Now is the time for college students to begin filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2026-27 academic year.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA form is the first step to receiving federal and/or state financial aid dollars.
Indiana students must file the application by the state deadline of April 15 to be considered for state grants.
“The FAFSA is the first step for colleges to determine how much financial aid you’re eligible to receive,” said Darla Hopper, vice president for enrollment management at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. “The application is required for consideration of federal grants, state and institutional scholarships, work-study and loan funds.”
More information on how to file a FAFSA can be found at https://www.smwc.edu/offices-resources/offices/financial-aid/
The FAFSA forms – a key piece of how colleges and universities provide aid packages to incoming students – were released in late September. That was a week ahead of the Oct. 1 deadline and a big change from previous years, when the process was plagued with issues that delayed the rollout date.
Despite the current government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Education will continue the FAFSA process to meet deadlines set by legislation.