FAFSA timeline for 2025-2026 applicants - when should we start preparing?

Welcome! You're smart to start planning early. For the 2025-2026 FAFSA (which your son will need), the application should open October 1, 2024. And yes, it will use 2023 tax information, so having those returns handy will be helpful. Here's a rough timeline: - Summer 2024: Create FSA IDs for both you and your son - Sept 2024: Gather 2023 tax returns, W-2s, asset information - Oct-Dec 2024: Submit FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1 - Check each school's financial aid deadline (UF and FSU typically want FAFSA completed by Jan 15) Both UF and FSU also have their own scholarship applications separate from FAFSA, usually due in December. The earlier you submit your FAFSA, the better position you'll be in for aid.

HI! my daughter applied to UF last yr. make sure u submit fafsa EARLY!!! they ran out of some grants by December. also florida has bright futures scholarship u should look into it, its seperate application. good luck!!

As someone who works with college-bound students, I'd strongly recommend looking into the CSS Profile too, not just FAFSA. UF requires it for some of their institutional scholarships. It's more detailed than FAFSA and asks about things like home equity and non-custodial parent finances. Also, your son should create his own FSA ID, not you. Common mistake. Parents create their own FSA ID to sign the FAFSA as a parent, but students must create and manage their own. The system flags applications where it appears parents created both IDs.

dont stress too much abt it. my brother just went through this and he didnt submit fafsa until december and still got decent money from FSU. but def get ur 2023 taxes organized cuz that new fafsa is super confusing with the income questions. also fsu has this southern scholarship that knocks off out of state tuition if ur from certain states, worth checking if u guys arent florida residents

Just a heads up - when my daughter applied last year, we tried submitting FAFSA early but kept getting errors or the site would crash. Spent DAYS trying to call Federal Student Aid and couldn't get anyone to help. Eventually found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got us connected to an actual human at FSA in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Totally worth it since they fixed our application issue right away. Just throwing it out there in case you run into the same FAFSA technical problems everyone seems to hit.

Don't forget that the SAI (Student Aid Index) has completely replaced EFC (Expected Family Contribution) in the new FAFSA system. The calculation method changed significantly. Many middle-income families are finding their SAI numbers are higher than expected, which means less aid. Don't be shocked if your aid offers aren't what online calculators predict. Also, parent income now impacts aid eligibility more than student income compared to the old system. And if you have multiple kids in college at once, that no longer provides the same advantage it used to under the old FAFSA.

One more important tip for UF and FSU specifically - both participate in the Florida Benacquisto Scholarship Program for National Merit Finalists. If your son scores well on the PSAT this fall (junior year), he should definitely pursue National Merit status. It can cover full cost of attendance at Florida public universities. It's a separate path from FAFSA, but potentially more valuable. The qualifying PSAT is only offered in fall of junior year (this coming fall for your son), so make sure he prepares well for it.

btw make sure to check if ur eligible for parent plus loans too. we didnt realize we could apply until after my daughter had already accepted some high interest private loans ugh. wish someone had told us earlier.

Since your son is interested in Florida schools, also look into the Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG) and First Generation Matching Grant if either of you didn't attend college. These are state-specific programs separate from federal aid but use FAFSA data for eligibility. And one technical note: when you create FSA IDs this summer, use personal email addresses, not school emails. Students often lose access to high school emails after graduation, which causes problems for FAFSA renewals later.

Just wanted to add one more thing about Florida schools - both UF and FSU have their own merit-based scholarships that have earlier deadlines than financial aid. UF's scholarship application is usually due in December, and FSU's varies by scholarship but some are as early as November. These often require separate essays or applications beyond your regular admissions application. Also, if your son is considering any specific majors, check if those departments have their own scholarships too. Engineering, business, and honors programs often have additional funding opportunities with their own deadlines. It's worth reaching out to admissions offices directly to get a complete list of all available scholarships and their timelines. Good luck with everything! Starting early like you are is definitely the right approach.

Welcome to the FAFSA journey! As a parent who just went through this process with my daughter, I can't stress enough how important it is to stay organized with all these overlapping deadlines. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier is to set up a dedicated email folder just for financial aid communications - you'll get SO many emails from schools, federal aid, state programs, and scholarship organizations. Also, don't forget to check your state's 529 plan contributions if you have one. Florida's 529 plan has some tax advantages that can help with college costs, and you want to make sure you're maximizing those benefits before your son starts college. One last tip - if your son is planning to take any dual enrollment courses his senior year, make sure those credits will transfer to UF/FSU and count toward his degree. It can save money and time, but you want to verify transferability before paying for the courses. The timeline everyone shared is spot-on, but I'd add: create a shared Google doc or spreadsheet with your son so you can both track deadlines and requirements. Getting him involved in the process early will help him understand the financial aspects of his college decision too.

As a financial aid counselor who's helped hundreds of families through this process, I wanted to add a few things that often get overlooked. First, make sure you understand the difference between "priority" and "final" deadlines for financial aid. Many Florida schools have priority deadlines in January but will still accept FAFSA submissions until June - however, you'll miss out on the best aid packages if you wait. Also, consider running your family's financial information through the Federal Student Aid Estimator (studentaid.gov/aid-estimator) this summer to get a rough idea of your Expected Family Contribution. This will help you set realistic expectations and maybe identify if there are any financial moves you should make before filing your 2024 taxes (which will be used for the 2026-2027 FAFSA when your son is a sophomore). One more thing - if your family has any unusual financial circumstances (job loss, medical expenses, divorce, etc.), document everything. Schools can make professional judgment adjustments to your aid package, but you need to provide thorough documentation. Start gathering those records now if applicable. You're doing great by starting early! The families who plan ahead always have better outcomes.

Wow, this thread has been incredibly informative! As someone just starting to navigate this process with my junior in high school, I'm feeling both more prepared and slightly overwhelmed by all the different components - FAFSA, CSS Profile, state grants, merit scholarships, department-specific aid, and all these various deadlines. I'm definitely going to start implementing some of these suggestions right away, especially creating that shared spreadsheet with my daughter and setting up the dedicated email folder. The tip about using personal emails for FSA IDs instead of school emails is something I never would have thought of but makes total sense. One question I have that I didn't see addressed - for families like mine where we might be right on the borderline for aid eligibility, is it worth consulting with a financial planner who specializes in college funding strategies? Or are there specific resources you'd recommend for middle-income families who might not qualify for need-based aid but still need help making college affordable? Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences and expertise here. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating what feels like an incredibly complex process!