If you’re applying to college Early Action/Early Decision, you won’t be able to submit the FAFSA® at the same time you submit your application for admission, as the 2024-25 FAFSA won’t be available until December 2023. You’ll want to make sure you check the financial aid webpage of every college where you are applying early to find out about any other required financial aid applications they might require, such as the CSS Profile® or an institutional financial aid application. For more information on the FAFSA, read our article, What is the FAFSA?
So, as we’ve been saying around here, and as you’ve probably noticed, the FAFSA, which you need to file for next year’s financial aid, usually available October 1st, won’t be available until December this year. If you’re applying early action or early decision to college, you may be wondering… what you need to do to apply for financial aid.
Typically you’d send in your FAFSA along with your early applications for admissions. You won’t be able to do that this year. So what do you do? How a college may choose to handle the financial aid process is up to them. So some colleges may want you to file a CSS profile application or an institutional financial aid application along with Your admissions application in the fall in order to help them award your financial aid offer.
You’ll still have to submit a FAFSA when that becomes available. Some colleges will have other processes. So as with so many other things in this process, you want to check in with the financial aid office at each college and see what their process is. That information should be on the financial aid webpage.
But if you’re having a hard time finding it there, remember you can always reach out directly to the financial aid offices via phone, email, or their social media channels.
