
College aid
Many colleges use it for their own grants and even some merit scholarships.
Work study and loans
Part time campus jobs and federal loans, if you choose to borrow.
Who qualifies
There is no income cutoff. File anyway.
The biggest myth about the FAFSA is that your family earns too much to bother.
Are there FAFSA income limits?
No. There is no single income that makes you ineligible, according to Sallie Mae. Income shapes how much need based aid you get. Higher earning families can still qualify for federal loans, state aid, school aid and some scholarships, so there are no real FAFSA income limits to stop you.
What is the Student Aid Index?
The Student Aid Index, or SAI, is a number the FAFSA calculates from your family's income, assets and household size. Colleges subtract it from their cost to see your need. A lower SAI usually means more grant money.
"We make too much to qualify."
Many families think so. File anyway, since some colleges require a FAFSA for their own aid.
"My parents don't have Social Security numbers."
Parents without one can still create an account and complete the form. Students who cannot file may use Virginia's VASA application for state aid.
"My parents are divorced."
The parent who gave you the most financial support in the last 12 months completes the parent section.
"I'm the first to go to college."
You qualify for the same aid as anyone else. We help first generation families with every question.
Deadlines
Three deadlines matter. The earliest one wins.
Most families only hear about one of the FAFSA deadlines. It is usually the wrong one.
When is the FAFSA due?
The FAFSA for the 2027 to 2028 school year is expected to open by October 1, 2026, with a federal deadline of June 30, 2028, according to Sallie Mae. Virginia colleges set much earlier priority dates, so the deadline that matters most is your school's.
Opens by October 1, 2026
Expected opening for the 2027 to 2028 FAFSA
Federal deadline June 30, 2028
The latest date, and rarely the one that matters
Federal deadline
June 30 at the end of the school year. It is almost never the one that matters.
LatestVirginia colleges
Each Virginia school sets its own priority date, often between January and March. SCHEV keeps the full list.
Often January to MarchCollege scholarships
Some schools want the FAFSA even earlier for their own scholarships. Check each school's aid page.
Can be earliestBest time to file
Our advice: file the FAFSA in October or November. Some state and school aid runs out, and early filers get the first look.
Before you start
Gather these first. Then file in one sitting.
The FAFSA goes quickly when everything is in front of you.
StudentAid.gov accounts
An FSA ID for the student and each parent who is a contributor.
Tax information
Federal tax details from two years before the school year. Most of it transfers directly from the IRS.
Savings and investments
Current balances. Your home and retirement accounts do not count.
Your college list
You can send your results to up to 20 schools.
Important to know
Every contributor must give consent to share tax data. Without it, the student cannot get federal aid.
File in one sittingGather everything first
Common questions
Straight answers about the FAFSA.
Is the FAFSA free?
Yes. The official FAFSA is free at StudentAid.gov. Never pay a website to file it for you.
Do I have to file the FAFSA every year?
Yes. You file the FAFSA once for each school year you want aid.
Is there a FAFSA income limit?
No. There are no FAFSA income limits to file. Income affects how much need based aid you get, not whether you can apply.
What if I miss my college's priority deadline?
File anyway. You can still get federal aid like the Pell Grant, but some state and school aid may be gone.
Can undocumented or DACA students apply for aid?
Students who cannot file the FAFSA can use Virginia's VASA application for state aid. See our guide for undocumented and DACA students.
Who can help us fill it out?
EAESSI offers free FAFSA help, one on one or at a workshop.
Free FAFSA help
Filing takes an evening. Skipping it can cost thousands.
Free help for Virginia students and families.
About EAESSI
Evelyn Ancrum Education Support Systems (EAESSI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Spotsylvania, Virginia. We help uninsured women get breast screenings and help Virginia students pay for college.
General educational information
This guide is for general education and is not tax or legal advice. The official FAFSA is free at StudentAid.gov. Dates and details on this page come from these sources: