The dates that move money.
Eleven dates decide most of a student's money year. Miss one and it can cost thousands; hit them and school gets cheaper. They roll every year. These are current for 2026–27, and you can hand them to your calendar or your inbox below.
October 1
FAFSA opens for next year
The 2027–28 form opens October 1, 2026. Aid that runs out goes to early filers, so file in the fall, not the spring.
FAFSA, Step by StepOctober – March
Big scholarship season
Most major scholarship deadlines land between fall and early spring for the following school year. Treat it like a part-time job for a few weekends.
Finding Scholarships You'll Actually WinEarly spring
State aid deadlines (varies)
Many states award their grants first-come, first-served with deadlines as early as February or March. Your state's date is the one that matters.
Find your state's programsApril 15
Federal tax deadline
Worked at all during 2026? Filing in spring 2027 is often how students get withheld money BACK. For many, it's a refund, not a bill.
Filing Taxes for the First TimeJune 30
FAFSA final federal deadline
The absolute last day to file the 2026–27 FAFSA is June 30, 2027, but by then most school and state money is gone. This date is the backstop, not the plan.
The FAFSA Mistakes That Cost AidJuly 1
Federal student loan rates reset
New federal loan rates take effect each July 1 for the coming school year (2026–27 undergrad Direct Loans: 6.52%). Know the number before you sign anything.
Student Loans, Before You SignJanuary 31
W-2s arrive: file early
Employers must send W-2s by January 31. For working students, filing early means the refund (often the year's biggest cash moment) lands months sooner.
Filing Taxes for the First TimeMay 1
College Decision Day
Enrollment deposits are due and your choice locks in. Compare every award letter first; committing before comparing costs people thousands.
Reading an Aid Award LetterOctober 1
CSS Profile opens
The second aid form, required by about 200 mostly private colleges for their own money. Free for families making up to $100,000.
The CSS Profile, ExplainedNovember 1
Early decision deadlines (typically)
Early decision binds you to one school before you can compare aid offers. Great for a clear first choice; risky if the money matters.
Early Decision: The Binding Fine PrintNovember 1
Health insurance open enrollment
The yearly window to pick or switch marketplace coverage opens. If you're about to age off a parent's plan at 26, this is your date.
Health Insurance, ExplainedOne file, every date as a yearly-repeating event. Your own calendar app reminds you a week ahead, every year, no sign-up.
Get a nudge before each deadline
Pick the dates you care about and we email a few weeks ahead. Want more than dates? Opt into college advice: aid-season heads-ups written by a human, never a bot.
Read before the date, not the night of
Each deadline has a guide that walks you through it: what to gather, what trips people up, and what happens after you file.
FAFSA, Step by Step
The FAFSA is the one form that unlocks most college aid, and it's completely free to file.
ReadCommon FAFSA Mistakes That Cost You Aid
Small errors on the FAFSA can quietly shrink your aid or hold it up for weeks. Here's what to watch.
ReadFinding Scholarships You'll Actually Win
You don't need a perfect GPA to win a scholarship. You need to apply for the right ones.
ReadFiling Your Taxes for the First Time
Filing taxes sounds scary, but it's mostly copying numbers from a few forms. Here's the whole thing, start to finish.
ReadStudent Loans, Before You Sign
Borrowing for school is a real commitment. Know the key terms before you put your name on it.
ReadRepaying Your Student Loans (the Part After Graduation)
You borrowed for school, and the bill is coming. Here's what to do before it does.
ReadWhen a date lands, run your numbers
Cost gaps, award letters, loan payments: every student calculator lives on one page. All tools.
State grant deadlines vary; some land as early as February. Find your state's programs for state grants and programs, by state.