If you are still weighing your post-high school options or are waiting to make a decision, know that you are not alone and you still have time to decide! In this article, we'll break down different post-high school options to choose from. 

You can still apply for financial aid

Complete the FAFSA

If you haven't yet completed the 2025-2026 FAFSA, there's still time, but it's important to do it soon. While the federal FAFSA deadline is June 30, colleges and states have their own individual deadlines. Completing the FAFSA is the most important thing eligible students can do to receive most forms of federal, state, and institutional financial aid, such as scholarships, grants, and loans. Completing the FAFSA is free, safe, and can open you up to even more financial aid and college options. If you need help completing the FAFSA, text us! We’re here to support.

Check your FAFSA status

If you're unsure about whether your FAFSA has been processed, log into your StudentAid.gov account and check its status under the "My Activity" tab. The status of your FAFSA will fall under one of the following categories: 

• In Progress: Application has been started but not submitted.
• In Review: Application has been submitted but has not been processed.
• Action Required: There is an error with the application that needs to be fixed. Errors can include missing a signature on the application or not consenting for tax information to be transferred from the IRS.
• Processed: Application was successfully processed and information is being sent to the colleges listed on it. Colleges will now create and send financial aid offer letters to admitted and enrolled students. 

Complete state-based financial aid applications

If you are ineligible to complete the FAFSA, you may be able to apply for state-based financial aid instead. If your state offers financial aid, be sure to complete and submit the application ahead of its deadline to be considered for financial aid. 

Apply for scholarships

Any free money you can get for college helps! Once you submit your FAFSA or state-based aid application, it's a great time to find and apply for scholarships. Check out our Scholarship Finder for access to 21,000+ college scholarships!

You can still be accepted to college 

Wondering how you can be accepted to college later in the school year? Here are a few options to explore to determine your best path forward.

Colleges with rolling admissions

Some colleges have rolling admissions, meaning that they accept and review applications as they are received until all spots in a given year are filled. This means that you can apply to college later in the school year and still have a chance of getting accepted! Different colleges will have different time frames of when you can submit your application and how long it will take to hear back from them. Check with each school you're interested in applying to for specific dates and deadlines. 

Community colleges

Generally, community colleges have much more fluid application cycles and timelines for new students compared to four-year colleges. This means that you can potentially apply and be admitted to a community college later in the school year. Community college is a great option to consider if you want to save money on tuition fees, are unsure about what you want to study, or weren’t originally planning on applying to college.

Additionally, community college may be a good option for students who experienced FAFSA-related challenges. If you were admitted to a college but haven't received your financial aid offer letter, leaving you feeling unsure about whether it's financially realistic to attend with aid, you may be able to defer your admission for up to one year. Your ability to defer will depend on your college’s policy, so check in with them to learn more before making a decision. 

If you are able to defer your admission and still want to make progress toward your degree, you may be able to take gen ed, or introductory, classes at a local community college. Once you have a better idea of whether the school where you deferred your admission will be realistic to attend, you can transfer there the following year with some credits!

Trade schools

If you’re looking for practical, hands-on training that can prepare you for the workforce in one to two years, consider enrolling in a trade school. Trade schools offer programs that prepare students for careers in fields such as healthcare, cosmetology, technology, and more. Also, with careful planning and preparation, students can continue their education toward a college degree after completing a trade school program. For example, you can attend trade school to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), then move on to earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at a four-year college. No matter what your career interests are, it's important to research trade schools thoroughly and consider whether the programs they offer align with your career goals.

Colleges with late application deadlines

Check out this list of colleges with late application deadlines or use BigFuture's college search database to find colleges that are still accepting applications. Be sure to check in with the admissions office of each school you're interested in to learn more about specific deadlines and application requirements. 

Have any questions about applying to college or navigating FAFSA challenges? Text #College 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!