What is the FAFSA®?
FAFSA® is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students submit a FAFSA® to apply for federal aid. This includes grants, loans, and work-study programs.
Some states and schools may also rely on FAFSA® data to see the types and amounts of student aid you can get.
The data entered into the FAFSA® yields a Student Aid Index (SAI). SAI is a formula-based index number that ranges from –1500 to 999999. A negative SAI means your financial need is higher.
Your SAI is not an amount of money. The school uses your SAI number to create a financial aid offer to meet your needs. This aid package may include grants, scholarships, a part-time job (work-study), and loans.
Some colleges require you to complete forms besides the FAFSA®, and some forms carry a fee. Usually, these colleges provide large amounts of institutional aid. They need more detailed data to understand your family’s financial situation better.
Deadlines
You can file your FAFSA® as early as October 1st of each year. The 2025-2026 form is now available on studentaid.gov.
It is important to file a FAFSA® on time, and each state also has a deadline. Missing Connecticut's deadline doesn't affect your federal student aid eligibility. You can and should fill out your FAFSA® form even after the CT deadline.
Before filling out the FAFSA®, watch a quick video to ensure you are well-prepared [VIDEO].