Changes to the FAFSA Process for 2017-18

Submit a FAFSA earlier:

Students will be able to submit a 2017-18 FAFSA as early as Oct. 1, 2016, rather than beginning on Jan. 1, 2017.

The earlier submission date will be a permanent change, enabling students to complete and submit their FAFSAs as early as Oct. 1 every year. (There is no change to the 2016-17 schedule. The 2016-17 FAFSA became available Jan. 1, 2016.)

Use earlier income and tax information:

Beginning with the 2017-18 FAFSA, students will report income and tax information from an earlier tax year. For example, on the 2017-18 FAFSA, students (and parents, as appropriate) will report their 2015 income and tax information, rather than their 2016 income and tax information.

IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND                            YOU WILL SUBMT                                YOU CAN SUBMIT                                   USING INCOME AND TAX
COLLEGE FROM                                           THIS FAFSA                                          THE FAFSA FROM                                   INFORMATION FROM

• July 1, 2016-June 30, 2017                             2016-17                                     Jan. 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017                                            2015
• July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018                             2017-18                                     Oct. 1, 2016 - June 30, 2018                                            2015
• July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019                             2018-19                                     Oct. 1, 2017 - June 30, 2019                                            2016

For more information about these changes visit StudentAid.gov.fafsa.