Missed FAFSA Deadline Repercussions

FAFSA helps students gain access to grants, scholarships, and federal student loans in order to make higher education more accessible to them.

However, missing the FAFSA deadline can have serious repercussions on your financial aid options.

The main consequence of missing the FAFSA deadline is the potential loss of federal financial aid for the upcoming academic year. This includes:

Federal Pell Grants: These need-based grants are awarded to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. Pell Grants can significantly reduce the cost of attendance for many students.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG): These need-based grants are awarded to undergraduate students with severe financial need who also demonstrate academic achievement.
Federal Work-Study (FWS): This program allows students to work part-time jobs on or off campus to earn money to help pay for college expenses.
Subsidized Direct Loans: These federal loans come with lower interest rates than unsubsidized loans and the government pays the interest while you are enrolled at least half-time in school and during grace periods.

In addition to missing out on federal aid, there are other potential consequences.

Some of these include:

Loss of State and Institutional Aid: Many states and colleges have their own financial aid deadlines that coincide with, or fall before the federal deadline. Missing the FAFSA deadline could also mean missing out on state grants and scholarships, as well as institutional aid offered by your chosen college.
Limited Scholarship Opportunities: Some scholarship providers require applicants to demonstrate they have submitted the FAFSA, even if it’s not a direct factor in their selection process.

Can You Still Submit a FAFSA After the Deadline?

You can still submit your FAFSA application after the federal deadline of June 30th.

However, the funds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

By submitting late, you’re placing yourself at a disadvantage as most of the aid will likely already be awarded.

There is a very small chance that some unallocated funds might still be available, but it’s not something you can reliably count on.

Even if you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline, there are still steps you can take to reduce the impact and find other financial aid options:

Contact your college’s financial aid office, explain your situation and inquire about any remaining institutional aid that might be available. Some colleges may have their own application processes and deadlines for institutional aid.
There are numerous scholarships offered by private organizations, foundations, and even some employers. You can use scholarship search engines and resources offered by your college’s financial aid office to find scholarships that align with your academic background and interests.
Private student loans can help cover the gap in your educational expenses. However, you must research these loan terms carefully and understand their interest rates and repayment obligations before taking out any private loans.
Even though you may have missed the deadline for the Federal Work-Study program, your college might still have on-campus job opportunities available that you could apply for.