Students seeking financial aid for the 2027/28 school year are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The US Department of Education announced the filing period is now open and the deadline for filing is February 1st, to be considered for most financial aid available.
The U.S. Department of Education announced that the 2027-28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is now open, featuring additional improvements to simplify the application process for students and families. This form is the main way to determine students’ eligibility for most federal and state financial aid, and the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD) encourages students to file their FAFSA by February 1st, 2027, to be considered for the most financial aid available.
Dr. Bennett Boggs, Commissioner of the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, says “Completing the form opens access to financial resources that support students as they work toward their educational and career goals.” In Missouri, eligible students who complete the FAFSA by February 1st will receive funding through Access Missouri, a need-based grant that assisted over 35,000 students during Fiscal Year 2026. FAFSA is also required to be considered for many private scholarships and other state financial aid opportunities, including the A+ Scholarship Program and the Fast Track Incentive Grant.
To file a 2027-28 FAFSA, students need:
- A gov account (or login information if they already have an account)
- 2025 tax information
- To determine whether they are a dependent or independent student
- To identify their parent/contributor (if they are a dependent student)