What is FAFSA?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form for US Citizens, permanent residents, or eligible non-citizens to get financial aid. Financial aid includes fee waivers, grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships. Submit the FAFSA each year you are in college – it only takes about 30 minutes to complete when you are prepared.
Beginning with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, anyone who's required to provide information on the FAFSA form will need to create a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID). This includes the student and, if applicable, the student's spouse, biological/adoptive parent, or parent's spouse (if remarried). All contributing individuals must provide consent to have information transferred to the FAFSA form. If consent is not given, then the FAFSA form will remain incomplete and the student will be ineligible for federal student aid.
Undocumented students cannot apply for aid through the FAFSA but may be eligible for state financial aid through the California Dream Act.
FAFSA Priority Filing Deadline
Submit the FAFSA as early as you can. This will help you figure out how to pay for college before classes begin.
| Academic year | FAFSA available | FAFSA Priority Filing Deadline | Tax filing year |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2024-2025
(Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025) |
January 1, 2024
|
May 2, 2024
|
2022
|
|
2025-2026
(Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026) |
November 21, 2024
|
March 3, 2025
|
2023
|
You can submit the FAFSA after the "FAFSA Priority Filing Deadline" date until June 30 of the following year, but priority is given on a first-come, first-served basis. You may not be considered for a Cal Grant if you submit your application after this date.
FAFSA Tools and Resources
Federal School Code
Make sure you include your college's federal school code on your FAFSA application.
- American River College: 001232
- Cosumnes River College: 007536
- Folsom Lake College: 038713
- Sacramento City College: 001233