FAFSA 2027-28: Complete Guide — Dates, SAI, Pell Grants & State Deadlines

If you are starting college in the United States in fall 2027, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the single form that unlocks almost everything: federal Pell Grants, federal student loans, work-study jobs, and — just as importantly — most state grants and college scholarships. Many colleges will not award their own grants until you have filed. This guide covers the confirmed 2027-28 dates, what the form asks, how the Student Aid Index (SAI) works, and the deadlines that actually cost students money.

Who Should File — and Why Even High-Income Families File

Every US citizen and eligible non-citizen planning to attend an accredited college, trade school or certificate program in 2027-28 should file, regardless of family income. There is no income cutoff for submitting the form. Even if you do not qualify for a Pell Grant, filing is often required for institutional aid, merit scholarships that check financial need, and federal loans — which carry borrower protections private loans do not. International students on a student visa are generally not eligible for federal aid, but many colleges ask international applicants for the CSS Profile or their own financial form instead; do not file a FAFSA unless you hold eligible immigration status.

Key Dates for 2027-28

The federal deadline is the last date that matters, not the first. State grants and campus-based aid (such as Federal Work-Study and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant) are limited funds awarded first-come, first-served in many states. Your real deadline is the earliest one on your list: your state deadline, then your colleges' priority dates. File as early as you can after the form opens.

Before You Start: The StudentAid.gov Account (FSA ID)

Everyone who provides information on the FAFSA needs their own StudentAid.gov account, called an FSA ID — usually the student and at least one parent (a "contributor"). Create accounts first, because verification can take a few days: use your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card, your date of birth, a personal email you check often, and your Social Security number if you have one. For dependent students, the parent who provides the most financial support is normally the contributor. The 2027-28 form lets you invite a parent or spouse contributor by email, simplifying the process.

What the Form Asks

The form walks through: student identity and dependency status; family size; income and tax information (imported directly from the IRS when you consent, so you do not retype figures); assets (with family-owned small businesses, the primary-residence farm and family-owned commercial fishing businesses now excluded); and the colleges you want to receive the form (list up to 20). After submission you receive a FAFSA Submission Summary showing your Student Aid Index and, new for 2027-28, an instant view of your Pell Grant and federal aid eligibility.

The Student Aid Index (SAI) Explained

The SAI replaced the old Expected Family Contribution. It is a number colleges use to build your aid package — it is not the amount your family must pay, and it can be negative (down to -1,500). A lower SAI generally means more need-based aid. Two rules in force from July 1, 2026 are worth knowing: a student whose SAI is at or above double the maximum Pell Grant no longer qualifies for a Pell Grant, and a student whose non-federal grants and scholarships already cover the full cost of attendance does not qualify either. If your SAI looks wrong, check the common errors: the wrong parent listed as contributor, assets reported that should be excluded, or a college missing from your list.

After You Submit: Verification and Corrections

Some filers are selected for verification — the college asks for documents confirming the form's figures. This is routine, not an accusation, but it delays your aid package until resolved, so respond promptly. You can correct a submitted form through September 12, 2028, and you can add colleges later. Watch for your college's financial aid award letter and compare offers on net price (cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships), not on the headline aid total — a large loan-heavy package is not the same as a large grant package.

Common Mistakes That Cost Students Aid

(1) Waiting until spring: state and campus funds may already be gone. (2) Filing on a lookalike site that charges a fee. (3) Using the wrong tax year — 2027-28 uses 2025 income. (4) Listing the wrong parent for a divorced or separated family. (5) Forgetting to sign: an unsigned form is not processed. (6) Assuming you will not qualify and never filing at all — many colleges require a FAFSA on file before awarding their own grants.

FAQs

When did the 2027-28 FAFSA open? September 23, 2026, to all filers.

What is the federal FAFSA deadline for 2027-28? June 30, 2028 — but state and college priority deadlines fall months earlier, so file early.

Does FAFSA cost anything? No. It is free at studentaid.gov.

Can international students file the FAFSA? Only US citizens and eligible non-citizens qualify for federal aid; other international students should check their college's own financial-aid form.

What tax year does the 2027-28 FAFSA use? 2025.

Dates and rules follow the US Department of Education / Federal Student Aid publications for the 2027-28 cycle, re-checked October 2026: form opened September 23, 2026; federal deadline June 30, 2028; corrections through September 12, 2028; 2025 tax year. State priority dates (Texas January 15, 2027; California March 2, 2027) are state-published dates; always confirm your own state's current deadline on studentaid.gov.

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