FAFSA deadline for transfer student starting 4-year college this fall?

It's definitely not too late! The federal FAFSA deadline for the 2025-26 academic year isn't until June 30, 2026. However, you need to pay attention to your state and individual school deadlines, which are often much earlier. Most state deadlines for priority consideration are between February and April. Check each school's financial aid website for their specific priority deadlines. Since your son is transferring, make sure he adds all potential schools to his FAFSA. He'll need the school codes which you can find directly on the FAFSA application. The sooner he submits, the better his chances for maximum aid, especially for state grants which often have earlier deadlines and limited funding.

most schools have priority deadlines way earlier!! check ASAP bc at my university the priority deadline was march 1st. you can still get federal aid but might miss out on institutional scholarships!!

As a transfer student myself last year, I can tell you it's definitely not too late for the FAFSA itself, but you should be EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS about individual school deadlines for transfer students. Sometimes these are different than freshman deadlines! In my case, the transfer priority deadline was actually later (April 15 instead of March 1), but this varies by school. What's more crucial is that most schools require an additional application for transfer scholarships that might have passed already. Some housing deadlines for transfers might be approaching too if he wants to live on campus. Have him call each financial aid office ASAP!

Yes, your son absolutely needs to fill out the FAFSA if he wants any financial aid for his transfer to a 4-year institution. Since he's a dependent student (under 24, unmarried, not a veteran, etc.), he'll need to include your tax information on his application just like you did for your daughter. As others mentioned, while the federal deadline is June 30, 2026, many states and colleges have much earlier priority deadlines that determine eligibility for institutional scholarships and grants. These deadlines have likely passed for some schools, but federal aid (loans and Pell Grants) will still be available. Make sure your son also checks if his prospective schools require the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA, as some private colleges use this for institutional aid allocation.

I was in the EXACT same situation with my daughter last year!!! She did 2 years at community college then transferred to a state university. We submitted her FAFSA in April and she still got her Pell Grant and was eligible for subsidized loans BUT she missed out on some university grants because we submitted after their priority deadline (March 1). The most frustrating thing was trying to get someone on the phone at the financial aid office to answer questions about what she qualified for. I spent HOURS on hold across multiple days and got disconnected so many times. Complete nightmare.

For transfer students specifically, here are some important details to know: 1. Your son's SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation will be the same as any other dependent student - it will include your income and assets as parents 2. Some schools have separate scholarship applications for transfer students with different deadlines 3. He should contact housing departments ASAP as many schools reserve limited space for transfers 4. If he's considering summer classes at the new school, he may need to complete both the 2024-25 FAFSA (for summer) and 2025-26 FAFSA (for fall/spring) 5. Make sure the community college credits will transfer before finalizing financial decisions I recommend completing the FAFSA immediately, then having your son call each school's financial aid office to ask about transfer-specific deadlines and any additional forms required.

my brother did this last yr. its never 2 late 4 fafsa but u miss the good money if u wait. all the school grants r first come first serve so the sooner the better!!!

Update: We submitted his FAFSA last night! And he called two of the schools this morning. One school's priority deadline was March 15th (so we missed it), but the financial aid counselor said he'll still be considered for some institutional grants, just not the full amount. The other school's transfer deadline isn't until May 1st, so we're good there! Thank you all for the advice. Now we're working on housing applications.

Glad to hear you've submitted the FAFSA! One more thing to be aware of: since your son is transferring from a community college to a 4-year institution, he'll need to ensure that his financial aid is properly transferred. This means: 1. Having his community college remove him from their system after the current term ends 2. Making sure his new school is listed as his primary institution on the FAFSA 3. Checking if there are any transfer-specific scholarships he can still apply for (many schools have these!) Also, once he decides which school he'll attend, have him accept his financial aid package promptly. This is especially important for work-study opportunities, which can be limited for transfer students.

Just wanted to add that since your son is transferring mid-degree, make sure he understands how his Pell Grant eligibility works. The lifetime limit is 600% of a full award (equivalent to about 6 years of full-time enrollment), and his community college years count toward this total. It shouldn't be an issue for most students, but it's something to keep in mind for planning purposes. Also, if he's been receiving any state grants at the community college level, those programs sometimes have different rules for 4-year institutions. In my state, the grant amount actually increases when you transfer to a university, but the GPA requirements are stricter. Each state is different, so definitely check with your state's higher education agency about continuing eligibility.