FAFSA Is Open for Next School Year. What Pennsylvania Families Should Know Before Filing

The 2027-28 FAFSA is now open, giving families an early start on college financial aid. The U.S. Department of Education opened the form on Sept. 23, the earliest launch in the program’s history, ahead of the Oct. 1 statutory deadline.

Filing early matters because some aid is limited. While the federal deadline runs to June 30, 2028, states and colleges set much earlier cutoffs, and institutional grants can run out.

In Pennsylvania, residents must file the FAFSA by May 1, 2027 to be considered for the PA State Grant. Families should note that the FAFSA alone is not enough for the state grant, which requires a separate application through PHEAA, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, according to college financial aid guides.

This year’s form carries a significant change. Under a new federal law, farm and small business assets are excluded from the aid calculation entirely, which could newly qualify families who were previously told they held too many assets, according to college aid analysts.

The application is free at StudentAid.gov, the government’s official site, which never charges a fee. Each contributor, including parents, needs an FSA ID and must sign before the form counts as submitted.

After filing, families receive a FAFSA Submission Summary showing potential Pell Grant eligibility. Colleges then send financial aid offers listing grants, loans and work-study.

PHEAA also offers free financial aid webinars and FAFSA completion events across Pennsylvania for families who want guided help.