If you plan to attend college next year but haven't completed the FAFSA yet, keep reading! While there may be various reasons that you haven't yet completed the FAFSA, we want to tell you that there's still time.

The deadline to complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA isn't until June 30, 2025, but there are many advantages to completing it ASAP. When you complete the FAFSA early, especially before your state's or colleges' deadlines, you can be considered for the maximum amount of aid possible. This means that you can receive even more federal, state, and institutional financial aid that can significantly reduce the cost of college. Who doesn't love free money? 

Even if you're not sure about how much aid you're eligible for due to factors like your family's financial situation, it's still worth the time to complete your FAFSA. Don't count yourself out until you've explored your options!  

With this in mind, we'll share some reasons to complete the FAFSA now if you haven't yet. 

You have more options

• You have more college options. By completing the FAFSA, you increase your chances of receiving federal, state, and institutional aid that can make attending a certain college more affordable and within reach.
• You have more financial aid options. A large majority of federal, institutional, and state aid (including scholarships, loans, and grants) is awarded to students only if they’ve completed the FAFSA. This means more aid options are potentially available to you.
• You have more potential job options. When completing the FAFSA, you can be considered for work-study, a federal aid program that allows eligible students to work part-time, on-campus jobs to earn money to help pay for school expenses.

There’s money out there for you

Every year, Federal Student Aid provides around $112 billion in financial aid to incoming and current college students who have completed the FAFSA. However, a lot of this money goes unclaimed annually. In fact, the high school class of 2023 left more than $4 billion in Pell Grants on the table by not completing the FAFSA. That’s free money that went unclaimed!

You can receive free FAFSA help

You don’t need to navigate this process on your own! There are plenty of free resources available that can support you through completing and submitting your FAFSA. Here’s a few:

1. Our FAFSA textline. After signing up for our free FAFSA textline, you can speak with one of our college advisors to have your questions answered!
2. Our FAFSA resources. We have lots of resources (both in English and Spanish) to help you and your family understand the purpose of the FAFSA, how to complete and submit it, and how to choose a college based on the aid offers you receive.
3. FAFSA help in every state. Each state has free FAFSA help through in-person and digital FAFSA workshops, online FAFSA resources and modules, and FAFSA support specialists you can reach over the phone or text.

Receiving the financial support you need can make transitioning to college easier and smoother, so we strongly encourage you to make a plan to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible!

Have any questions or need support as you work on your FAFSA? Text #FAFSA to 33-55-77 to chat with one of our advisors. If you're using a mobile device, click here to have the text message set up for you!