Education
Four sources of aid, each with its own rules and deadlines
Federal, state, institutional and private aid are governed separately, and confusing them is the usual cause of a missed deadline.
Federal aid runs on one set of rules nationally, with one main application and published deadlines. It is the part most people know about and the part least likely to vary by where you live.
State aid varies enormously between states in what exists, who administers it and when it closes — and state deadlines are frequently much earlier than the federal one. Assuming the federal date is the only date is the most expensive assumption in this subject.
Institutional aid is decided by the school from its own funds. It is frequently the largest non-repaid component of an offer, and it often has its own separate application with its own earlier deadline, which many applicants never find out about.
Private aid is everything else: foundations, employers, community organisations, religious bodies, professional associations. It is fragmented, and the free search tools are as good as the paid ones.
What to do next. Write down all four deadlines for every school on your list, and ask each school directly whether it has its own aid form.
studentaid.gov outranks this page. Rules, figures and dates change
between academic years. This is written to help you read the official sources, not to
stand in front of them. Start there.
Nothing here is a determination. We cannot tell you what you qualify
for, and no website can. The programme and the office that runs it decide that, after
you apply.
Still have a question?
Describe what you are trying to work out and a member of the team will answer, or direct you to the office that makes the decision.